Green Island and Kuranda

Green Island and Kuranda

This Green Island and Kuranda Train and Skyrail package delivers two excellent tours for one great price!

You can not visit this region without seeing these 2 World Heritage sites. This is the only place in the world you get to see these magical locations right next to each other! You’ll have it all covered in this great package.

Green Island

Discover Green Island  45 minutes by fast catamaran from Cairns. Under warm tropical skies and the Great Barrier Reef at your feet, and a perfect location for a full-day or half-day tour.

Dive headfirst into the thriving marine life and lush rainforest of the world heritage site.

Discover Green Island

Green Island and the reefs surrounding it are bustling with the activity of various birds and marine life species.

The ancient coral cay found on Green Island is truly one of a kind. It is the only sand cay in the entire Great Barrier Reef that features a rainforest; there are 300 of them. Because it was created approximately 6,000 years ago by the gradual accumulation of sand sediments and animal and coral deposits, it is now home to various plant and animal life. It is located 27 kilometres away from Cairns.

Formation of the Green Island

Sand cays are islands that can form on top of pre-existing reef structures. These islands are essentially large piles of sand, coral rubble, broken shells, and other forms of reef debris. The rubble and debris are pushed together into a pile by the action of the waves on the leeward, or calm, side of a reef flat. This rubble can become a tiny sand island if the conditions are just right.

The droppings of seabirds help to bind the sand together, making it less likely that the tides will carry it away. They also supply the island with nutrients necessary for germinating seeds that wash up on the island. If the conditions continue to be “just right,” the island has the potential to develop a complex ecology over time.

Green Island History

Although its precise age is unknown, Green Island is thought to be approximately 6,000 years old, according to the most reliable estimates. According to research conducted by scientists, the Great Barrier Reef has not had any new sand cays form since the end of the most recent ice age, which occurred approximately 8,000 years ago. During this time, sea levels were significantly lower, which caused all of the previously existing sand cays to be submerged.

A protected Great Barrier Reef Island

Green Island is a very special place, and because of this, the government of Australia has safeguarded it in several different ways, including the following:

Because the island is part of a national park, any commercial endeavours there require special permission.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects the reef and the ecosystems that live beneath the surface.

Green Island and its surrounding reefs are protected by UNESCO as part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, thanks to Green Island’s inclusion in the World Heritage Area.

Climate Green Island has a tropical climate, with a wet season that runs from January to March and brings an average annual rainfall of more than 2 metres. During the summer (November–April), the mean air temperature ranges from 24°C to 31°C, while during the winter (December–March), it ranges from 19°C to 23°C (June – August).

Marine Life

The reefs near Green Island Resort provide a wide variety of tropical marine life with various habitats to call home.

Snorkelling, scuba diving, or taking a boat ride with a glass bottom will allow you to explore the extraordinary underwater world surrounding Green Island Resort. Seagrass beds are home to a diverse array of animals, including juvenile fish that hide in the grass to avoid being eaten by larger fish, sea turtles, and dugongs that eat the seagrass, and juvenile fish that use the grass as cover from larger fish. Over 190 distinct types of hard corals and over 100 distinct types of soft corals can be found on the reef that surrounds Green Island.

Green Island Bird Life

Green Island is a popular stopping point for diverse land, sea, and migratory birds making their way to their breeding grounds through the Great Barrier Reef. There are 35 species of seabirds and 28 species of forest birds that call the island their home. The island is considered to be one of the most significant bird colonies on the reef. The majority of the island’s 134 unique plant species were brought there by birds that had been foraging in the forests of the mainland before travelling to the island.

Kuranda

Kuranda is a mountain community located in Queensland, not far from Cairns, on the northeast coast of Australia. It is famous for the Kuranda Scenic Railway, which travels through hilly terrain covered in forest and was originally carved out by early settlers. Gondola rides with an ocean view are available on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which travels above a tropical rainforest. The towering Barron Falls can be found in the wild and untamed Barron Gorge National Park. The falls are known for their rocky and jagged appearance.

Kuranda Markets

World-renowned for its markets, Kuranda. The Kuranda Original Rainforest Markets and the Heritage Markets are the two market locations in The Village in the Rainforest. Numerous handmade leather, wood, and jewellery items and Aboriginal artefacts are available at stalls. The owners of stalls are happy to explain their craft, and sending items overseas is not a problem. Buskers who perform on the streets can also provide entertainment.

Kuranda Markets

The Kuranda markets are marked throughout the village, making finding them simple. Both of the markets near the Park are geared towards art enthusiasts. The finest opals in the world are available here, and what a selection! Nobody is harmed by browsing the bookstall while snacking on raw Queensland macadamia nuts. A wide variety of mouthwatering food quenches the appetite. Your tarot card reading will undoubtedly be successful! Both young and old can find various unique souvenirs produced in Kuranda. There is music playing; request your favourites and observe the portrait artist’s deft hand at work. A taste of honey, tropical fruit juice, or ice cream is a wonderful way to cap off a fulfilling trip to the market.

Make sure you take your time to enjoy Kuranda at its best. You should spend plenty of free time in Kuranda to stroll through the markets, shop, and unwind at a cafe or restaurant.