211 Our booking was for 10 am for the Skyrail but we were there heaps early. By the time ten rolled around the place was packed with bus loads of tourists, the place was packed. The Skyrail is a 7.5 Km ride through or should I say over the mountains from just outside Cairns to Kuranda Village, with two stops in the middle, Red Peak and Barron Falls. We shared a gondola with 3 people till Red Peak. Here we got out and walked the 450 meter circuit through the rainforest. The next segment we shared with 2 people (pattern developing here), till we got off at Barron Falls. After another quick walk and a few great pics we were back in the gondola, this time ALONE! The whole ride up to Kuranda was about an hour and half so we were just in time for lunch. We started with a couple of big beers, had them put in paper bags so we could walk around. Haven't done that since Rock The Bells, New York about five years ago. Anyway we strolled around the village getting our drink on. The village had two distinct markets. Neither your typical one, maybe just the atmosphere was different. The markets were small and mostly filled with souvenirs and crafts, maybe one grocer and no tradies or gimmick sales. After downing our first beers quite quickly and devouring the sandwiches we brought we were back at the bottle shop. Two more forty ouncers in bags. Half way through the second round we were feeling terrific, bought some knick knacks, fed a black Cockatoo and Jenn got a braid put in her hair. As cloudy as some of the pics from on the way up look the day was warm and clear. We walked around the market and stores a second time working on our third drinks, and getting some odd looks (jealousy!).
It was time to catch the Kuranda Scenic Railway back. We strolled down to the train station built ages ago. The train matched it in character as it was one of the oldest in OZ. The 85 year old wooden cars were nicely restored to their deep rich wood finish. The track slithered through the mountains and along cliff sides for 34 kilometers. The train chugged through 15 tunnels, around 98 curves and over 40 skinny bridges by the time it arrived back in Freshwater Station.