Kuranda State Forest

Kuranda State Forest forms part of the broader rainforest landscape around Kuranda, alongside Kuranda and Mowbray national parks in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The surrounding country includes rainforest and open eucalypt forest, with misty hills, Licuala palms and the distinctive pyramid-shaped Black Mountain adding to the scenery.

Black Mountain Road provides a rough, scenic route through native forest, pine plantations and farmland, crossing Flaggy Creek and Sandy Creek. It is suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles only, making it a more rugged option for visitors seeking a forest drive rather than a conventional park outing. The nearby historic Bump Track, dating from 1877, offers views across the Mowbray River valley and the gorge through the forested foothills of the Macalister Range.

This is a setting for nature-based recreation, scenic exploring and wildlife-minded visits. The connected parks help protect an important wildlife corridor between the Daintree and Carbine Tableland areas to the north and the Lamb Range and Atherton Tableland areas to the south. Visitors should stay on marked tracks, take rubbish home, avoid feeding or disturbing native animals and leave natural materials where they are. Domestic animals are not permitted in national parks, and care is requested to help limit the spread of myrtle rust. The area will suit visitors who enjoy quieter, self-directed time in the forest, including solo explorers and small groups prepared for variable, rough conditions.