Barron Gorge National Park

The Barron Gorge National Park is just north-west of Cairns in North Queensland. The park stretches from the lower sections around Kamerunga, Lake Placid and Caravonica up through the Barron Gorge towards Kuranda on the Atherton Tablelands. It is one of the closest places to Cairns to experience World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest, waterfalls, walking trails and mountain scenery.

Yes, the Barron Gorge National Park is one of the easiest rainforest areas to visit from Cairns. You can explore for free on walking tracks and trails, or book one of the many tours which include Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Scenic Railway and Barron River Rafting.

In our opinion the best things to do in the Barron Gorge National Park are to:

• Visit Barron Falls. This can be done for free, using the walking track and elevated boardwalks to a viewing platform. This is a short drive from Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest.
• Take a trip on Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which provides amazing views over the rainforest canopy, with two mid-stations providing the opportunity to explore the forest floor on Ranger guided tours and at the Rainforest Interpretation Centre.
• Take a trip on Kuranda Scenic Railway, which travels from Cairns to Kuranda through the Barron Gorge National Park.
• Rafting the Barron River is an epic half-day tour. No prior experience necessary. Fully guided by professional River Guides.
• Visit Kuranda, the Village in the Rainforest. It has markets, restaurants, cafes, galleries, boutiques and wildlife attractions.
• Join guided experiences that explain the natural and cultural history of the area.
• Explore the park on one of its many walking tracks and trails. We have done the Glacier Rock walk quite a few times. It’s a challenging walk, that delivers amazing views.
• Visit Stoney Creek and walk to Old Weir Falls, where you can refresh with a swim in the cool freshwater.

Yes. There is no general admission fee to enter Barron Gorge National Park and several areas can be explored independently. You can drive to the Barron Falls car park near Kuranda, visit lookouts and walk sections of the park for free. Tours and attractions such as Skyrail, Kuranda Scenic Railway and Barron River Rafting provide easier access to other parts of the landscape and add guides, commentary and unique viewpoints.

Yes. You can drive to the Barron Falls car park near Kuranda and walk along the elevated Din Din Barron Falls boardwalk to the public lookouts. The walk is approximately 800 metres each way and is classified as easy. Barron Falls can also be seen from Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway.

Barron Falls can be visited throughout the year, but it is at its most dramatic during and immediately after periods of heavy summer rain. This is usually in February and March. The waterfall is still worth visiting during the drier months, for the views across Barron Gorge and time spent walking in the rainforest.

Popular ways to explore Barron Gorge National Park from Cairns include Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Scenic Railway, Barron River white water rafting and guided Kuranda and rainforest tours. For a deeper introduction to the area’s rainforest and Aboriginal culture, we also recommend the Waterfalls and Wetlands tour, which includes a Djabugay Ranger experience near Barron Falls.

Skyrail travels for 7.5km between the Cairns side of the range and Kuranda, crossing World Heritage rainforest and providing spectacular views over Barron Gorge. The journey includes rainforest stops at Red Peak and Barron Falls, where you can explore boardwalks, lookouts and interpretive displays. A standard one-way journey normally takes around 1.5 hours including the stops.

Yes. Combining Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic Railway is one of the most popular ways to experience the Barron Gorge and Kuranda. You travel in one direction above the rainforest canopy on Skyrail and in the other direction aboard the historic railway, giving you two completely different perspectives of the mountains, rainforest, waterfalls and gorge.

Yes. Barron Gorge National Park has everything from short, easy rainforest walks to demanding half-day and full-day hikes. The Din Din Barron Falls lookout track is an easy 800m walk each way, while the Stoney Creek Garndal Garndal weir track is approximately 1km each way. Longer tracks such as the Douglas and Smith tracks require considerably more fitness and preparation.

Yes, provided you choose activities suited to your children’s ages and abilities. Barron Falls, Skyrail and Kuranda Scenic Railway are particularly easy ways for families to experience the rainforest. There are also short walking tracks, while older children and teenagers may enjoy activities such as Barron River Rafting. Longer hiking trails are better suited to fit and experienced walkers.

Yes. Barron Gorge National Park protects rainforest within the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area. This ancient rainforest landscape is one of the major reasons the park is so significant, with extraordinary plant diversity, rainforest wildlife, deep gorges, rivers and waterfalls all within a short distance of Cairns.

Take drinking water, comfortable footwear, sun protection and insect repellent. If you are walking the longer trails, carry plenty of water, snacks and allow enough time to finish before dark. Mobile reception can be unreliable in parts of the park, and creek conditions can change quickly after rain.