Francesco’s Kuranda Guidebook
Food scene
This is a lovely cafe for breakfast / brunch. They make wonderful savoury and sweet crepes, and the service is friendly.
12 locals recommend
The Petit Cafe
12 Therwine StThis is a lovely cafe for breakfast / brunch. They make wonderful savoury and sweet crepes, and the service is friendly.
Try a cup of locally grown coffee at Rainforest Coffee. You can even buy some local beans to take home with you.
Kuranda Rainforest Coffee
17 Coondoo StreetTry a cup of locally grown coffee at Rainforest Coffee. You can even buy some local beans to take home with you.
This is the oldest pub in Kuranda, and it deserves a visit. The food is good, simple pub food, and you can sit out and eat it on their large verandah.
Kuranda Hotel Motel
16 Arara StThis is the oldest pub in Kuranda, and it deserves a visit. The food is good, simple pub food, and you can sit out and eat it on their large verandah.
Sprout Juice And Coffee Bar
24 Coondoo StA good spot in the main street for healthy, vegetarian and vegan fare.
Riley's Cafe & Bar
15 Coondoo StreetA good cafe with a lovely courtyard.
OK, this isn't in Kuranda, but it's a Cairns institution and very well worth a thorough visit. These fresh food markets are the perfect place to see (and taste) tropical fruits and vegetables of incredible variety. It's a permanent market, with the following opening hours:
Friday 5:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday 6:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday 6:00 am to 2:00 pm
225 locals recommend
Rusty's Market
89 Grafton StOK, this isn't in Kuranda, but it's a Cairns institution and very well worth a thorough visit. These fresh food markets are the perfect place to see (and taste) tropical fruits and vegetables of incredible variety. It's a permanent market, with the following opening hours:
Friday 5:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday 6:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday 6:00 am to 2:00 pm
Neighbourhoods
The Atherton Tablelands are what initially made me fall in love with the area I now call home. The region is blessed with many waterfalls, lakes, pockets of magical rainforest, quaint towns, hikes, and much more. Take your car and get exploring! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Search the 'Waterfalls and Waterways Trail' for good suggestions of some of the great waterfalls of the area.
30 locals recommend
Tablelands Regional
The Atherton Tablelands are what initially made me fall in love with the area I now call home. The region is blessed with many waterfalls, lakes, pockets of magical rainforest, quaint towns, hikes, and much more. Take your car and get exploring! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Search the 'Waterfalls and Waterways Trail' for good suggestions of some of the great waterfalls of the area.
Great waterways to swim
Other than the beaches, of course. Check those out in their own section of this guide.
This is 'Big Sands', a wonderful and (unsurprisingly) large sandy beach on the Barron River. You can spend the day here, picnic, and swim in the refreshing river water. Bring a book and relax.
Kauri Street
Kauri StreetThis is 'Big Sands', a wonderful and (unsurprisingly) large sandy beach on the Barron River. You can spend the day here, picnic, and swim in the refreshing river water. Bring a book and relax.
You won't believe this place. The water temperature is perfect year round (you can hold me to that!) and the colour of the water and the surrounding rainforest is majestic. Lake Eacham is an extinct volcano crater (one of the crater lakes, along with Lake Barrine). Do the circuit walk and see some of the most majestic (and massive) ficus trees you've ever seen.
100 locals recommend
Lake Eacham
You won't believe this place. The water temperature is perfect year round (you can hold me to that!) and the colour of the water and the surrounding rainforest is majestic. Lake Eacham is an extinct volcano crater (one of the crater lakes, along with Lake Barrine). Do the circuit walk and see some of the most majestic (and massive) ficus trees you've ever seen.
This is a fantastic creek to swim in down the mountain. It's also an excellent place to wash the salt from the beach off you in cool, fresh creek water. You'll find the nicest spot when walking about 15-20 minutes up the trail.
29 locals recommend
Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek RoadThis is a fantastic creek to swim in down the mountain. It's also an excellent place to wash the salt from the beach off you in cool, fresh creek water. You'll find the nicest spot when walking about 15-20 minutes up the trail.
This is the closest spot to home for a dip in the Barron River. Just find your way down Little Road and wander to the right through the rocks just before the causeway, and you'll find this little river beach to settle down and swim in.
Little Road
Little RoadThis is the closest spot to home for a dip in the Barron River. Just find your way down Little Road and wander to the right through the rocks just before the causeway, and you'll find this little river beach to settle down and swim in.
One of the most spectacular creeks to go swimming in in the area.
13 locals recommend
Emerald Creek Falls
One of the most spectacular creeks to go swimming in in the area.
A marvellous creek about a half hour from the house. The bottom has lots of great swimming pools all over the creek. The highlight is the Falls though, were you can also swim.
12 locals recommend
Davies Creek Falls
Davies Creek RoadA marvellous creek about a half hour from the house. The bottom has lots of great swimming pools all over the creek. The highlight is the Falls though, were you can also swim.
Great hikes
This is a moderately challenging and very satisfying hike to do in a few hours. The trailhead is at Stoney Creek Road in Speewah (navigate to the campground). If you want, you can even continue hiking to Stoney Creek and cool off in the fresh, crystal clear water. Bring water and a snack!
12 locals recommend
Glacier Rock
Douglas TrackThis is a moderately challenging and very satisfying hike to do in a few hours. The trailhead is at Stoney Creek Road in Speewah (navigate to the campground). If you want, you can even continue hiking to Stoney Creek and cool off in the fresh, crystal clear water. Bring water and a snack!
