What to do in Cairns Australia if you love Koalas and Kangaroos!

What to do in Cairns Australia if you love Koalas and Kangaroos? Go to the RainForeStation Nature Park in Kuranda.

It is 30 minutes from Cairns (www.rainforest.com.au) and if you are following me on Instagram or Facebook, you would have seen my photos with a kangaroo and koala.

This was one of the best days for me as this was the first time I have ever seen, let alone touch a kangaroo or koala, but I didn’t want to touch the crocodiles!

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What to do in Cairns Australia if you love Koalas and Kangaroos

The nature park is set in 100 acres of tropical rainforest and then surrounded by a world heritage listed rainforest that is one of Australia’s protected natural areas.

Within the park there were three sections to visit; experience the Aboriginal culture; the rainforest to explore by boarding a World War II army duck and the wildlife park to see Australian wildlife.

Here is what to do in Cairns Australia if you only have one day in port.

Aboriginal Culture

When we arrived we first saw the Aboriginal culture section which was good, as the heavens opened and it poured with rain and most of this was under cover!

We saw the Pamagirri Aboriginals playing the didgeridoo, spear throwing and how to throw a boomerang. I had a go but it didn’t go very far and it didn’t come back! I tried!

Then the Pamagirri Aboriginal Dancers performed a show with their traditional dances we saw the Mosquito Dance – to keep the mosquitos away, the warning dance – for when one tribe moves into another tribe’s area and few others, it was very entertaining. The men had on the traditional clothes and body painting.

Wildlife Park

Next was the wildlife park, the baby kangaroos and wallabies were jumping around freely and they were friendly.

I love animals (apart from cats, sorry if you are a cat lover!), but I’m always a little worried how they will react, especially wild animals.

Anyway, I managed to touch a kangaroo until it jumped away! I had to have my photo taken with a Koala.

The koala was fine with the people before me, when it was my turn the koala keeper told me to put my hands in an arch to hold the koala, she tried to put the koala on me, but the koala didn’t want me to hold her! After five more attempts, she let me hold her, I’m smiling in the photo but I was so nervous!

Also in the wildlife park, there were huge saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles, with a big sign warning you not get to close!

Tasmanian devils, they look nothing like the cartoon character! Wombats and a dingo. There was a snake section, but I’m not a fan so I didn’t go in!

After the mornings, fun activities, we had a BBQ lunch that was delicious and I got to try some Aboriginal sauces. Then after lunch we went for our tour of the rainforest in a World War II army duck.

Rainforest Tour in a World War II Army Duck

This was fun, I sat in the front with our driver/guide and I also helped by pulling the propeller lever!

An army duck is for land and water, if you haven’t seen one before, it is a cross between a boat and van.

We drove through the rainforest and then through the lake in the forest, we saw lots of different trees, plants, flowers and saw some butterflies.

Luckily it had stopped raining and the sun was shining again when we drove around, but the rain had cooled the temperature down so it was quite pleasant.

The RainForeStation Nature Park was fantastic and I recommend going to visit it if you are in the Cairns area.

I didn’t want to leave Australia, between Sydney and Cairns I had two amazing days, but the world cruise must go on and we are now sailing to Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

Essential Info

Weather: Summer 28 – 34*C and rain
Lanaguage: English
Currency: Australian Dollars
What to wear: Shorts, T-Shirt, closed shoes, hat, bring an umbrella and light rain jacket
Recommendation: Wear sunscreen and insect repellent and bring your camera.