Australian Butterfly Sanctuary

Experience this enchanting region of Australia and see its wildlife, lush scenery, and aboriginal culture. Explore the rainforest on a 6-wheel-drive World War II Army Duck amphibious vehicle. Your experienced Duck Driver will help you search for wildlife, and teach you about the plants and trees that make up the surrounding rainforest. After your tour, you can sample exotic fruits and locally made ice cream at the Tropical Treats fruit orchard. The Koala & Wildlife Park offers the opportunity to get up close with native Australian wildlife, including wombats, crocodiles, lizards and birds. You can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies. Enjoy emission-free travel on the first 100% electric bus in the Australian tourism industry  The Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience is unforgettable. Follow your Pamagirri Guide along the Dreamtime Walk down the Rainbow Serpent pathway and learn how to throw a traditional boomerang. Your Pamagirri guide will demonstrate traditional spear throwing as well as a didgeridoo presentation, followed by an energetic and interactive traditional Aboriginal dance performance in our Rainforest Amphitheatre.  Catch our shuttle to the Kuranda Village where you can visit Kuranda's markets and art galleries, or even the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Return coach transfers to and from Cairns hotels.

Discover some of the finest scenery and fascinating culture of the Kuranda Rainforest on a guided tour. Visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, a Koala and Wildlife Park, and learn about about Aboriginal culture at the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience. Start your immersion into the culture and nature of the Kuranda Rainforest with a ride aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Wind through the mountains and rainforest to the village of Kuranda.  Upon arrival, experience Australia's largest butterfly aviary at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary with 1,500 tropical butterflies, including the vibrant green Cairns Birdwing. Next, travel by shuttle to the Rainforestation Nature Park for a barbecue buffet lunch.  After lunch, explore the rainforest by 6WD amphibious vehicle as you climb aboard a World War II Army Duck that can drive over land and in water. Search for wildlife as you learn about the plants and trees of the surrounding rainforest. Then, sample some exotic fruits and locally-made ice cream at the Tropical Treats fruit orchard.  Find out more about Aboriginal culture at the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience and watch spear-throwing demonstrations and traditional dances. Try your hand at throwing a boomerang, and hear all about the didgeridoo. Then, get up close to Australian animals including koalas, dingoes and the endangered Cassowary and Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo. See typical Australian critters including wombats, crocodiles, lizards and birds. Feed the kangaroos and wallabies by hand. Then, travel back to Cairns on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and ride over the canopy of the pristine rainforest. Transfer back to your accommodation at the end of the tour services.

Explore the depths of the Kuranda Rainforest with rides on the railway, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, and 6-wheel-drive amphibious Army Duck vehicle! Experience this enchanting region of Australia and see its wildlife, lush scenery, and aboriginal culture. Board the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a spectacular journey with stunning views of the Coral Sea, Cairns City, and more. Take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway over the pristine rainforest and skim the forest canopy just beneath you! See kangaroos, wombats, koalas, and crocodiles up close and personal. Explore the rainforest on a 6-wheel-drive World War II Army Duck amphibious vehicle, over land and water. Your experienced Duck Driver will help you search for wildlife and teach you about the plants and trees that make up the surrounding rainforest. After your Duck tour, you can sample exotic fruits and locally made ice cream at the Tropical Treats fruit orchard. The Koala & Wildlife Park offers the opportunity to get up close with native Australian wildlife including wombats, crocodiles, lizards, and birds. You can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies. Included also is the world-famous BBQ lunch. Go for a walk and learn about Aboriginal culture with spear-throwing demonstrations and ritualistic dances. Take the opportunity to try your hand at boomerang throwing, then visit Kuranda's markets and art galleries, or even the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Optional extra: For your Kuranda Scenic Railway journey, you are able to upgrade from Heritage Class to Gold Class. Gold Class includes the following: Dedicated host service, souvenir trip guide, a moist towelette, individual seating, lounge-style chairs, ambient, historical décor, including timber look flooring, historical photographs, and cedar interior. Kuranda Scenic Railway gift pack including Kuranda Scenic Railway badge, pen, and postcard. Queensland and local Tablelands produce such as Gallo Dairyland Cheese, Skybury Coffee, Wondaree Macadamias, Mango to Go (100% pure mango treat), freshly-baked muffins with local fruit, Sirromet wines, and Great Northern Brewing Company Super Crisp Lager.

Experience an unforgettable day with fantastic wildlife such as koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, rare birds, and colorful butterflies, as you enjoy access to three wonderful attractions. Find yourself among kangaroos and wallabies roaming around a free-range enclosure at Kuranda Koala Gardens, and take the opportunity to hand-feed them yourself! Marvel at the spectacle of tropical birds flying through their natural rainforest habitat at Birdworld, home to some of Australia's most precious bird species. Enjoy the magic of over 1500 magnificent butterflies fluttering above you in the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. Learn fascinating information about the wildlife as you benefit from a guided tour at the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, and a complimentary bird spotter's guide at Birdworld.

