Travel guide Kuranda

12 Barang Street
Kuranda QLD 4881

This fully equipped, clean, bright, charming property is located a stone’s throw from the main street of the lovely rainforest village of Kuranda, 40 minutes out of Cairns. The villa comes with everything you need for a relaxing holiday. The easy access parking (for unloading the car) means that you feel relaxed from the moment you arrive. Each of the self-contained villas features an outdoor seating and barbecue area, the optimum way to enjoy the small lush garden. The charming owner, Melissa, greets you with a smile on arrival and helps you settle in.

Overall rating?    Great   

What makes Kuranda Villas different?
The proximity to the main street of the village and the little extras  (champagne, coffee and Port) that are provided make this a stand-out property.

Accommodation overview
The property features two villas set on the same block. Villa 1 (where we stayed) is a lovely two-bedroom home comfortably equipped with all you need for a relaxing break. The Villa features a master bedroom with a queen bed and built-in wardrobes, a second bedroom with two king single beds and a double sofa bed in the lounge room.

Facilities overview
The entire villa is tastefully decorated and includes those extras which make a stay perfectly comfortable… a heater, electric blankets, ceiling fan plus lots of extra blankets and pillows are provided for those slightly chilly tropical winter months. The kitchen is spacious and completely equipped with everything you need, plus more. A washer and dryer are also provided in the kitchen. There is complimentary fresh ground coffee and a chilled bottle of bubbly awaits you in the fridge. Enjoy a glass of bubbly sitting outside in the pretty front garden. A decanter of Port is also on hand for a cosy nightcap on the couch watching a DVD.

Location
The Villas are minutes from the main street of the rainforest village of Kuranda in Far North Queensland. An easy 40 minutes drive from Cairns or reachable by an enjoyable trip up on either the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway or Kuranda Scenic Railway that leaves from Cairns city, or the cableway that leaves just north of the city.

Suitable for children?    Yes   
This property would be a great place to take the kids. Our villa’s small front garden, the sleeping configuration, along with the TV and DVD all make this place child-friendly. The property is fenced but the driveway entrance is not gated and the steep driveway may be a concern for young children running about the place.

Suitable for pets?           No
       
Wheelchair access?      No
   
Perfect for?
Families who love to experience wildlife and are looking for a restful holiday, which includes quiet nights in and exploratory daytrips to the Atherton Tablelands and surrounding towns. Also would be a great place for busy people living in Cairns to escape for a peaceful weekend away up in the hills.

Why stay longer?
Kuranda has been a favourite holiday destination since the beginning of the twentieth century, the Kuranda Scenic Railway being the only way to access the village in the early days before the road was constructed.  Its recent popularity as a day trip from Cairns only began in 1995 when the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway commenced operating. There is good reason to come here (especially with the kids), as the place is brimming with kid-friendly wildlife parks … the Australian Venom Zoo, the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Kuranda Koala Gardens, Birdworld Kuranda and Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve, which is 9 km west of Kuranda.  There is a good selection of souvenir and market stores. That said, you could easily spend a few extra days at Kuranda Villas, as it would be a lovely base to explore the surrounding Atherton Tablelands.  Daytrips could easily be made to Cairns, Port Douglas, the Daintree/Cape Tribulation and Mossman.

Why you wouldn’t stay longer?
The buzz of activity that occurs during the daytime does leave the town a virtual ghost town by comparison come the evenings. The eating out options though plentiful during the day, are limited at night.  There are the two pubs and the Currie Corner Sri Lankan Restaurant. The charming pub where we had dinner served great pub food and is just around the corner, but it did close at 8.30pm (on a weeknight) and stopped serving food at 7.30pm.   However, with all the surrounding areas to explore, the lack of nightlife might not be an issue. Coming home to a quiet little town to crash on the couch, cook a simple meal (there is a butcher, bakery, a fruit and vegetable shop selling local fruit & veg, gourmet delights, organic breads, dips, cakes & more and a small supermarket is just around the corner), chill out with a DVD and soak in the bath could possibly be just what you are looking for.

Pricing
1-2 nights $140.00 per night for a couple and $10.00 a night for each additional person
3-6 nights $120.00 per night for a couple and $10.00 a night for each additional person 
7 nights   $770.00 for 1-3 guests.
Check the listing for other prices.  A minimum booking of 3 nights is required at Easter and between 24th December and 1st January.