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Tully River Rafting is a serious adventure tour, packing a big rainforest punch. The tour takes place on the Tully River in the Tully Gorge National Park, which is a part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. It’s around a 2 hour car drive south of Cairns, taking you through the sugarcane fields and tiny towns, up into the mountains. Here you will find lush tropical rainforest growing right to the river’s edge, tumbling waterfalls, fast flowing clear water and giant granite boulders. It’s a Jurassic-like landscape that leaves a lasting impression, from the towering gorge walls to the delicate ferns growing by the river, glimpses of water dragons and sometimes even Cassowaries. It’s beautiful. It’s magical. That’s why we love living here. The rafting itself is very hands-on, and you’ll be an active participant in the tour. From paddling through the white water rapids, to demonstrating rescue abilities, floating down the river in gentler sections and helping carry the rafts from the river and back to the bus. On this tour you’re not just along for the ride, you’re helping make the ride happen. Of course you’re fully guided, instructed and supported by experienced River Guides, so it is an accessible tour with no previous rafting experience needed. If you want a Cairns adventure tour like no other, this one delivers and you’ll never forget it. Top Tip: Buy the professional photos at the end of the tour, that’s what we’ve used on our review. The perfect souvenir of an epic adventure.
The River Guides are top of their game. They make this look easy! Our guide Paully has just won the Bronze Award for Queensland’s Top Tour Guide and we can see why. Passion. Purpose. Pride.
There are a few options on how to start your Tully River Rafting tour. You can self-drive from Cairns and meet the crew at Tully’s Golden Gumboot, which is what we did because we’re locals. As such, I know this description and destination sounds strange, so I’ll quickly explain. Basically, it’s a sculpture of a giant gumboot, because Tully is the wettest town in Australia. The sculpture is 8 metres high, just a touch more than the highest recorded annual rainfall at Tully, which is a massive 7.93 metres – or 26 feet – and happened in 1950. You can’t have the rainforest without the rain. If you’re staying at Mission Beach, you can book return transfers from there, and of course there are also return transfers available from Cairns. Once everyone is aboard the bus in Tully, we commence our journey into the mountains. Safety, rafting and river information is provided along the way. On arrival at the drop-off point, we exit the bus and the adventure begins.
“Tully Rafting tours have been running for over 30 years. More than a million people have enjoyed this thrilling experience and for all that, the river and rainforest are pristine. When the bus stops, you feel and you are in a remote location. Just you and your rafting crew. Kitting up with life jackets and helmets, anticipation builds. Walking down to the river, excitement builds. Once you are in the raft, instructions and commands are repeated and practiced, ‘Get Down’ and ‘Hold On’ become your mantra for the day. Then it’s underway and down the river you go! The rapids are exciting and slightly frightening. There’s white water everywhere, sometimes you are literally surrounded by it and in it. Your senses sharpen and your River Guide becomes the raft master. You are 100% engaged in the experience and it’s awesome!” – Julie Johnston
As we’ve already touched on, Tully River rafting takes place in the Tully River in the Tully Gorge National Park. Rafting here is conducted throughout the year, thanks to the operation of the Kareeya Hydro Power Station, which was originally built in the 1950s and commissioned in 1957. Today it generates 88MW of clean energy and its daily releases ensure optimal rafting conditions throughout the year, and when I say optimal, I mean awesome. So much so that in 2019 the International Rafting Federation held its World Rafting Championships at the Tully River. So, you aren’t compromising on experience, this river will test you, but you are in good hands.
The vibe of Tully River Rafting is safety first and this is for your own protection. The experienced team need you to know how to act and be safe on the raft and in the river. This is an adventure tour, you will be in the river at some stage, and you might be flipped from your raft at some stage. Both these things happened to me and that’s why this is all covered many times before you reach the first rapids. As soon as you hit the white water it all becomes very real. Suddenly as the raft drops down and you’re hit in the face with a wall of water, all those briefings become very important, and the experience becomes maximum engagement. You aren’t here for floats and splashes; you’re here for grade 3 and 4 rapids and it’s a thrilling, wild ride. Your raft will get totally wet, it will bump into those giant granite boulders and it will navigate some serious stretches of river, as well as areas that are more mild than wild. When you aren’t on the rapids, there is time to catch your breath and enjoy your surroundings. At times relaxing in the calm waters by the riverbank, you have time to peer into the rainforest surroundings. At other times you are floating down the river enjoying the scenery and getting to know more about your raft mates and guide. At all times, you are engaged completely with the experience.
Tully River Rafting tours are a big day tour from Cairns. There is a lot of travelling. Even if you choose to self-drive to Tully, it’s still a big day. BUT you are travelling to a simply amazing part of Australia and the world. This is ancient rainforest, older than the Amazon. This is a rainforest river which is deemed by the International Rafting Federation as being world class. So ‘yes’, you have to travel to get there, but it is so worth it! This tour is suitable for people with no prior rafting experience, which is a testament to your guides. The minimum age to participate is 13 years old, with no maximum age. Cairns Adventure Group say you must have a competent swimming ability to participate and I agree, even with the life jackets, you want to be comfortable and confident in a flowing river with rapids.
If this sounds too hectic for you and you’re chasing a more gentle rainforest river experience, then Barron River Rafting might appeal and Rainforest River Tubing is another excellent tour. All tours are run by the Cairns Adventure Group, a locally owned and family run company committed to delivering outstanding adventures for everyone. For more information, check out our Barron River Rafting review and Cairns River Tubing review.
