The attraction carries visitors from Smithfield in Cairns up over the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics Rainforest, with stops along the way at Red Peak within the rain forest itself, as well as at Barron Falls and Kuranda, a rainforest village above Cairns.
The upgrade will deliver new, larger six-seat gondolas with floor to ceiling windows and folding seats. The works will also deliver both a smoother and quieter ride.
Already wheelchair accessible, the larger gondolas will make the experience more accessible.
The four stations within the Skyrail experience will also be refurbished.
The works will be completed with preservation of the rainforest in mind, with existing ground level infrastructure to remain in place.
The major works will begin next July and wrap up in November 2027, taking place in three stages.
The attraction will continue to operate throughout most of the upgrade, with some sections to close for a period during the works and some full closures anticipated.
In the first stage, between July and October 2026, the experience will be closed between the start of the experience at Smithfield and Red Peak within the rainforest, with the section between Kuranda and Barron Fall to remain open.
Between November 2026 and June 2027, the Skyrail will be fully operational, with new gondolas running between Smithfield and Red Peak.
Between July and November 2027, the section of the experience between Red Peak and Kuranda will be closed, with roundtrips to be operating between Smithfield and Red Peak.
