- Telephone
- Email
So Much Fun! Barron River Rafting is an epic way to spend a few hours in Cairns. These fully guided tours take you deep into the Barron Gorge National Park by bus, before you raft your way down the Barron River to Lake Placid. Along the way there’s banter, bouncy rapids and the chance for a dip in the cool waters, surrounded by beautiful rainforest. This tour is run by the Cairns Adventure Group, a locally owned and family operated company that are committed to providing outstanding adventures in nature, connecting people with place. They’re passionate about what they do, and their super talented river raft guides will make sure you have a great time. The minimum age to participate is 12 years old. There’s no prior rafting experience necessary and everything you need, including life jackets and helmets, is provided and included. These afternoon tours have pick-ups from 2pm and return to Cairns around 5.30pm, with 2 hours of rafting action. Seriously – Smiles For Miles.
This is the first time we’ve taken our son white water rafting. The Barron River provides the perfect place to experience this awesome activity, with fun, bouncy rapids and clear rainforest water. He had a blast! We highly recommend this tour!
There are a few options on how to start your Barron River Rafting adventure, you can self-drive and meet the raft guides at Lake Placid in Caravonica, or you can book return transfers from Cairns or Port Douglas; being locals, we drove and met the crew at 2.30pm. Please note the tour times are coordinated around the release of water from the 66 MW Barron Gorge Hydro power station, which guarantees water levels throughout the year. Once everyone has checked in and signed their waivers, it’s all aboard the buses for a transfer into the Barron Gorge National Park. During the trip the guides run over safety information and instructions for rafting; on arrival they distribute and help fit life jackets and helmets. Then it’s a short walk down to the river, where the rafts are waiting.
“The vibe is high as we make our way down to the Barron River, which is flowing over and around a jumble of large granite boulders. The backdrop is stunning with the Gorge walls rising up either side of the river, topped with lush tropical rainforest; even though we’re only 20 minutes from Cairns city, it feels a world away. Generally speaking the rafts take a maximum of 6 guests and 1 raft guide, although our group had 4 guests and 1 guide (Jacob) – and what an awesome guide he was. Super capable and friendly, giving good banter and clear instructions throughout our time on the water. The river flow was strong and steady and before we knew it, we had bounced down and over our first rapids. What a thrill – the kids loved it! This was just the beginning, with more rapids, more splashes and even some time for calm water drifting – which is when you could really appreciate the beauty of the Barron Gorge National Park. This was an awesome introduction to rafting for our son and we all loved it!” – Julie Johnston
The Barron River is the major river in Cairns. It starts high up in the Atherton Tablelands and makes its way through rainforest and farmlands to Kuranda, where it tumbles over the Barron Falls and continues its way down the Barron Gorge and out to sea. In between the falls and the sea, there’s the 66 MW Barron Gorge Hydro power station which produces enough power to meet the needs of 50,000 Cairns homes. Each day they release water, which provides a guaranteed river flow and enables white water rafting activities to be held throughout the year. The Barron Gorge National Park itself is known for its outstanding natural beauty, the rainforest, gorge walls, granite boulders and cascading waterfalls. It provides the perfect setting for a Cairns rafting adventure, and due to the controlled nature of the water release, makes it suitable for beginners with no prior rafting experience.
The vibe of the tour is high energy, with the guides ensuring everyone has a great time. They show you the best way to paddle and how to work as a team, to keep the raft moving through the rapids and along the river, with plenty of time for splashing. There were two highlights to this Barron River rafting adventure for me, the first being the rapids – from the raft they appear small, but as you get closer to them and the water picks up pace, so does your heart rate, and then it’s a bounce and a splash as you make your way down. This never gets old! The kids were having a great time at the front of the raft, and it was just as good at the back, where we felt like big kids ourselves! I’m not sure how much actual assistance we provided to the raft guide with the paddling, I honestly believe he was so good he could manage it all by himself, but we were certainly active participants trying our best, with laughing and smiles all round. Once your raft has cleared the rapids, it’s a short paddle down the river to Lake Placid, which is where you exit the water and return to your vehicle or coach transfer back to your accommodation.
