Classic Kuranda

April 21

A three-step one day journey - featuring an engineering triumph, ancient culture, and a World Heritage Rainforest.

Early morning start. We begin with the Kuranda Scenic Railway, a world heritage site, which brought Australia to its gold discovery 'in them thar hills' in the late 1800's.  The Kuranda Railway Station is the beginning of a two-hour ride through some formidable landscape.  Built by 1500 men with picks, shovels, and dynamite, the 37km track from Cairns to the village of Kuranda rises to over 2500 feet, passes through 15 tunnels, over 55 bridges and around 98 curves.  Definitely an engineering marvel for its day.  Breathtaking!! Pictures as we climb the mountain.

Kuranda Village - nestled in the tropical rainforest, established as the result of railway construction, still a living community where we stopped for a BBQ buffet lunch and a stroll down the main street -businesses, shops, galleries, cafes,wildlife attractions, riverboat tours, and walking trails.  Afternoon highlights - the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dance performance, the Army Duck tour through the Rainforest, and the gondola ride back down the mountain.

 

This gondola ride was something else.  Try to picture a level ride over the top of the rainforest canopy, with all its beautiful sounds.  You're half way home and the forest breaks into this vista that reaches down into the valley and out into the vast ocean.  Takes your breath away!  It was an unexpected gulp moment.

Do ya think I'm havin' a good time???????  It's back to the hotel, pack my bags for another adventure - a four day tour of central Australia  and the outback.