Overview
The railway was cut through the Barron Gorge between 1886 and 1891 by hand, with fifteen tunnels and ninety-three curves, to serve the tin fields inland. Skyrail, opened in 1995, runs the other line over the canopy with two rainforest stops. The village itself is small: two markets, a few wildlife attractions and cafés, and it empties when the afternoon train leaves.
Highlights
Take the train one way and Skyrail the other — the combination is the standard trip and shows the gorge from below and above. The Original Rainforest Market and the Heritage Market run daily to mid-afternoon. Birdworld, the butterfly sanctuary and the koala gardens sit together at the village edge for anyone travelling with children.