Savannahlander

The Savannahlander is a heritage tourist train operating from Cairns in Far North Queensland to Forsayth in the Gulf Savannah. Departing from Cairns Railway Station, it traverses the Kuranda Range, Atherton Tablelands and outback savannah over four days. Notable for its 1960s-era rail motors, scenic landscapes and stops at historic mining towns and Chillagoe Caves, it offers a distinctive outback rail experience linking coastal rainforest to remote inland Queensland.

Visitors can expect a multi-day scenic rail journey aboard restored 1960s rail motors departing from Cairns Railway Station. The route climbs through World Heritage rainforest via Kuranda, crosses the Atherton Tablelands, and continues into open savannah country to Forsayth. The journey includes guided stops at historic towns, Chillagoe-Mungana Caves, and outback landscapes, with onboard commentary, overnight stays in regional towns, and opportunities for photography and wildlife viewing along the remote rail corridor.

The Savannahlander operates on railway lines developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to serve mining fields around Chillagoe, Etheridge and Forsayth. The service uses 1960s-built 2000-class rail motors originally built for Queensland Railways, preserving mid-20th century rail heritage while maintaining a historic transport link between the coast and Gulf Savannah communities.

The train is a significant heritage tourism experience for Far North Queensland, showcasing the region's railway history, outback pioneering heritage and connection between coastal and inland communities. It supports regional tourism and provides access to Aboriginal and mining heritage sites along the corridor, including Chillagoe-Mungana Caves.