Travelling by train trumps travelling by plane, bus or car for many reasons – the biggest being that you can roam around your carriage and soak in the ever-changing scenery outside your window. To clarify, we’re not talking about your daily train commute to work. We’re talking about the kind of railway journeys where skyscrapers and concrete jungles are replaced with rolling countryside and shimmering coastlines. If you’re interested in hitting the tracks in 2025, now’s the time – because one of Australia’s most spectacular railway journeys has been named the third most picturesque in the world.
That honour goes to the heritage-listed Kuranda Scenic Railway, which has been chugging along Queensland’s coastal plains from Cairns via Freshwater to Kuranda since 1891. This charming 37-kilometre journey winds through the Barron Gorge National Park, offering breathtaking views of World Heritage-listed rainforest, lush valleys and dramatic waterfalls. Best of all, the trip takes under two hours one way, making it a super achievable weekend adventure.
The Kuranda Scenic Railway ranked as the world’s third most picturesque train journey, trailing only behind The Himalayan Queen in India and The Bernina Express between Switzerland and Italy. These results come from a combined analysis by the experts at Titan Travel, who assessed Tripadvisor reviews, ticket prices and rail route stops to determine the most breathtaking railway rides.
With two return services departing daily from both Cairns and Freshwater Railway Stations, the Kuranda Scenic Railway is an engineering marvel, crossing 55 bridges, navigating 98 curves and passing through 15 hand-carved tunnels.
From the window of the vintage carriages, passengers can take in the wonders of Stoney Creek Falls – a mighty cascade that flows right beside the railway track – and enjoy a ten-minute stop at Barron Falls Lookout, where an impressive multi-tiered waterfall plunges into the gorge below. The journey ends in Kurana, known as ‘the village in the rainforest’, where even more magical adventures await. You can check out the full rankings below.
These are the world’s 10 most picturesque railway journeys:
- The Himalayan Queen, India
- The Bernina Express, Switzerland and Italy
- Kuranda Scenic Railway, Australia
- Sagano Railway, Japan
- Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Train, USA
- The Darjeeling Toy Train, India
- The Bergensbanen, Norway
- TranzAlpine, New Zealand
- The Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland
- Tokaido Shinkansen, Japan
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