Kuranda Scenic Railway | Construction, History, & More

• Official name: Kuranda Scenic Railway
• Journey start: Cairns Railway Station
• Journey end: Kuranda Railway Station
• Year of opening: 1891
• Function: Scenic railway journey through tropical rainforests in Cairns
• Track length: 37 km (23 miles)
• Operation: Twice every day

Established in 1891, the Kuranda Scenic Railway is a historic train that runs from Cairns to Kuranda, offering travellers stunning views of the tropical rainforest and breathtaking waterfalls along its way. Built over 100 years ago, the railway has since become an iconic tourist attraction. 

The journey takes about two hours, during which you'll witness popular sites like Barron Falls, Stone Creek Falls, Robb’s Monument, and much more. The train also passes through 15 hand-carved tunnels and over 37 bridges, including the famous curved bridge that offers a panoramic view of the beautiful landscape. 

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is a marvellous engineering feat even after 127 years since its construction. The track begins climbing at Redlynch at 5.5 m above sea level and reaches up to 327.1 m at the summit of Myola. The railway opened to the public on 25th June 1891 and has been serving customers ever since.

• Historic railway journey: Embark on a ride through the stunning Cairns rainforest aboard a railway built in 1891 showcasing engineering marvels and rich history.
• Breathtaking views: Marvel at the awe-inspiring panoramas of waterfalls, deep ravines, and dense tropical greenery throughout the journey.
• Explore Kuranda Village: Discover the bustling rainforest village of Kuranda, featuring markets, cafes, and wildlife parks, once you reach your destination.
• Tropical flora & fauna: Witness the vibrant array of plants and animals native to the lush rainforest and feel close to nature like never before.
• Ravishing Barron Falls: Be captivated by the beauty of Barron Falls, an impressive waterfall that drops about 125 metres.
• Spectacular Skyrail journey: Get a different perspective of the lush greenery with the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, providing a bird's-eye view of the canopy.
• Fits any itinerary: With two train departures in the morning and two return options in the afternoon, the Kuranda Scenic Railway easily fits into any traveller's schedule.

Several minds came together over a period of many years to construct this brilliant engineering marvel. When the construction of the line was divided into 3 sections, the construction of the first section was first taken over by P. C. Smith. Taken over by illness, he had to relinquish his contract in Nov 1886, which was then taken over by McBride and Co., but they too dropped the project in Jan 1887. The first section was then finally completed by the Queensland Government. 

The construction of section two was headed by John Robb and a tender was approved for more than A$580,000. Many lives were lost during the dangerous construction of this railway. To commemorate the endless efforts of all the workers involved and also pay tribute to those who were lost, Robb established a rock formation along the route called Robb’s Monument.