9 Australia Rafting Tours Worth Flying For

1.Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,596 reviews · from $91Our pick

You’ll raft the Barron River for up to two hours through Grade II and III rapids, calm stretches, rainforest cliffs, and ravines. Pickup is available from Cairns or Port Douglas. Guides such as Lily, Felix, Jess, and Jacob provide instruction, while beginners aged 12 and up tackle the river in rafts of up to seven people.

“Great adventure for River Rafting beginners. The support crew is good and helpful. Overall highly recommended”

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2.Tully River Full-Day White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 669 reviews · from $142

Spend a full day rafting the Tully River through Tully Gorge National Park. Guides such as Daz, Max, Tom, and Johnny lead first-timers through Grade 4 rapids, with optional cliff jumping and river floating. Cairns pickup, equipment, and a pub meal are included, but bring wet shoes, a towel, and dry clothes.

“Rafting down the Tully River was an absolute thrill! The guide's expertise and charismatic approach made the experience both exhilarating and incredibly fun. Navigating the rapids felt safe yet adventurous under their professional guidance. The entire trip was peppered with laughter, thanks to the guide's entertaining stories and enthusiastic engagement with everyone. It was a perfect blend of natural beauty, excitement, and humor. This rafting trip not only sparked my adrenaline but also left me with unforgettable memories. Truly a top-notch experience!”

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3.Barron Gorge: Half-Day Barron River White-Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 492 reviews · 150 minutes - 6 hours · from $81

Join guides such as Laura, Tom, Zac, or Lexi for up to two hours on the Barron River. You will learn the basics, paddle through Grade 2 and 3 rapids, and enjoy rainforest views in Barron Gorge National Park. Choose pickup from Cairns or Port Douglas, or meet at Lake Placid.

“The entire crew was great, especially our guide Lexi!”

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4.Full Day White Water Rafting From Cairns or Mission Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 182 reviews · 390 minutes - 11 hours · from $126

Spend up to three hours rafting Grade 3 and 4 rapids on the Tully River with guides such as Jake, Sean, Liv, or Dazza. Expect safety training, rainforest scenery, swims, big laughs, and a country-style dinner. Pickup is available from Cairns or Mission Beach.

“So much fun!! Awesome instructor had a great time 😁👍”

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5.Barron River Half-Day White Water Rafting Cairns or Port Douglas

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 166 reviews · from $91

Spend about three and a half hours rafting the Barron River through Barron Gorge National Park. Guides such as Jack, Dorothy, Tom, and Mitch provide instruction and safety support. Expect wet shoes, 1 to 2 metre waves, rainforest views, and optional hotel transfers from Cairns or the Northern Beaches.

“Too many people. 120 in fact on 21 rafts. Best if less people and rafts. Held up all the time in and out of the water. The bummer is that we did book thru a small tour but they meet up with all other tours. Nice trick”

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6.Tully River White Water Rafting Half day- from Mission Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 108 reviews · from $107

Set out from Mission Beach for a half-day run on the Tully River, where calm stretches lead into class 2 and 3 rapids beneath ancient Wet Tropics rainforest. Guides provide the raft, safety gear, and instruction. John and Shane are among the guides praised for their humor and river skills.

“Absolutely Brilliant!! Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and can’t wait to go back again and again. Thank you.”

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7.Raging Thunder Barron Gorge River Rafting Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 104 reviews · 150 - 330 minutes · from $82

Meet at Lake Placid or add pickup from Cairns or Port Douglas for a half-day Barron River rafting trip. Guides such as Megan, Jacob, Harry, and John lead you through calm water and Grade 2 and 3 rapids, including Rooster Tail. Expect training, safety gear, rainforest scenery, and a $30 river levy on the day.

“Had an excellent afternoon doing the half day Barron River rafting. All the guides were really helpful. I was really nervous as I hadn’t done this before, but as soon as we got past the first rapid I was having so much fun! Definitely a great starter for someone who hasn’t done rapids before!”

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8.Adventure Rafting – Mooloolaba Turtle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · from $71Best value

Join Adventure Rafting Mooloolaba for a one-hour ride from The Wharf, reaching the open ocean aboard a 350-horsepower raft. Expect sharp turns, coastal views, and possible turtle sightings near Mudjimba Island. Spray gear and waterproof phone cases are supplied.

“Unfortunately we didn’t see much of the turtles, just a few heads bobbing on the surface. Also didn’t get to go into the water”

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9.Mission Beach: Tully River Half Day White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 40 reviews · 4 hours · from $106

You will drive into Tully Gorge, learn raft handling from an English-speaking Wildside Adventures guide, then steer your own sports raft through grade 2 and 3 rapids. Bring swimwear, closed-toe footwear, a towel, dry clothes, and a waterproof camera if you accept the risk.

“Onze activiteit werd in februari geboekt en betaald. 2 dagen ervoor hebben we op verschillende manieren contact proberen maken met Wildside adventures voor de herbevestiging. Ook de dag ervoor hebben we dat geprobeerd. Maar er was geen contact mogelijk. De dag zelf zijn we naar het trefpunt gereden. Mooi op tijd. We hebben daar meer dan 20 minuten gewacht, maar er was niemand. Daarop zijn we naar adres van de provider gereden. Daar was een heel vriendelijk meisje die voor ons heeft proberen uitzoeken waar het fout is gegaan. Maar we hebben geen duidelijke uitleg gekregen. Ze heeft nog geprobeerd om ons via de concurrentie verder te helpen, maar er…”

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