Barron River rafting tours provide the perfect introduction to white water rafting and are suitable for people with no prior rafting experience. The minimum age to participate is 12 years old, with no maximum age, but please note rafting is not suitable for pregnant people. The Cairns Adventure Group has been running tours on this river for decades; in fact, the owner of the company started his time as a rafting guide and is very passionate about ensuring guests have the very best time on the Barron. When you are in the Barron Gorge itself, the soundtrack is your paddles, and the scenery that surrounds you is stunning. With around 2 hours of rafting time this adventure easily fits into pretty much any Cairns itinerary. For visitors, rafting in a rainforest river is something you have to do when you are in Cairns. For locals, this is an awesome way to experience the Barron River and Gorge from a completely different perspective and if you haven’t done it yet, make a plan (!).
If you want a longer rafting tour, or something where the rapids are a little more extreme, then Cairns Adventure Group also do rafting tours on the Tully River. These are full day tours. As well as the rafting, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive from Cairns through the southern corridor to Tully, taking you through suburbs, farmlands, sugar cane fields, banana plantations and tiny towns.
No. Barron River Rafting is suitable for complete beginners. All safety gear and rafting instructions are provided by experienced guides. There is a raft guide on each raft at all times, for your peace of mind and safety.
The minimum age to participate in Barron River Rafting is 12 years old. There’s no maximum age, but participants do need to have a reasonable level of mobility and fitness.
No. This activity is not recommended for pregnant people.
The tour includes about 2 hours of rafting, plus travel time. Afternoon departures usually run from 2pm to 5:30pm.
You can self-drive and meet at Lake Placid in Caravonica, or book return transfers from Cairns or Port Douglas. The rafting finishes back at Lake Placid.
Wear swimwear or quick-dry clothes and secure footwear that can get wet. Crocs or river shoes are highly recommended. Bring a towel, dry clothes to change into, and sunscreen. We do not recommend wearing jewellery which may become dislodged and lost during the tour.
Yes. The Barron River’s flow is regulated by daily water releases from the Barron Gorge Hydro power station, ensuring consistent conditions suitable for first-timers.
Loose items aren’t recommended on the raft. Professional photos may be available for purchase after the trip.
Generally, each raft holds up to 6 guests plus 1 guide, though smaller groups may have fewer guests per raft.
Transport to and from the Lake Placid meeting place to the rafts in the Barron Gorge National Park is provided and included in the tour price. Transfers to and from Port Douglas and Cairns to Lake Placid can be booked and is in addition to the tour price. You can also self-drive to the Lake Placid meeting place.
Yes it is, as long as your children are aged 12 years old and above. We took our 12 year old son and one of his friends and they had a great time. There were lots of families rafting on the day we travelled, which was during school holidays.
I liked the rafting, it was a wave of fun. The best part was where we got into the rapids and currents, which felt like we were on a roller coaster heading down the river. The guide was really nice and told us what to do and when to paddle so we wouldn’t get stuck. The water was really clear and jumping off the raft and drifting down the river was heaps of fun too. I feel like every kid would love Barron River rafting as it’s like a roller coaster, but on water. I would definitely do this again and recommend it to other families.
Barron River Rafting is a half day tour, with transfers available from Cairns and Port Douglas, or you can self-drive. The tour itself includes around 2 hours of rafting time. There are experienced raft guides with you the whole time, providing instruction and information. They also have a land-based crew, which get photos of you as you make your way down the Gorge. These are available for sale at the end and are an awesome keepsake of your Barron River Rafting adventure. All equipment is provided and included in the price.
Let’s Go Fishing. No boat, no worries, the team at Cairns Boat Hire have you covered! There’s 4 person tinny boats and 6 and 8 person pontoon boats available for hire. No license needed, just you and your crew having fishing fun in Trinity Inlet.
More
Want to escape the sultry summer heat? The rainforest waterways are calling your name, and if you’re in Cairns, check out the Old Weir Falls at Stoney Creek. A 20 minute drive from the city and 30 minute walk from the car park, cool clear waters will refresh and revive the spirits.
More
Fairy Falls, tucked near Crystal Cascades, offers a 300m walk through lush rainforest to a serene waterfall and plunge pool. Perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day, this hidden gem is a peaceful escape with no crowds, just nature, adventure, and a refreshing waterfall.
More
© I Love Cairns 2025