The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary provides a world-class wildlife experience in the heart of Kuranda. The all-weather experience is home to over 1,500 magnificent tropical butterflies. All butterflies in the sanctuary are local rainforest species, while the undisputed stars are the fluoro green Cairns Birdwings. Wear something bright (red, white, or hot pink are best) and let these beautiful creatures flutter all over you. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the aviary. Learn to identify each of the butterfly species, as the guides explain a butterfly’s life cycle and its behavior.  Visit the breeding laboratory, which houses up to 4,000 caterpillars. An opportunity to view first-hand the breeding laboratory through special viewing windows, where you will see the caterpillars in their varying stages of development. Watch as the laboratory staff collects eggs daily and “hand-raise” the caterpillars right through to the chrysalis stage, until they are released as beautiful butterflies into the sanctuary.

Once you visit the first park of your choice, you will be given your physical pass which can be used over a 6 month period at all of the following parks. The award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park is a 100 acre (40-hectare) property located in the middle of Kuranda’s World Heritage Rainforest. This locally owned and operated park offers three unique experiences to visitors. Board an amphibious World War II Army Duck for a land and water adventure through the rainforest, as your Duck Captain identifies and explains fascinating plants including ferns, orchids, strangler figs, and the infamous stinging tree. As you move through the water, keep an eye out for turtles, fish, eels, and water birds, or for birds, pythons, and other reptiles on land. Rainforestation has 12 of the historic Army Ducks (officially spelled DUKW) which hold up to 30 passengers and have a combination of 6-wheel drive, a propeller, and a rudder. The Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience offers the opportunity to see traditional dance performances in the setting of the beautiful Rainforest Amphitheatre. You can also take part in the Dreamtime Walk along the Rainbow Serpent walkway, then watch a display of traditional spear throwing and didgeridoo playing. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn the art of throwing a boomerang, and try it out for yourself – can you get your boomerang to come back to you? Enjoy a self-guided tour in the Koala & Wildlife Park with experienced Wildlife Keepers and see crocodiles, kangaroos, wallabies, snakes, dingoes, a cassowary and the only Tasmanian Devils in North Queensland. There is also a barramundi lake where you can see the region’s most famous (and tastiest) fish. They grow up to 2 meters in length and can weigh up to 60kg! Don’t miss Jack the Ripper, one of the largest crocodiles in captivity. Coming in at over 5 meters in length and weighing almost a tonne, you can view him from the safety of our elevated boardwalks. Explore the park at your own pace and hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies as they roam freely through the park. Australian  Butterfly  Sanctuary is the largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit in Australia and prides itself on providing a world-class wildlife experience in the heart of Kuranda. The all-weather experience is home to over 1,500 magnificent tropical butterflies. The combination of a rainforest understory and canopy, along with a running stream and waterfalls, results in a natural-looking and feeling rainforest. All butterflies in the sanctuary are local rainforest species, and all are hand-reared on the premises. The undisputed stars of the sanctuary are the fluoro green Cairns Birdwings. Both these and the smaller but equally colorful species in the sanctuary provide visitors with the super experience of being surrounded by these habitually elusive wonders of nature. We recommend that visitors to the sanctuary wear something bright (red, white or hot pink are best) and let these beautiful creatures flutter all over you. Guests are welcome to stay as long as they like with their entry ticket allowing them the flexibility to return for up to 5 days. The award-winning Wildlife Habitat, located in Port Douglas, is a wildlife immersion exhibit providing visitors with a chance to experience the Wetlands, Rainforest, and Grasslands in an open and interactive setting. As you make your way along the boardwalks of the Rainforest environment, you can fully immerse yourself in the different levels of the rainforest, from the forest floor to the canopy, and the wildlife which occupies it. Follow the Cassowary Walk to view local species such as the Cass and Airlie, our resident southern cassowaries, as well as Boyd’s forest dragon and the colorful Eclectus parrots. In the Wetlands, look out for the range of birds and other wildlife that call the area home, including the Black-Necked Storks. Wildlife Habitat is the only park in the world successfully breeding the Storks. Over in the Grasslands exhibit, you will have the opportunity to hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies and admire the endangered Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroos. A host of wild native birdlife uses the billabong in this area as a sanctuary. Boardwalks overlook tropical lagoons where both the estuarine and freshwater crocodiles lurk beneath the water or bask on banks in the sunshine. Walk the world's first Predator Plank over these apex predators. Watch as our experienced Wildlife Keepers demonstrate the sheer power of the saltwater crocodile during feeding time – an impressive display not to be missed. Guests are welcome to stay as long as they like with their entry ticket allowing them the flexibility to return for up to 5 days.

