Tour Guide Fact Sheet
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Tour Guide Fact Sheet Skyrail Rainforest Cableway takes guests on a spectacular journey over the Barron Gorge National Park in Australia’s World Heritage protected Tropical Rainforests. Inscribed on the World Heritage Listing in 1988, this area is home to over 2,800 vascular plants species, over 380 of which are considered rare or threatened and about 700 are found nowhere else in the world. Guests can learn more about the rainforest with Skyrail’s interpretive trip guides (available from Skyrail’s departure terminals in 11 languages). Skyrail’s Rainforest Mid-stations Skyrail’s Red Peak Station is surrounded by pristine rainforest, including the 400 year-old Kauri Pine. Here, Skyrail’s Rangers conduct guided boardwalk tours, sharing their knowledge of this fascinating environment with guests. Allow 20-30 minutes at Red Peak Station. Paths at Barron Falls Station lead to three lookouts of the stunning Barron Falls, while the Rainforest Interpretation Centre provides an insight into the history and evolution of Australia’s Tropical Rainforests. Allow 20-30 minutes at Barron Falls Station. About Barron Gorge National Park Australia’s Wet Tropics World Heritage area is mainly comprised of National Parks and State Forests. Skyrail operates in the Barron Gorge National Park, which incorporates 2,820 hectares of tropical rainforest, stretching across the coastal plains and over the mountain ranges surrounding Cairns. The Barron Gorge National Park became Queensland’s second national park when it was established in 1940, and to this day it maintains the natural corridor for wildlife travelling throughout Australia’s Tropical Rainforests. Environmental Restrictions For the protection of the environment, smoking and the consumption of food and drink is prohibited in all gondolas. Eating and drinking is allowed at all of Skyrail’s terminals/stations. Skyrail: Eco-Friendly Construction The construction of Skyrail followed a 7 ½ year planning and approval process, and required the development of world-first techniques, in order to minimise the impact on the fragile tropical rainforest environment. Key construction facts: 23 different government approvals. Placement of towers in existing canopy gaps, where possible. In tower sites, where clearing was required, leaf litter, top soil and seedlings were stored off-site and re-introduced upon completion. Helicopters were used to install towers and string the cableway haul rope; no roads were built during construction, meaning much of the construction work had no direct contact with the forest floor. Helicopters were not permitted within 100 metres of the rainforest canopy; this was to prevent wind turbulence damage to the surrounding rainforest flora. Skyrail’s mid-stations were built in pre-existing clearings. Less than 0.5 hectares of rainforest was cleared during the construction of Skyrail; Skyrail has since revegetated more than that area through tree planting activities. Spanning 7.5km, Skyrail was the world’s longest gondola cableway of its type at the time of completion. Since opening to the public in August 1995, Skyrail has provided millions of people with a unique opportunity to see and experience the rainforest in a safe and environmentally sustainable way. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway: The Facts Length: 7.5km Trip Time: 1 ½ hours (including time at mid-stations) Capacity: 700 people per hour (in each direction) Cabins: 114 six-person cabins Top Speed: 5 metres / second Towers : 36 Luggage is not able to be carried on the cableway. Reservations: (07) 4038 5555 | ww.skyrail.com.au TGFS ENG 03/13.