Kuranda Skyrail: gondolas over the rainforest canopy

The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a gondola line that crosses the rainforest between Smithfield, on the northern edge of Cairns, and Kuranda. The operator states that it is 7.5 km long, stretching all the way from Smithfield to Kuranda, and that when it opened it was the longest cableway in the world.^1,10

The Skyrail to Kuranda ride is not a straight shot: Skyrail says guests glide metres above the jungle canopy between Smithfield and Kuranda and, on the way, come down to see the forest at close range at Red Peak and Barron Falls.² That mix of height and ground level is the point of the product, and it is what separates the cableway from a simple ride to the village.

It is also a different view of the same gorge as the railway. Queensland Rail notes that most of its passengers add a trip on Skyrail, and the Skyrail website says its experience is the same whether you go up to Kuranda or down to Smithfield.^11,12 Our pairing page explains how to combine the two and which direction to choose.

On the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway at Kuranda, a gondola takes up to 6 people, infants included, or 480 kg, whichever limit comes first.⁴ Skyrail will endeavour to offer guests their own gondola, but in peak travel times sharing with other guests may be required, because bookings are taken per seat and the gondola is not offered exclusively.⁵ Our listing for the Skyrail round trip says the same thing about sharing.

The cableway runs daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm, with Christmas Day the only closure.²⁸ The first ride leaves Smithfield at 8:45am, and the last one way or return trip from Smithfield sets off at 2:00pm; from Kuranda the last one way ride goes at 3:15pm, and the latest boarding for a return trip is 12:00pm.²⁹ Bookings are made in 15 minute allocations, and once you have checked in you must travel at your pre-allocated time.²¹

Direct bookings come with a flexible policy: Skyrail refunds in full up to the day before you travel, but once checked in at the terminal changes are not possible.^30,31 If you book through a package, such as our listing, the package terms apply, and the listing says free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Read the terms of whichever route you choose before paying.

Rain does not cancel the day. Skyrail says the cableway suits wet days and dry days alike, with fully enclosed gondolas and complimentary umbrellas at Red Peak and Barron Falls.²⁵ Our listing adds a caution that Skyrail operation can be affected by weather, and that the provider may change the order and times of the itinerary.

Dated closures are published. Skyrail lists the cableway closed on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 December 2026 and on Friday 25 December, and from Tuesday 18 to Monday 31 May 2027.^36,38 Check the notices page before you book a date near those, and remember that the Kuranda Scenic Railway has its own maintenance closures on different days.^39,40

The bigger story is the $85 million upgrade of the cableway.⁸ Normal operations between Smithfield and Kuranda resumed on 4 November 2026, and until mid 2027 guests ride new gondolas between Smithfield and Red Peak.^41,42 Stage 3 closes the Kuranda line between Red Peak and Kuranda from July to November 2027, with round trips operating between Smithfield and Red Peak instead.^9,43