Queensland · Attraction
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Above the rainforest canopy
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Skyrail carries passengers 7.5 kilometres above the World Heritage Wet Tropics rainforest between Smithfield, on the northern outskirts of Cairns, and the village of Kuranda. Gondolas glide continuously over an unbroken canopy of ancient trees, with two mid-stations at Red Peak and Barron Falls where visitors can step out onto boardwalks and ranger-guided forest trails.
Opened in 1995, Skyrail was designed as a low-impact ecotourism experience, with tower footings spaced to minimise clearing and gondola cars large enough to carry up to six people in comfort. The Red Peak station sits inside the rainforest itself and includes a Discovery Zone with interactive displays about tropical ecology. At Barron Falls station, the Edge Lookout offers a dramatic view down into Barron Gorge.
A standard one-way journey takes roughly 90 minutes with stops, and a return trip allows about two and a half hours total. An optional Diamond View gondola with a glass floor is available for an upgrade fee. First departures from Smithfield are in the morning, with last return from Kuranda in the mid-afternoon.
Skyrail combines naturally with the Kuranda Scenic Railway for a classic day trip, go one way by rail and the other by cable car. Advance booking is required, and complimentary parking including EV charging is available at the Smithfield terminal.
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Scenic views
