Cairns White Water Rafting & Rapids Kayaking
White water rafting and kayaking are great adrenaline rushing tours as you are faced with a raging torrent of a river ahead of you. Some of the local folks just live for the thrill as do our tourists that flock to Cairns from the world over just to go white water rafting and kayaking down the famous Tully River in Mission Beach.
Cairns is pretty much known as the adrenaline rush capital of Australia and the adrenaline tours and attractions are second to none in any other country.
The river and waterways in Tropical Far North Queensland are ideally suited to these sorts of activities, both because there are plenty of rivers and also because there are plenty of places that hire kayaks. Of course, you can also purchase a river kayak if you wish.
You can even take sea kayaing tours from Palm Cove and kayak over to Double Island or you can go on a sea kayaking tour around Fitzroy Island.
For people who want to experience rapids but not go the extreme rapids, the Mulgrave River is perfect. Situated south of Gordonvale, the Mulgrave River fluctuates in flow according to the amount of rainfall. You can start your adventure from anywhere in the Goldsborough Valley, and finish in a park called ‘Greenpatch' in Gordonvale. It is possible to kayak from the top of the Goldsborough Valley to Gordonvale in one day.
Other rivers and details are listed below:
- Barron River
- Tully River
- Daintree Kayaking
- Fitzroy Island Kayaking
- Port Douglas SUP Boarding
- Palm Cove Kayaking
- Johnstone River
* Please note that the flow of water in these rivers varies greatly depending on the amount of rainfall. This is only a guide. If you have any hesitations about your ability, or the condition of the river, check with local guides.
What you'll need on a kayaking adventure is:
- Kayak – keep in mind that the longer a kayak is, the easier it is to control on flat water. In addition, the wider a kayak is the more stable it will be. The Perception “Dancer” is a great beginners kayak. Long enough to handle calm stretches of water easily, but short enough to dodge and weave between rocks in the rapids.
- Double-ended paddle
- Personal Flotation Device (a.k.a. Life Jacket)
- Plenty of drinking water
- Food
- Hat (one you don't mind losing) and sunscreen
- Shoes that can get wet
Fitzroy Island Sea Kayaking | Great Barrier Reef | Australia | RT
- Departs From: Reef Fleet Terminal Cairns
- Duration:
Full Day Tour
3 hours Sea Kayaking tour then half day at leisure
45 minute boat cruise each way
Sea Kayaking tour on beautiful Fitzroy Island is not only great exercise but you get to see parts of the Great Barrier Reef and Fitzroy Island that others do not. Take a single kayak or a double kayak dependant on your style. Take a peek at your Great Barrier Reef sea kayaking options
Half Day Afternoon Barron River Rafting | BR | RnR
- Departs From: Cairns, Cairns Beaches
- Duration:
4 hours (approx)
White water rafting can be done on a half day tour in Cairns as the Barron River is only 20 minutes from Cairns city. This white water rafting tour is also suitable for families unlike the Tully River White Water Rafting which is much more challenging
Tully River White Water Rafting | Full Day | TR | RnR
- Departs From: Cairns, Mission Beach
- Duration:
From Cairns 11.5 hours (approx)
From Mission 8.5 hours (approx)
Now this white water rafting tour on the Tully River is certainly challenging and not for the faint hearted at all! You need to be prepared to be scared out of your wits and to work as a team when carrering down those mighty Tully River white water rapids.
Tully River Classic, Tully Xpress & Xtreme Tully White Water Rafting | RT
- Departs From:
- Duration:
Tully River Classic Ex Mission Beach & Tully 8.5 hours (approx.)
Tully River Classic Ex Cairns & Northern Beaches 11.5 hours (approx.)
Tully Xpress Ex Mission Beach 6 hours (approx.)
Xtreme Tully Ex Mission Beach & Tully 8.5 hours (approx)
Xtreme Tully Ex Cairns & Northern Beaches 11.5 hours (approx)
When you read the words "extreme" with White Water Rafting next to it then you know you are about to embark on an adrenaline pumping white water rafting adventure of a lifetime on the famous Tully River in Mission Beach Queensland Australia
Kitesurfing | Stand Up Paddle Boarding | Port Douglas Low Isles | W-SWLL
- Departs From: Sugar Wharf Public Jetty
- Duration:
7.5 hours (approx)
Something a little different to white water rafting is the SUP boarding or stand up paddle boarding tours to Low Isles in Port Douglas. You can even try windsurfing on the Great Barrier Reef
Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) Tour | Rainforest River | Port Douglas | WND-SWLL
- Departs From:
- Duration:
2.5 to 3 hours (approx)
Take to the beautiful rainforests in the Daintree and jump on a Stand Up Paddle Boarding tour down prisitine rivers and waterways. This is a really unique way to experience the World's Oldest Rainforest
Barron River White Water Rafting | Half Day | FF
- Departs From: Barron River, Cairns
- Duration:
Half Day - approx 2 hours of White Water Rafting
Book a half day white water rafting tour on the Barron River in Cairns for a few laughs, spills and thrills. Keep your paddles up and paddle with all your might when you rafting guide yells to go, go, go. The half day Barron River white water rafting tours are fun for all age groups
White Water Rapids River Boarding | Tully River | Face First | Cairns | Mission Beach
- Departs From:
- Duration:
Full day
No guts no glory on this Tully River white water rapids tour. Your going down full speed into the rapids face first!. With a crash helmet on of course. Are you game for this adrenaline fueled white water tour. Coaches leave from Cairns daily for adrenaline junkies
Behana Gorge OR Mulgrave Aussie Drifterz River Tubing | Cairns Half Day Family Tour
- Departs From:
- Duration:
4 hours Total with 2 hours River Tubing
If white water rafting or sea kayaking is not your speed how about trying River Tubing in beautiful Behana Gorge just outside of Cairns. This is a great half day tour that is a ton of fun for the family and all age groups
