Kuranda

The History of Kuranda
In this part of the tropical North the rainforest is home to the Djabugay aboriginal people who have lived here for over 10,000 years. Exploration by Europeans in the early 1800s opened the way for gold prospectors and the timber industry and settlement by the pioneers. Kuranda was first surveyed in 1888 by Thomas Behan, and the building of the railway and the road from the new seaport of Cairns paved the way for trade and the movement of people over the mountains.

Wildlife in Kuranda... Come meet the locals!
A wealth of Australia’s native animals, birds and butterflies can be closely observed in the magnificent habitats in and around the Village. For nature in the wild you may take time to enjoy a jungle walk, a peaceful stroll along the river Esplanade or a boat trip on the river. The tropical forest environment is home to many unusual birds: binoculars and keen hearing will bring this world to life. If the gods are smiling, a glimpse of a friendly harmless fresh water crocodile, a playful platypus and a green tree snake will surely reward the observant visitor.

Indigenous Community in Kuranda
“Dja-bu-guy” is the name of the tribe of aboriginal people who lived in the Kuranda region. The present Kuranda village was “Ngunbay”, or place of platypus. An important camping area, with good fishing and hunting for locals, this all changed with the opening up of the hinterland for gold and tin mining. The access was along tracks of the “Bama”(rainforest) people, and through their country.

Walking Tracks... A Wonderland of trails through the Rainforest!!!

Kuranda is surrounded by World Heritage listed wet tropics rainforest. It includes around twelve hundred species of flowering plants, eight hundred of which are rainforest trees. There are also orchids, ginger plants, strangler figs, palms and an immense variety of climbing plants. At any time of the year you will wonder at the richness and diversity of the lush foliage.