24 best things to do in Kuranda with kids

Boasting a fun and festive atmosphere, Kuranda is a colourful and quirky art and crafts hub tucked away in the cool of the mountains. There are lots of fun things to do in Kuranda with kids.

Visitors can explore the rainforest and connect with the local Indigenous culture of the Djabugay people through dance, storytelling and demonstrations. Make furry, fluttery and feathered friends at the bounty of animal parks. Stock up on everything from fashion and authentic locally painted didgeridoos to chilli sauce and fudge at the all-weather markets.

Dining options vary from snacks to sit-down meals, including the iconic Frogs Restaurant, where you can dine on an award-winning menu on the outside deck with wilderness and water dragons for company.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway whisks you away on an unmissable journey above an ancient jungle canopy with mesmerising views of Cairns City and out to the Coral Sea

The cableway takes you deep into Barron Gorge National Park, and then you descend to explore the forest floor at Red Peak and Barron Falls. Here you can meet the rangers, hear tales of the rainforest, and listen to insightful commentary on the Skyrail Interpretive App & Audio Guide. 

The cableway offers panoramic views of unspoiled rainforest, imposing mountain ranges, the Barron Gorge, the Coral Sea and the tropical Cairns region.

Kuranda Scenic Railway

Kuranda Scenic Railway is a great way to travel through Barron Gorge National Park. Wooden carriages carry you through breathtaking scenery, past towering waterfalls and into deep ravines. The train journey goes through 15 tunnels and 55 bridges. Early settlers carved the historic railway into the hillside of the World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest. Trains run twice daily from Cairns and Kuranda railway stations.

Keep reading:

• 20 awesome things to do in Cairns with kids
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Kuranda Heritage Markets

At these all-weather markets, you can browse everything from fashion and locally painted didgeridoos to chilli sauce and fudge.

The locally made jewellery, wood carvings, leatherwork, ceramics, gemstones and Indigenous art make special momentoes of your visit to Kuranda with kids.

Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets

These markets were established in the 1970s by local bohemians and artists to sell handmade items and attract more visitors to Kuranda. 

Colourful stalls are set amid the rainforest, and the location will undoubtedly make you want to linger longer in the enchanting atmosphere. Watch a busker, enjoy a traditional tea ceremony at the Japanese Tea House, or sit in the Petit Café with a delicious crepe and coffee.

This is one of the free things you can do in Kuranda.

Barron Falls

Barron Falls in Barron Gorge National Park is a steep, 125-metre-tiered waterfall that dramatically plunges out of the rainforest. Vast torrents of water rush down the falls during the wet season, usually small streams for the rest of the year. The falls are sacred to the Djabugay people.

You can access the falls from the Barron Falls lookout track. The wheelchair-accessible walkway offers many stunning views, the most supreme being over the gorge and Barron Falls. Autumn is the ideal time to witness the spectacular Barron Falls in full flow.

Birdworld Kuranda

Birdworld Kuranda recreates the rainforest habitats of more than 80 species of free-flying native and exotic birds. Join the feathered friends as they swoop and swagger.

Rainforestation Nature Park

The Rainforestation Nature Park combines Australian wildlife, Indigenous culture and a unique rainforest viewing experience from an authentic WW2 Army Duck. Set on 100 acres of rainforest, the park has five experiences for families.

Family experiences

1. Discover the Dreamtime with the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience. You’ll connect with the Djabugay Indigenous culture through dance, storytelling and demonstrations. Try your hand at boomerang throwing, observe spear-throwing and watch the didgeridoo being played.

2. Hop on board an amphibious World War II Army Duck for an Army Duck Rainforest Tour. You’ll learn about the plants and animals of the rainforest.

3. Cuddle a koala in the koala and wildlife park.

4. The Pamagirri Rainforest Walkabout is a guided walk to learn about survival in the rainforest. A Pamagirri Aboriginal Guide will share information on customs like totems and body painting. See which plants, fruits and berries can be used as bush tucker and remedies, as well as traditional shelters, artefacts and implements.

5. Pamagirri Mini Mob is a program made for kids. They’ll learn to throw a boomerang, play the didgeridoo, find bush tucker and create aboriginal art.

Doongal Aboriginal Art & Artifacts

Established in 1993, this high-ceilinged gallery has an extensive collection of Aboriginal Rainforest Art. View the work of over 20 local artists and 150 artists from around Australia. Here, you can also buy beautifully decorated didgeridoos.

