Kuranda Scenic Railway

I took an optional Kuranda Train & Rainforest tour today. We boarded the Kuranda Scenic Railway at the Freshwater Station outside Cairns. The railway was built between 1882 and 1891 and has 15 hand–made tunnels and 37 bridges. It travels from sea level to 1076 feet (328 m). It was built to transport timber, minerals, produce, and cattle. It was raining when we left and through the morning, but cleared up about lunch time.

Kuranda Scenic Railway

Here we could look out the train window and see the cars behind us.

Kuranda Scenic Railway

We had a view of the Barron Gorge with its waterfalls from the train and also of the rainforest. This is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Site, which is the oldest rainforest in the world, 150 million years old.

Kuranda Village

The Scenic Railway ride ended at Kuranda Village. The village has restaurants, shops, galleries, kaola and butterfly sanctuaries, a reptile park, a bird aviary, galleries, and international food. The village attracted hippies in the 1970s and 1980s and still has a hippie–like flavor.

Kuranda Village

The village boasted public art with Aboriginal designs.

Maori Art

Maori art was sold at galleries and also at a marketplace and in stores. This is one of the Maori paintings being sold in a gallery––not inexpensive.

Hippie Flavor

This store was selling dream catchers and incense.

Army Duck Vehicle

In Kuranda, we took a ride on both the ground and in the Barron River on an army duck vehicle.

Army Duck Vehicle

Now we are cruising the Barron River.

Barron River

The rainforest vegetation was spectacular along the Barron River.

Koala and Wildlife Park

The Koala and Wildlife Park was near where we took the Army Duck trip. The koala bears were so very cute.

Koala and Wildlife Park

At the part, kangaroos were free roaming.

Aboriginal Dancers-1–Movie

Next was an Aboriginal dance show. The movie is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyA7_HDOwhI

Aboriginal Dancers-2–Movie

This movie is also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtIfy_f9U2A

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Our last adventure on our trip was on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over the rainforest.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

We made two stops on the cableway, first at the Barron Falls Station where there were lookouts over the Barron Gorge.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway

Our second stop was at the Red Peak Station where we walked along a trail. We went back to Cairns after the cableway ride.

I have put my photos of the Kuranda Train & Rainforest tour on two slideshows:

http://www.peggysphotos.com/kuranda–train–rainforest/

http://www.peggysphotos.com/kuranda–train–rainforest–b/

(Slide Shows, Australia/New Zealand, Australia, “Kuranda Train & Rainforest–A and –B”).

Cairns Fruit Bats

After our day tour, Carolyn and I went to see the Cairns fruit bats (flying foxes), an incredible sight. They hang out during the day on a number of trees in Cairns. They are noctural and wake up, fly around, and feed on nectar and fruit during the night. They make a lot of noise. Photo: bats hanging out on a tree.

Cairns Fruit Bats

Close–up.

Cairns Fruit Bats

Closer–up.

Cairns Fruit Bat

A fruit bat hanging from a branch.

Cairns Fruit Bat

Close–up.

Cairns Fruit Bat

I caught one of the bats opening its wings. When we came into Cairns the first day early evening, the bats were starting to fly around. I waited to see if they would this day as it was early evening, but they were making a lot of noise but weren’t leaving their trees.

Cairns Fruit Bat

Close–up.

Barnacle Bill’s

Carolyn and I ate tonight at Barnacle Bill’s, a seafood restaurant.

Mudbugs

At the back of this photo of my dinner are Moreton Bay bugs, also called mudbugs. They are a type of slipper lobster and very tasty. On signs at fish markets, they are just called “bugs.”