Top 10 Things to do in Atherton Tablelands, Queensland

The largest butterfly flight aviary and exhibit in Australia - an all weather experience in the heart of the Kuranda village. Home to over 1500 magnificent butterflies, youll be enchanted by the arial dynamics of these elusive wonders of nature as you wonder through the aviary's rainforest gardens.

The original Kuranda Scenic Railway is a spectacular journey comprising unsurpassed views of World Heritage Listed rainforest, steep ravines and picuresque waterfalls within the Barron Gorge National Park. This famous railway winds its way from Cairns to Kuranda, the village in the rainforest. Constructed between 1882 and 1891 it is considered an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude. Hundreds of men were employed to build the 15 hand-made tunnels and 37 bridges that stand as a monument to the pioneers of tropical North Queensland

Jaques Coffee Plantation is situated on the Atherton Tablelands in Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia, with a beautiful backdrop looking over the surrounding peaks of the Great Dividing Range. The fully licenced restaurant / cafe is at the center of the plantation's 85,000 Arabica coffee trees with a large deck over looking the garden or the inside air conditioned area, you can sit and enjoy a coffee and home baked scones and cakes or a full lunch with a beer or wine. Take a tour and enjoy an enchanting insight into the finer details of coffee from the tree to the cup. Other activities onsite include Microlight Flights, Gyro Flights and Segway Tours. Closed during February each year for maintenance

Home to the largest single collection of free flying birds in Australia (some 500 of them!), Birdworld Kuranda in the Australian highlands of the Atherton Tablelands displays no less than 75 species of the most spectacular birds from all corners of the planet - as well as from the earth’s fast diminishing rainforests.Visitors are free to wander through the lush, tropically landscaped bird sanctuary to observe the birds in their own specific - yet natural - habitats. Two lakes connected by a tumbling waterfall for example are home to waterbirds such as stilts, herons and Australia’s own unique Black Swan. In Birdworld's rainforest canopy overhead, blue, gold and scarlet Macaws dazzle with colourful brilliance as they soar above the tree tops. One outstanding Birdworld denizen not to be missed is that rare avian giant, the Cassowary - an Australian bird now officially enlisted as endangered.Designed to "create a centre where birds would be showcased in their natural environment without the barriers of cages coming between them and their admiring public", Birdworld Kuranda is a photographer's paradise. (And without those barriers, visitors often find a feathered friend nestling on their shoulder - a golden photo opportunity!) Birdworld Kuranda can provide guided tours for all group bookings.

At Granite Gorge visitors have a fantastic opportunity to get close with the wild rock wallabies in their natural habitat. You can hand feed them macropod pellets which we have available. The Mareeba unadorned rock wallabies (Petrogale inornata, Mareeba race) are rare and endangered and only seen up close here.The wallabies are unique to this area of Mareeba. They are known to be on the top of a couple of mountain ranges but this is the only place they can be seen up close and fed in the wild. Possums, 5 types of gliders, Frilled necked and other lizards, 2 types of quolls, turtles and echidnas inhabit the gorge and park area. On winter nights dingo howls can be heard way down the gorge.

Situated in the midst of World Heritage Rainforest in Kuranda, the award-winning Rainforestation Nature Park with three unique experiences. Board a World War II Army Duck for a tour on both land and water through the rainforest. Watch the Pamagirri Aboriginal Experience with traditional dance performances and Dreamtime Walk with boomerang throwing, spear throwing and didgeridoo playing. Visit our iconic Australian animals in the Koala & Wildlife Park, now home to the endangered Tasmanian Devil species. Hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies and also have your photo taken cuddling a Koala.

Kuranda Koala Gardens is situated in the heart of Kuranda and gives you the opportunity to see some of Australia's most unique wildlife up close.We have a variety of wildlife for you to see including:-Koalas: Lots of opportunity to observe our koalas doing what they do best - eating, sleeping and looking adorable. Fossil evidence shows that koalas originally lived in rainforest environments. As Australia became drier, they adapted to eat Eucalypt leaves, which replaced much of the country's rainforests.Koala Photos: Take the opportunity to 'Cuddle a Koala' and receive a great souvenir digital photo (extra cost). Kuranda Koala Gardens is one of only a handful of places in the world where you can actually cuddle a koala. Our adherence to a strict "Government Code Of Practice" ensures the health and wellbeing of our furry friends.Freshwater Crocodiles: Another Australian native - perhaps not as endearing as the Koala but a fascinating part of the eco system, is the Freshwater Crocodile. This is one of the two Australian saurians - the other being the Saltwater Crocodile. The Saltie does not function well in the cooler climes of the mountain regions but is on display at Cairns Tropical Zoo and Hartley's Crocodile Adventures.Kangaroos & Wallabies: Australia has a large variety of these macropods and you will see swamp wallabies, parma wallabies, eastern grey kangaroos and red legged pademelons amongst others. Snakes: Australia is home to many snakes, both deadly and harmless. Enjoy a unique 'up close' experience with pythons when you enter their domain in Australia's first 'Walk Through Snake House'.Wombats: This quaint marsupial is an Australian favourite. They are often playful and quick to learn. However, as they sleep quite a lot, their intelligence is often underestimated! They lay claim to being the world's largest burrowing animal and can dig up to two metres of burrow in one night.Lizards, Monitors and other Reptiles: Australia is home to an amazing selection of reptiles and there are lots on display. See Dragons and Monitors with their long forked tongues, and much more. Many of these creatures have great camouflage techniques - see what you can spot in their enclosure!Kuranda Koala Gardens is part of the Freeman Family owned and operated Wildlife Tropical North Queensland Group. Other wildlife experiences under this banner include Cairns Night Zoo, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures and Cairns Tropical Zoo.