Kuranda, Australia: The rainforest village
A picturesque mountain village with only 1600 inhabitants in the middle of the Australian rainforest, that is Kuranda in northwest Queensland. Visitors are presented with a breathtaking backdrop as soon as they arrive when they take the train from Cairns, where the Kuranda Scenic Railway runs daily. This train route is one of the most beautiful in the world.
Spectacular arrival
The route used to be used by the miners who brought tin from the mines and wood from the forests to the coast. The route has remained unchanged since then. 15 tunnels and 37 bridges are passed over a distance of 34 kilometers. The almost two-hour drive leads through a spectacular landscape that is home to koalas, crocodiles, platypuses and colorful parrots. The journey from Cairns on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is no less spectacular. The cable car’s gondolas float just a few meters above the treetops. The drive takes an hour and a half and ends in the rainforest city of Kuranda. Anyone who gets off here quickly understands why the rainforest there has been declared a World Heritage Site. The immense biodiversity, the beauty of the flora,
The former paradise for dropouts
Kuranda was a paradise for dropouts at the end of the 1960s. A colorful crowd settled where the Aborigines of the Djabugay tribe have lived and cultivated their culture for over 10,000 years. An interesting arts and crafts scene developed quickly in the seclusion of the rainforest, which has survived to this day. Potters, glassblowers, carvers and jewelry makers offer their wares for sale. Although Kuranda is almost overflowing with shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes, the place has retained the relaxed atmosphere of a mountain village. Even tourists from all over the world cannot harm the tranquility and beauty of the rainforest.
Waterfalls and rare animals
And Kuranda is certainly not lacking in beauty. One of the highlights is certainly the Barron Gorge with its huge gurgling waterfall in the middle of the rainforest. With a bit of luck, you might encounter platypus, which have become rare, during a boat trip on the Barron River. The Kuranda National Park is home to the endangered cassowary, a ratite that is one of the fourth largest in the world. The extremely rare Lumholtz tree kangaroo can also be found there. In a hatchery for butterflies, the Australians managed the feat of raising 1,500 butterflies from 35 species and ended up in the Guinness Book. And hardly anywhere else will you get closer to the cute koalas than in the koala garden.
Ice and honey from the rainforest
Kuranda also has a lot to offer in culinary terms. The many types of ice cream with the incomparable taste of the fruits of the rainforest are famous. Kuranda honey is no less well known, and you can find out everything about its history and production at the Honey House, which has been in operation for more than 50 years.
