Autumn in Cairns

The UNESCO Wet Tropics World Heritage Area transforms into a gloriously green and lush tropical oasis as the rainforest blooms after refreshing rain during Autumn in Cairns.

The ancient rainforest is flourishing in the wake of invigorating rainfall. It’s an exciting time in Cairns / Gimuy and Tropical North Queensland with waterfalls and creeks flowing, a hype of animal activity and a million shades of green bursting through the canopy.

A traditionally quieter time to take a holiday, you’ll feel like you have the rainforest to yourself! Join us to learn the stories of the rainforest and the Djabuganydji Bama (Aboriginal Rainforest Peoples). The traditional owners of this landscape known as Djirri Nyundu Nyrrumba, which includes the Barron Gorge National Park.

The Barron Falls puts on a spectacular show in the Autumn season. Hot tip: The best viewpoint is from The Edge Lookout.

Why is Autumn in Cairns so special?

Autumn is a magical time of year to glide smoothly just above the canopy. Soar through the mist and clouds, before descending at Red Peak / Guriguri Bunda: and Barron Falls / Dindin to discover this ancient landscape.

If you experience a little burst of rain, don’t worry as it won’t last long! And it brings so many unique and wonderful things for you to enjoy! Such as…

• Gliding through the mist as it shrouds the mountain tops from the comfort of your fully enclosed, all-weather gondola.
• Complimentary umbrellas at Red Peak and Barron Falls whilst you explore the forest up close.
• Amazing waterfalls appearing through the deep greens of the mountains surrounding you.
• Cooler temperatures bringing out the wildlife from the shadows and into the light.
• Flowers bursting into bloom, that can be seen up close and from afar.
• An awakening of your senses with the sights, sounds and smells of the rainforest.

The seasons here in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. Even more so in Tropical North Queensland where the typical four weather seasons do not occur in the ancient rainforest.

In Cairns, we experience a year-round tropical climate with two underlying weather patterns known as the wet and the dry seasons. The wet season / gurrabana, more affectionately known to locals as our green season, occurs from November to April. This is when the rainforest receives the majority of its annual rainfall. The dry season / gurraminya, is traditionally from May to October. Coinciding with the cooler months of the year, however it is still common for rain to fall in these months.

Chasing Autumn Waterfalls?

The rainforest really is at its most magical after the refreshing rain. You can see it come alive with your own eyes right now, from our live stream of Cairns and the Coral Sea and Barron Falls / Dindin.

Some of the most exciting things to see in the Barron Gorge National Park in Autumn are the magnificent creeks, rivers and waterfalls teaming with life. Most iconic of course, and the hero of the show: Barron Falls / Dindin. Renowned for its grandeur year round, it’s an extra special sight during the Autumn months.

Barron Falls becomes a majestic beauty showcasing the power of nature. As the water forcefully flows over the rockface and cascades down into the deep gorge below. Its thunderous roar is an impressive sound heard from a distance, and you will witness a mesmerising mist rising above the deep green rainforest canopy. As the sun hits the water beautiful rainbows form at the bottom of the falls and the panoramic views of the entire gorge from The Edge Lookout are incredible.

A cluster of white flowers bloom at the top of the canopy on a Candle Nut tree.

What plants will I see flowering in the rainforest in Autum?

Autumn is a time of abundant flowering and fruit production in the Wet Tropics rainforest. A transformation begins. The air remains warm during the day as the tropical flora of the rainforest welcomes the refreshing afternoon rains and cooler evenings. As the rainforest bursts into bloom, a flickering array of reds, yellows, and whites can be seen amongst the sea of bright greens.

The Candle Nut, Aleurites rockinghamensis, part of the Euphorbiaceae family prolifically flowers and can be seen from the comfort of your gondola. It grows to a height of up to 30 metres and has wide spreading branches. Producing clusters of small white flowers at their tips, seen the entire length of your Skyrail experience.

The candlenut tree produces large, round fruits that contain a hard, woody shell that encases one or several seeds. The Candlenut trees play a vital role in the rainforest, their deep roots help prevent soil erosion and improve soil fertility. Their large branch system provides a safe sheltered habitat, and its seeds are a food source for various wildlife species. The Djabugay rainforest peoples used the candlenut / ngabala seeds or kernels as both a food source and for their healing properties.

Another pretty tree which blooms in Autumn and also part of the Lauracea family is the Mackinnon’s Walnut, Cryptocarya mackinnoniana. It grows distinctive red leaves which brighten up the green rainforest then intricate collections of small yellow flowers bloom on a network of connected stems. These trees can be seen at Red Peak / Guriguri Bunda: when in flower and are very dainty and delicate.

Skyrail shirts feature the Golden Penda in design.

The change of the season

As we enter Autumn, this is your last chance to see the beautiful yellow blooms of the Golden Penda, Xanthostemon chrysanthus, these are the bright yellow flowers seen on our staff uniform design, and the floral emblem of the City of Cairns.

Be sure to ask our Rangers to point out what is in flower as you join them on the boardwalk at Red Peak for a complimentary Ranger Guided Tour during your Skyrail Rainforest Cableway experience.

What animals will I see in the rainforest in Autum?

With a family tree dating back 34 million years, the Musky Rat Kangaroo, Hypsiprymnodon moschatus, is the most primitive of all kangaroos. Making nests around Red Peak Station, these incredible creatures are a living fossil who play a key role in seed dispersal. 

Red-bellied Black Snakes, Pseudechis porphyriacus, and Australian Scrub Pythons, Simalia kinghorni, can be spotted sunbathing by the boardwalk. Look up to see the beautiful Wompoo Fruit-doves, Ptilinopus magnifica, eating berries and singing their unique ‘wompoo’ tune.

We often see the Southern Cassowary, Casuarius, or Bundarra in Djabugay language. As they finish their breeding season many adult males will be wandering the forest floor foraging for food with their chicks, teaching them the ways of the rainforest.

The beautiful but noisy Metallic Starlings, Aplonis metallica, will commence their migration north, returning to Papua New Guinea. A lot of distinctly large female Golden-Orb Weaving Spiders, Trichonephila inaurata, have created shimmering webs in many great vantage points throughout the forest and these are an amazing sight to behold.

The Wet Tropics rainforest is a living natural and cultural wonder. The rainforests biodiversity is rich in abundance, and you can learn even more about this fascinating ecosystem. Join a Ranger Guided Tour, be inspired by the Rainforest Discovery Zone or spend time in the interactive Rainforest Interpretation Centre. Gain an even deeper insight with the in gondola commentary of our Audio Guide and Interpretive App.

So, if you are seeking an extraordinary experience during Autumn in Cairns, Skyrail provides a captivating journey into the heart of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area. Get up close to Barron Falls/ Dindin then meander the boardwalks looking for pops of colour amongst the green backgrounds. Take in the fragrances of the rainforest blooms, the sounds of the bursting waterfalls and enjoy nature surrounding you.

A universally accessible experience for all ages and abilities, only 15 Minutes from Cairns and 50 minutes from Port Douglas. Embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery over and through this Jurassic like landscape without leaving any footprints behind. There has never been a better time to explore the ancient rainforest of the Tropical North, so come on over, Queensland is calling!