About Kuranda Riverboat Cruise

Kuranda Riverboat | 45 Minute Cruise

Kuranda Riverboat | 45 Minute Cruise

Kuranda Rainforest Tours has been operating since 1982 during which time it has built a reputation for offering informative and rewarding rainforest river cruises. One main feature has been the ability to provide quality tours at very reasonable rates.

We are one of the original companies specializing in rainforest interpretation in Far North Queensland.  We have exclusive rights to operate river cruises on the Barron River and the only river cruise tour company operating within the Village of Kuranda.

The calm waters of the beautiful upland Barron River provide great photographic opportunities whilst your local guides share their vast knowledge of this unique area.

The river is home to a host of wildlife including freshwater crocodiles, turtles, snakes, water dragons and fish together with over 100 species of tropical birds.

Located a short walk down the stairs to the river bank below the Kuranda Train and Skyrail Stations - Over the railway bridge and down the stairs.

Kuranda Riverboat Cruise Times & Departure

Kuranda Riverboat Cruise Times

Kuranda Riverboat Cruise Times  

  • 10.45am - 11.30am
  • 11.45am -12.30pm
  • 12.30pm - 1.15pm
  • 1.30pm - 2.15pm
  • 2.30pm - 3.15pm 

Departure Point
Conveniently situated, only a few minutes' walk below the Kuranda Railway and Skyrail Stations on the Esplanade of the Barron River. Access to our departure jetty is over the railway footbridge and down the stairs. 

The Esplanade extends approximately two kilometres along the river front and offers panoramic views of the forest areas in which we operate our river cruises and connects to the village via the river walk circuit.

About the Wet Tropics

About the Wet Tropics

The Wet Tropics is in the top most irreplaceable protected areas on earth.

The Wet Tropics extend along the north east coast of Queensland for about 450 kilometers between Cooktown in the north and Townsville in the south. It consists of 894,420 hectares of tropical rainforest, open eucalypt forest, swamp and mangrove forest. In some places it is only a few hundred meters wide and in other places up to 50 to 60 kilometers wide.

The area contains most of the relicts that exist on earth of the flora of the forests which were part of the super continent of Gondwana. All of Australia’s unique marsupials and most of it’s other animals originated in the rainforest eco-system. The rainforests which constitute about 70-80% of the area have more plant and animal taxa with primitive characteristics than any other place on earth.

Particularly notable in this regard is the fact that of the 19 known families of primitive flowering plants (angiosperms), 12 are found in the Wet Tropics. By contrast, in all the tropical forests of South America, there are only nine primitive families represented.

Although representing less than one tenth of one percent of the land surface of Australia, the Wet Tropics contain:

  • 21% of our Cycad species
  • 37% of our Conifer species
  • 30% of our Orchid species
  • 36% of our Mammal species
  • 58% of our Bat species
  • 25% of our Rodent species
  • 50% of our Bird species
  • 25% of our Frog species
  • 23% of our Reptile species
  • 37% of our Freshwater Fish species
  • 60% of our Butterfly species

The area between Cardwell and Cooktown contains the only recognized existing Australian aboriginal rainforest culture and provides a major component of the cultural record of these rainforest people. The oral pre-history of surviving Aboriginal rainforest culture is the oldest known for any indigenous people without a written language. Archaeological evidence in other parts of the country indicates that Aboriginal people have occupied Australia for at least 49,000 years.

Archaeological studies in the Jiver Cave in the remote Russell Valley of the Wet Tropics have suggested occupation as far back as 5,000 years and the valley is believed to hold records dating back 10,000. (Toyne).

According to Aboriginal people, the Wet Tropics is a cultural landscape. The natural features of the environment are interwoven with their spirituality, subsistence use and social organization. Elements of the natural environment are seen as links to the dreaming, a time when the landscape was formed.


Kuranda Riverboat Cruise Reviews

S

SummerLoverz

I love these riverboat tours, they're one of the best ways to explore rainforests and all of the amazing flora and fauna that come with them. We were extremely lucky on our tour, we saw Cassowary, freshwater crocs and a number of fish, birds and turtles. Couldn't have asked for more!! The tour guide was a local lady, very informed, patient and really nice. I wouldn't even think twice about jumping on this boat again, even for a cruise down the beautiful river.

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06magoo

Warren our guide was one of the most friendliest people I've met. He made everyone feel welcome and talked to all of us individually and not as though we were lost in the crowd of a group. His knowledge of the local wildlife and the history of Kuranda is amazing. He also has a great sense of humour. The boat is super stable and you could walk around to see the turtles and fish without any movement from the boat. We saw three crocodiles and if you are a bird fancier then this is a must do. Seeing a Darter bird drying his wings and the highlight for me was the couple of Welcome Swallows that followed us for the whole journey. The price is cheap for what you get. The boat has a canopy so you are protected from the sun and rain. Warren allows plenty of time to take photos and doesn't rush you so you can get that perfect shot. I highly recommend this and will be doing this again next time I visit Kuranda.

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Kuranda Riverboat Cruise

Located a short walk down the stairs to the river bank below the Kuranda Train and Skyrail Stations - Over the railway bridge and down the stairs.


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