Port Douglas: Kuranda Scenic Railway and Kuranda Skyrail 30 October

Inland from Cairns is the Great Dividing Range and the Atherton Tablelands.  Kuranda is a small town of 650 people in the middle of the world heritage rainforest at the top of the range. It was the scene of a mining boom in the 19th century, and of massive American military hospitals and staging areas during the Pacific War.  The town appears to have been re-populated by hippies (now aged) for many years.  The signs are still evident: the small market stalls feature hand made items one could have found at Woodstock!   The best way to get  to Kuranda is Kuranda's Historic Scenic Railway which meanders through Barron Gorge National Park. 

All aboard

Two onboard

Up the hill

Over the bridge

                                                      

                                                                      Through 1 of 15 tunnels

Coming down we took the Kuranda Skyrail, which spans 7.5K over the rainforest canopy.  Not quite as thrilling as a zip-line ride we took over a tropical rainforest canopy in Costa Rica, but still up there. Great views all the way out to the Coral Sea.  At one stop, we encountered a tree species we thought was unique to New Zealand: the kauri.  It seems this variety of evergreen can also be found in various parts of South-East Asia and Melanesia.

Queensland Kauri

The descent

An artificial lake for water-skiing without boats!