Having experienced the delights that Cairns had to offer (Gilligan’s backpacker bar not being one of them) I decided to venture further out into the Atherton Tablelands, just 25 kilometres away from Cairns to a town (although more well known as the Village in the Rainforest) called Kuranda.
Many choose to take the Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail Rainforest Cableway across which provides magnificent views above the rainforest but at over $40 one way, I felt the shuttle bus with it’s bargain price of $4 would do me just fine. On arrival in the town, you get the sense of having been transported to some sort of hippie village surrounded by trees, trees, and more trees.
The tourist information located centrally in the town offered out reels of information about Kuranda and the surprisingly vast amount of things to do here. Some of the highlights included Bird World, Koala Gardens, Rainforestation Nature Park, and the Butterfly Sanctuary (having been attacked by butterflies previously in my life, I decided this was a definite no-no). Once I had gathered a heap of leaflets, I took myself off to the local markets. Kuranda is famous for its markets which sell locally crafted products, and some spectacular Aboriginal artwork (markets open around 9am and close at 3.30pm). Got chatting to the owner of the Coconut Café who recommended I take a walk through the rainforest or head the 3km to Baron Gorge – a waterfall-carved gorge. I took some of his advice and set off on my journey towards the rainforest.
The rainforest surrounding Kuranda is World Heritage listed and one of the oldest on the planet. Off I went on my exploration, camera at the ready, walking shoes on. I meandered along the river which runs through the rainforest and kept walking to find a track I has been told about. Saw a “No Entry” sign, but of course, decided to ignore it…
this led to a few hours (I slightly exaggerate) of me being lost and alone in the rainforest. Key advice: do not ignore signs. Eventually worked out that I could follow my path back to the beginning and the rainforest released me. If, like me, you have the world’s worst navigational skills, I would recommend taking the riverboat cruise which lasts 45 minutes and cruises along the Barron River which is home to crocs, turtles, snakes, and many varieties of tropical birds.
On my way back into the centre I came across many souvenir shops and Aboriginal art shops/galleries. I popped into one and started talking to the older Aboriginal lady at the front desk, she was a nurse but now concentrated on her gallery and running a cultural centre to educate people about the Aboriginal community. The original tribe of Aboriginal people to settle in the Kuranda region are known as “Dja-Bu-Gay”. In the 19th Century gold and tin mining in the region and the construction of a railway impacted on the Djabugay people and after showing their unhappiness to the white settlers, the 1890 Speewah Massacre took place and their numbers fell dramatically. However, their culture still thrives today in this region and it can be seen through traditional artefacts, visual art work, and out on the streets of Kuranda you may get the opportunity to see a performance of the “Corroboree”, a tribal dance. Kuranda is a great example of a place where indigenous and non-indigenous people can live in harmony and it provides a chance to see the celebration of Aboriginal culture.
24 January, 2012 9:00 am
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