We start the day aboard the Original Kuranda Scenic Railway ! It is a spectacular journey comprising unsurpassed views of dense rainforest, steep ravines and picturesque waterfalls within the World Heritage listed Barron Gorge National Park. This famous railway winds its way on a journey from Cairns to Kuranda. The journey to Kuranda takes approximately 2 hours, which includes a 10-minute stop at the spectacular Barron Falls Station for a bird’s eye view of the Barron Falls. Passing through 15 hand carved tunnels, 37 bridges, spectacular waterfalls. Your ticket includes 'Heritage Class' seats, upgrade to Gold Class for an additional $50 AUD per person **Subject to availability. The differences between the two tickets is at the bottom of this description. Arriving in the small town of Kuranda, you will enjoy free time to explore the small mountain towns shops and markets. Next stop is the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, home to over 1500 butterflies, all of which are bred inside the on-site breeding laboratory. Species include the electric blue Ulysses, the Majestic Green and Yellow Cairns Birdwing and the Monarch butterfly. View first-hand the breeding laboratory through special viewing windows, whilst the expert guide talks about their incredible journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly. Lunch is delicious and enjoyed at the best restaurant in town. After lunch we head to the amphitheatre for an onstage performance by the Pamagirri Aboriginal tribe. The traditional dance shows insight into this ancient surviving culture and the connection with the oldest surviving rainforest in the world. After photos with the dancers, we split up into small groups to embark on an in-depth and interactive boomerang and spear throwing experience, your Pamagirri Aboriginal guide will preform a demonstration on the rainforest instrument – the Didgeridoo. Our last experience of the day experience of the tropical rainforest is from a totally unique perspective aboard an amphibious World War II DUKW, colloquially known as Duck. Rainforestation has twelve of these historical vehicles, which hold up to 30 passengers and use a 6 wheel drive, propeller, and rudder. During this 45-minute rainforest tour, your knowledgeable Duck Captain will identify and explain fascinating plants and wildlife as you pass by before splashing into the lake for a cruise with more wildlife to be seen. **Upgrade to the Gold Class Experience for an additional $50 per person. Gold Class inclusions: Dedicated attendant service Kuranda Scenic Railway gift pack including a Kuranda Scenic Railway pen and postcard Refreshments featuring a selection of Queensland and local produce such as Gallo Dairyland Cheeses, Skybury Coffee, Wondaree Macadamias, Licks Mango Sorbet, a selection of Australian wines and Great Northern Brewing Company Super Crisp Lager

Tour 9A: Skyrail, Barron Falls Rainforest Walk, Waterfalls, Aboriginal Culture. **Koala holding photos available at an additional cost AUD 29 per person koala holding photo We start the day on a scenic drive north to the Skyrail Terminal at Smithfield. Once aboard the gondola, you will enjoy a truly unique perspective of this ancient landscape with unsurpassed panoramic views of Barron Gorge and Australia’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Glide metres above the pristine jungle canopy between Smithfield (Cairns) and Kuranda, enroute descend to explore the rainforest close up at Red Peak and Barron Falls Experience a complimentary Ranger Guided Boardwalk Tours and visit the Rainforest Discovery Zone at the Red Peak stop. Upon arrival at Kuranda, we head to the Army Duck Tour, where you will be experiencing the tropical rainforest from a totally unique perspective aboard an amphibious World War II DUKW, colloquially known as Duck. Rainforestation has twelve of these historical vehicles, which hold up to 30 passengers and use a 6 wheel drive, propeller, and rudder. During this 45-minute rainforest tour, your knowledgeable Duck Captain will identify and explain fascinating plants and wildlife as you pass by before splashing into the lake for a cruise with more wildlife to be seen. After your tour, we visit the tropical fruit orchard, which features over 60 different species of exotic tropical fruit trees, and you’ll learn about fruits of the region and the world.. 'Rainforestation' is also home to the local indigenous tribe - the Pamagirri People. We head to the amphitheatre for an onstage performance by the Pamagirri Aboriginal tribe. The traditional dance shows insight into this ancient surviving culture and the connection with the oldest surviving rainforest in the world. After photos with the dancers, we split up into small groups to embark on an in-depth and interactive boomerang and spear throwing experience, your Pamagirri Aboriginal guide will teach you about the traditions that were learnt in the wilderness, before preforming a demonstration on the rainforest instrument – the Didgeridoo. Lunch is delicious & eaten at the best restaurant in town! After lunch enjoy some free-time to stroll through the town of Kuranda and explore the many markets and local shops. Your guide will collect you from the Kuranda shops to continue the tour to the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is home to over 1500 butterflies, all of which are bred inside the on-site breeding laboratory. Species include the electric blue Ulysses, the Majestic Green and Yellow Cairns Birdwing and the Monarch butterfly. View first-hand the breeding laboratory through special viewing windows, whilst the expert guide talks about their incredible journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly. Our last adventure for the day is the visiting the wild wallabies, your guide will take you to visit these beautiful Agile Wallabies in the wild, before travelling back.