A moderately challenging and extremely rewarding hike up to Lamb's Head. The trailhead is at the end of Davies Creek Road, about a 45-minute drive from home. This is approximately a 6-hour return hike, so bring plenty of water and snacks. Also, there can be leeches along the way, so bring a little salt shaker!
6 locals recommend
Mount Hypipamee National Park
A moderately challenging and extremely rewarding hike up to Lamb's Head. The trailhead is at the end of Davies Creek Road, about a 45-minute drive from home. This is approximately a 6-hour return hike, so bring plenty of water and snacks. Also, there can be leeches along the way, so bring a little salt shaker!
This is a bit further away, so probably best for those staying a while and in the mood to explore the Atherton Tablelands. The trail to these spectacular falls that you can swim under is an easy one, so also appropriate for those that don't want a challenging hike but a high reward nevertheless.
Nandroya Falls
This is a bit further away, so probably best for those staying a while and in the mood to explore the Atherton Tablelands. The trail to these spectacular falls that you can swim under is an easy one, so also appropriate for those that don't want a challenging hike but a high reward nevertheless.
This is a more challenging hike, but it'll take you through lush rainforest through to the beautiful Windin Falls. The trail is not always well signed, so I suggest you download the Alltrails app and make sure to download the offline map for the hike. Bring water and food, and get deep into this spectacular place.
Windin Falls Trailhead
718 Gourka RoadThis is a more challenging hike, but it'll take you through lush rainforest through to the beautiful Windin Falls. The trail is not always well signed, so I suggest you download the Alltrails app and make sure to download the offline map for the hike. Bring water and food, and get deep into this spectacular place.
Sightseeing
Best viewed during the wet season (late November to late March), but beautiful all year round. This is an easy 10-minute walk from the car park and just 6kms outside town.
31 locals recommend
Barron Falls
Coondoo StreetBest viewed during the wet season (late November to late March), but beautiful all year round. This is an easy 10-minute walk from the car park and just 6kms outside town.
This is quite a unique market, and well worth the visit. It comprises a set of 'shacks' among the verdant green of the rainforest. You'll find things ranging from stereotypical hippy tie die shirts, to a lovely Japanese teahouse, to mini golf, and much more. A Kuranda institution. Check the opening hours online, as they can be a bit irregular.
10 locals recommend
Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets
13 Therwine StThis is quite a unique market, and well worth the visit. It comprises a set of 'shacks' among the verdant green of the rainforest. You'll find things ranging from stereotypical hippy tie die shirts, to a lovely Japanese teahouse, to mini golf, and much more. A Kuranda institution. Check the opening hours online, as they can be a bit irregular.
Yes, this is a tree. But it may very well be one of (if not 'the') most striking tree you'll see in your life. Nature is wonderous, and the Curtain Fig Tree is a perfect example of just such wonder.
25 locals recommend
Curtain Fig Tree
Yes, this is a tree. But it may very well be one of (if not 'the') most striking tree you'll see in your life. Nature is wonderous, and the Curtain Fig Tree is a perfect example of just such wonder.
Basic services
This is actually no longer a FoodWorks, but an IGA. This is the local supermarket, and is open from 7am to 7pm every day of the week (expect for some public holidays).
10 locals recommend
FoodWorks
16 Thooree StThis is actually no longer a FoodWorks, but an IGA. This is the local supermarket, and is open from 7am to 7pm every day of the week (expect for some public holidays).
The local pharmacy, in case you should need it. Open half day (until 1pm) on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
Kuranda Discount Drug Store
16 Thongon StThe local pharmacy, in case you should need it. Open half day (until 1pm) on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
Australia Post Kuranda LPO
4-12 Thooree StThe local post office.
Come here for all the information you could possibly desire about the Kuranda area. Speak to the friendly volunteers and they'll be very happy to suggest things to do and places to see.
Kuranda Visitor Information Centre
Therwine StreetCome here for all the information you could possibly desire about the Kuranda area. Speak to the friendly volunteers and they'll be very happy to suggest things to do and places to see.
If you'd like a bottle of wine or a beet after your long day of exploring, this is the local bottle shop. The range is limited, though, so if you have more refined taste you may want to visit Dan Murphy's in Smithfield, at the bottom of the mountain.
Barron Falls Hotel
34 Coondoo StIf you'd like a bottle of wine or a beet after your long day of exploring, this is the local bottle shop. The range is limited, though, so if you have more refined taste you may want to visit Dan Murphy's in Smithfield, at the bottom of the mountain.
Great beaches
A beautiful beach about 25 minutes from the house. Trinity is the stereotypical 'palm -lined' tropical beach. It never gets too busy, even at peak season. And, there are plenty of nice restaurants and cafes to satisfy your appetite, too.
63 locals recommend
Trinity Beach
A beautiful beach about 25 minutes from the house. Trinity is the stereotypical 'palm -lined' tropical beach. It never gets too busy, even at peak season. And, there are plenty of nice restaurants and cafes to satisfy your appetite, too.
One of the most renowned beaches in this part of the world. The picture says it all. Also renowned for having some excellent (more expensive) restaurants.
153 locals recommend
Palm Cove
One of the most renowned beaches in this part of the world. The picture says it all. Also renowned for having some excellent (more expensive) restaurants.
A more secluded beach than Trinity Beach or Palm Cove, but not much further away than either of them. Go for a long walk or just soak up the sun here.
29 locals recommend
Ellis Beach
Captain Cook HwyA more secluded beach than Trinity Beach or Palm Cove, but not much further away than either of them. Go for a long walk or just soak up the sun here.