Kuranda Station

The Savannahlander is a relaxed way to travel on the scenic Kuranda Railway. An early start and small groups allows the pace to be a little slower, so time can be taken to enjoy the winding climb through the rainforest. The Savannahlander is also the only train trip up the Kuranda Range that gives passengers a driver's eye view of the line. There's even a seat next to the driver available for passengers to share. Usually, there's enough time for an extended stop at the famous Stoney Creek falls. Arriving early in Kuranda means you can enjoy the village atmosphere without the crowds.

The Savannahlander does go further though and another option, if you are only interested in a day trip, is to go by train to Mareeba and transfer to a coach for the trip back to Kuranda or Cairns. Of course, we think erverone should travel on the full return trip! If you'd like to see the view from the front (and rear) of the Savannahlander travelling up the Kuranda Scenic Railway there are some videos on the Savannahlander Blog.

History of Kuranda

Kuranda was well established long before it was proclaimed a town in 1890. In the late 1870s, it was the "Middle Crossing" on the Barron River for prospectors and teamsters on the Thornborough - Cairns track. When work began on the first section of the Cairns Range Railway, Kuranda became a railway camp and then a station on the line to Myola that was opened in 1891.

Close to the Barron Falls and a haven from the humidity of the coast, Kuranda was soon popular as a tourist resort. The railway being the only means of access, it remained a sleepy village throughout the 1920s and 1930s, visited mainly by timber and railway workers and a growing number of local tourists. The Range road was completed in 1942 and for the duration of World War II Kuranda was a busy transit station for the Allied troops posted to Cairns and the Tablelands. In the 1960s, the town became popular as an alternative lifestyle and arts and crafts centre. The Sunday markets inaugurated in the late 1970s marked the beginning of a major tourist industry. Rural residential expansion and the upgrading of tourist facilities, together with the new Skyrail link with Cairns, have resulted in extensive redevelopment of the town.