Barron River Riverboat Wildlife Tour in Kuranda Cairns

The Barron River at Kuranda

The Barron River rises on the Atherton Tableland and flows past Kuranda before plunging over Barron Falls and cutting through the gorge to the sea north of Cairns. Above the falls, around the village, the river is wide, slow and calm, lined by tall rainforest trees, vines and palms — perfect conditions for a gentle wildlife cruise.

On this Kuranda river cruise you glide upstream and back while your guide explains how the river shaped the area, from the Aboriginal people who have lived here for thousands of years to the miners and railway builders who arrived in the late nineteenth century. Seasonal river conditions can affect the exact route, and the river looks especially lush after the summer rains.

Wildlife on the river

The river shelters freshwater crocodiles, a smaller and shyer species than the famous saltwater crocodile, with a slender snout and a diet mostly of fish. Look for them basking on logs and banks; as they are wild animals in their natural habitat, sightings cannot be guaranteed on every cruise, which is part of the charm.

You may also spot turtles surfacing for air, water dragons sunning themselves on branches, fish in the clear shallows and a wide range of tropical birds — more than a hundred species have been recorded in the area, from kingfishers to herons. Cassowaries, the large flightless birds of the rainforest, are occasionally seen on the far bank. Bring a camera with a zoom lens for the best photographs.

Kuranda village in the rainforest

Kuranda is a small village set in the rainforest of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, about 25 kilometres from Cairns. Known as the village in the rainforest, it is famous for its markets, craft stalls, cafés, butterfly and bird sanctuaries and walking tracks, and it makes one of the most popular day trips from Cairns.

The riverboat is an easy addition to a Kuranda day: many visitors walk the village in the morning, take the cruise around midday and head back down the range in the afternoon. Things to do in Kuranda also include the short riverside walks and the lookouts over Barron Gorge, so a full day passes quickly. Departures at 10:45, 11:45, 12:30 and 14:30 give you flexibility to plan around trains or lunch.

Kuranda Railway Station and how to reach the jetty

The jetty is reached only on foot. Walk across the footbridge at Kuranda Railway Station, the heritage station famous for its gardens of ferns and palms, then go down the stairs to the river, where red flags fly at the jetty. You cannot drive down to the river, so allow a few minutes to walk from the village or car park.

How to get to Kuranda from Cairns? You can drive up the winding range road in about half an hour, ride the historic scenic railway that climbs through the gorge past waterfalls, or float above the canopy on the rainforest cableway. Many travellers go up one way and down the other. Whichever you choose, the station is the natural starting point for the riverboat.