Kuranda Skyrail

Dangling high above the rainforest of Australia, we looked down on the green canopy of trees, each one an individual mini ecosystem. Plants growing high in the trees gain access to light not found under the canopy.

above the rainforest

Lianas (vines)grow up the trees from the forest floor while strangler figs start out in the canopy and grow down to the ground, eventually killing their host.  Air plants of many varieties, ferns, and fungus grow on the trunk and branches.

rainforest tree

The Kuranda Skyrail cable tram transports visitors high above the trees from near Cairns to Kuranda, with stops along the way to view the rainforest from within.  We came up the mountain on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, and took the tram back down.

lots of plants call the treetops home

At the tram stop, we walked on wooden trails through the treetops.

trail through the treetops

We could look up at the same treetops we had  just looked down on.

tree top

We saw more than trees on the tram stop trail.

beetle on the railing

Back on the tram, we sometimes passed over giant trees standing high above the rest.

some trees tower over the rest

The ride ended at the bottom of the mountain.

ride over. time to get out

On to our next adventure, a cruise on the Great Barrier Reef!