Coondoo Street

Coondoo Street is the main street in Kuranda. Here you can explore galleries, cafes, jewellers, gift shops and tour companies. The visitor information centre is also on Coondoo Street.

Mini-golf

Take a swing at a nine-hole mini-golf course in the rainforest at the Original Rainforest Markets.

Mountain biking

Smithfield Regional Park has 60 kilometres of excellent mountain biking trails for beginners, intermediate and advanced riders. Scenic cross-country trails overlooking the rainforest can be found in Myola.

Kuranda Downhill Trail is well known among advanced mountain bikers. The track has one double black diamond track so is suitable for experts only. The gorgeous Henry Ross Lookout sits by the start of the trail. From here, you can see all the way to the Coral Sea and Cairns.

KUR-Cow Barnwell Farm

KUR-Cow Barnwell Farm is a cattle station in the hills of Kuranda. At the farm, families can meet baby animals at the mini-animals farm, watch a cattle and horse show, jump on a hayride, explore by ATV or go horse riding. Feeling hungry? The farm has an on-site steakhouse.

ATV tours in the rainforest

Drive through the rainforest, explore fruit orchards and learn about the fascinating pioneer history on a Kuranda Rainforest Journeys quad bike tour.

Visit the aeroplane wreck

A Douglas C-47 Skytrain can be found outside the Kuranda Heritage Markets off Therwine Street. The shell is leftover from its role in the movie Sky Pirates in 1984. The remains were assembled into a crash diorama at Kuranda in July 1984. 

It is now being reclaimed by the jungle with vines growing through the plane.

Kuranda Koala Gardens

Snap a selfie with a koala at Kuranda Koala Gardens. The gardens are home to an amazing array of other native animals, including wallabies, wombats, snakes, lizards, gliders and Australia’s freshwater crocodile. Cuddling a koala will be a highlight of the things to do in Kuranda with kids.

Kuranda Koala Gardens is located within the Heritage Markets.

Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Join 1,500 butterflies at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. The largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit, in the Southern Hemisphere. A visit here will have the whole family feeling like Disney princesses as red lacewings, orchard swallowtails and bright green Cairns birdwings dart overhead.

The Magical Lane

Calling all fairy lovers! The Magical Lane does fairy tea parties and quests. The quests are similar to a fairy-themed escape room where you find clues and complete tasks to find the fairies that live at the Magical Lane. There are five beautiful fairy gardens to explore.

Kuranda Riverboat

Cruise along the river bends of the upper Barron River on a Kuranda Riverboat tour. Guides will educate guests on river life and point out native wildlife. You may see freshwater crocodiles, turtles, tropical birds and the elusive cassowary.

The 45-minute tour is $20 for adults and $10 for children.

Jumrum Creek Conservation Park

The thick rainforest at Jumrum Creek Conservation Park is home to many different plants and animals, including the protected Kuranda Tree frog.

The Jumrum Creek walk is an easy 700-metre, one-way walk to Jumrum Creek. The track is mainly boardwalks and graded paths through the jungle.

Frogs Restaurant Kuranda

Frogs Restaurant is a Kuranda landmark. The restaurant is located within the Heritage Markets. The outside water dragon deck backs onto the wilderness. The iconic restaurant opened in 1980 and has a varied menu, including a kangaroo, crocodile and emu tasting platter for the adventurous.

Kuranda National Park

Kuranda National Park is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the oldest continually surviving tropical rainforest in the world. Families can explore the lush rainforest on foot on a series of walking tracks. There is lots of wildlife to spot among the 27,100 hectares of rainforest and eucalypt forests.

Stoney Creek

Twenty-two kilometres from Kuranda, Stoney Creek is home to lots of gorgeous swimming holes. You can swim under the footbridge at the first swimming location or hike for another 25 minutes to reach Old Weir Falls.

Fruibies Organic Juice

Grab a cold-pressed pure fruit juice or smoothie from Fruibies. The Dragon’s Fire smoothie with locally-grown dragon fruit is our pick.

Atherton Tablelands

Nature lovers will be hard-pressed to find an oasis lovelier than the Atherton Tablelands. The stunning Atherton Tablelands has ancient rainforests, wetlands and savannahs. As well as volcanic lakes, waterfalls and national parks. These national parks contain some of Australia’s best mountain biking trails. See 327 species of birds, Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos, bandicoots, rock wallabies, platypus and cassowary. 

Read: The 15 best things to do in Atherton Tablelands with kids

This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue here.

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