Hi:<BR><BR>I have a few questions about going to Kuranda and Tjapukai from Cairns. I know probably the most convenient way is to prebook a tour with one of the tour opeartors. The price for a tour including transfers from and to Cairns, the train up to Kuranda, skyrail on the way back, lunch and entrance to Tjapukai costs AUD$186/person. <BR><BR>Could we save money doing it independently, taking a bus or taxi from Cairns to the station (how much would a taxi cost?), and then booking the train and skyrail there? Do we need to reserve them in advance (we'll be there the second week of February). <BR><BR>Your help, as always, is really appreciated. Thank you,<BR><BR>Enrique

You should definitely do all this yourself, and save about 30%. Even if you book the tour, including 5-star lunch and transfers you should only pay AUS $130 (see http://www.tjapukai.com.au/welcome.htm).<BR><BR>The Kuranda Skyrail has a bus transfer from the train station, and Tjapukai Cultural Centre is literally at the Skyrail base. You can simply stroll up to both and purchase tickets to get into Tjapukai, and the Skyrail. <BR><BR>I would suggest having lunch in one of Kuranda's many restaurants. Also, we were not that impressed with the train trip. Unless you really like trains, I would take the Skyrail round-trip.

Hi Enrique,<BR>I totally agree with Alf, we took a tour which was quite expensive and whilst it was professionally done it was a nuisance as we had to follow their itinary and we felt pushed about a bit.<BR>There were things we would have enjoyed more with more time and some things we really wouldn't have bothered with, each to their own !<BR>Take the Sky rail both ways, the train is boring,hot and sticky with very limited views, so as Alf said,unless you like trains; don't bother.<BR>The bus is really cheap and regular from Cairns to Kuranda only takes about 25 mins, just ask the driver to tell you where to get off, you can't miss it and the driver will stop wherever you like.The best drivers in the world are in Oz.<BR>Its much cheaper to do it yourself, I can't remember the bus number now but its easy to find out, just ask at your hotel.<BR>Have fun<BR><BR>Cheers<BR>Rich<BR><BR>Wales UK

Thank you both!

Hello Enquire,, You will pay $22.90 AUD for a cab from Cairns City to The Sky Rail departure point. You can hire a car if you wish for around $90.00 AUD a day. If you did hire a car you could drive 50 mins South East of Cairns to a place called Yarrabah.<BR>Yarrabah is a real Aboriginal village.<BR>This is where the people live,work,go to school,run their own bakeries, and butcher shops etc. Going to a real community can be very rewarding. At times you can purchase art work which you know is the real thing. There are a couple of very good artists at Yarrabah. February is about the wettest month of the year. There will not be many people around at that time and there is no need to book any thing in advance. The wet season is just starting to get under way now from Broome to Cairns. Darwin is enjoying substantial rain as I type. The rain is always welcome as Jan, Feb, Mar are very hot and humid. The rainforests really come alive in the wet so you will be seeing the rainforests at their best. You will also be one of the few people to see the Baron River Falls in full flight from the train if you choose to take the train one way to or from Kuranda.<BR>Hope this helps . Pete

You can take the train one way and Skyrail the other way. I understand there is a shuttle bus linking the terminuses. There are plenty of eating places in Kuranda. <BR>Read the trip report on Australia by Dimple Shah - this may help you decide whether to visit Tjapukai or not.