Barron Gorge National Park Park

Address: Barron Gorge National Park, Queensland, Australia

Website: https://www.parksaustralia.gov.au/

Barron Gorge National Park is a protected rainforest reserve in Queensland, Australia, that conserves the steep Barron Gorge and surrounding tropical rainforest. It forms part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

Visitors can view the Barron Gorge and Barron Falls from established lookouts and from sections of the nearby Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. The park contains walking tracks, rainforest scenery and opportunities to see canopy and riverine habitats.

The gorge and rainforest have long been significant for both natural values and for Indigenous Australians; the area was later protected for conservation as part of regional efforts to preserve Queensland’s rainforest. It is included in the Wet Tropics World Heritage listing because of its biodiversity and ecological significance.

The park sits inland from Cairns on the Atherton Tablelands fringe in far north Queensland, northwest of the city and encompassing steep escarpment and gorge terrain within the Wet Tropics region.

• World Heritage area: The park lies within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and protects remnant tropical rainforest and the steep Barron Gorge.
• Best viewpoints: Best views of the gorge and falls are from established lookouts and from the Kuranda Scenic Railway or the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway that pass nearby.

What to See#

• Barron Falls: Barron Falls is the principal waterfall in the park and has a dramatic seasonal variation in flow, with viewing platforms and lookouts constructed nearby.
• Railway and lookouts: Sections of the Kuranda Scenic Railway and rainforest lookouts provide viewpoints across the gorge and rainforest canopy adjacent to the protected area.

From Cairns take the road toward Kuranda (about 25 km) or choose the Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for a dramatic visual approach. Driving via Kennedy Highway and local roads also provides access to lookout points and trailheads.

• Arrive early to avoid the crowds that gather for the Barron Falls lookout, especially on wet-season days.
• Take the Kuranda Scenic Railway or Skyrail Rainforest Cableway for dramatic approaches from Cairns.
• Stick to marked trails - the gorge is steep and dangerous off-path.