Yes, the Tully River Rafting tour is absolutely worth it from Cairns. It is a big day with a fair amount of travel time on the bus, but the reward is rafting through one of Australia’s most spectacular rainforest river systems. The Tully River has world-class grade 3 and 4 rapids, ancient rainforest, waterfalls, giant granite boulders and incredible gorge scenery. If you want a Cairns adventure tour you will remember for years, this is one of the best.
No, thanks to the excellent and experienced Raft Guides, you do not need previous rafting experience to participate in a Tully River Rafting tour. The tour is fully guided. The Raft Guides provide safety instructions, paddling commands and support throughout the day. You will be required to be an active participant in the tour, paddling through white water rapids, participating in rescues and helping to carry the raft back to the bus. All the skills needed are provided and explained by the Raft Guides. There is one Raft Guide in each raft.
Yes, you need to be able to swim to participate in the Tully River Rafting tour. This is a flowing rainforest river with currents, grade 3 and 4 rapids, and large and small granite boulders. You will literally be in the river during the tour, participating in rescues, potentially being rescued and the option for some calm water floating. Life jackets and helmets are provided for your safety and comfort.
There’s no accurate answer here, as everyone will have a different response to the river. If you are not used to being in a flowing river with currents and rapids, then ‘yes’ this might be scary. If you’re looking for adventure and are comfortable in this environment, then ‘no’ it isn’t scary. Tully River Rafting is exciting, wild and at times adrenaline pumping, which is what makes it so memorable. You will be paddling through white water rapids, bouncing through waves, getting wet and possibly falling out of the raft. The guides are experienced and safety-focused, but this is not a passive sightseeing tour. It is a proper adventure.
Yes, Tully River Rafting is safe. Over a million people have participated in Tully River Rafting tours over the last 30 years. The tour is run by experienced Raft Guides with safety briefings, helmets, life jackets and clear rafting instructions provided. Safety is taken seriously, because this is an active adventure tour on a fast-flowing river. You will be required to follow instructions at all times, and be honest to yourself and the Guides, about your swimming ability and confidence level. Once you are on the river, you’re staying on the river until the end of the tour.
Tully River Rafting includes grade 3 and grade 4 rapids. This makes it more adventurous than a gentle float or beginner river experience. The rapids are exciting, powerful and hands-on, but the tour is guided and suitable for first-time rafters who are confident swimmers and ready for an active day.
The minimum age for Tully River Rafting is 13 years old. It is a good option for adventurous teenagers and families with older kids who are confident swimmers and comfortable following instructions.
Tully River Rafting can be a great family adventure for families with teenagers aged 13 and over. It is best suited to families who enjoy active outdoor experiences and are comfortable in the water. For younger children or families wanting something more relaxed, Barron River Rafting or Rainforest River Tubing may be a better fit. Check out our Cairns River Tubing review or Barron River Rafting review.
Yes, from a rafting perspective, the Tully River is a more technical river than the Barron River. The Tully River has grade 3 and 4 rapids, while the Barron River has grade 2 and 3 rapids.
Obviously the main difference is the location and river.
Tully River Rafting is a full-day white water rafting adventure with grade 3 and 4 rapids. Rainforest River Tubing is a gentler experience where you float down the river in an inflatable tube. If you want adrenaline, choose Tully River Rafting. If you want a more relaxed rainforest river experience, choose tubing.
There are some raft helmets which have GoPro mounts. These need to be arranged in advance with the tour operator. It will be your responsibility to securely attach the GoPro to the helmet for the duration of the tour. You will not be able to take the helmet on and off during the tour. This is a rough, wet and active adventure, so anything you take on the river could potentially be lost or damaged. You will not be able to take cameras or mobile phones on the tour. This is because you will be an active participant on the tour, with no time to stop and take photos. You will also be in the river during the tour, so equipment will get wet. Please note Tully River Rafting has photographers on the bank taking photos throughout the day, these can be viewed with the option to purchase at the end of the tour. I highly recommend purchasing these as they are a great souvenir of the experience. Their photos are used on the review, so you can see the quality.
Tully River Rafting may not suit people who are not confident swimmers, do not want to get wet, are nervous in fast-moving water, or prefer gentle sightseeing tours. It is also not suitable for children under 13. If you want something softer, consider Barron River Rafting or Rainforest River Tubing instead.
Tully River Rafting was so much fun and we even saw a Cassowary! The guide provided us with lots of instructions and safety information at the start. There was a lot to remember and take in. The river rapids were lots of fun and the guide reminded us what to do and not do, during the tour. Tully River is really beautiful and seeing the Cassowary at the end was crazy. I think families with adventurous older kids who like rapids, swimming in rivers and going under waterfalls would love this tour.
Tully River Rafting is a full day tour from Cairns. If you are booking the return coach transfers, allow 12 hours for the tour. Return transfers are also available for people staying at Mission Beach or you can self-drive and meet the raft crew at the Big Gumboot in Tully. You will have around 2.5 – 3 hours of actual rafting on the Tully River. There are experienced river guides with you the whole time. Life jackets and helmets are provided, for safety and comfort in the water. All equipment and instruction is included in the tour price. This is a very-hands-on tour where you’ll very much be an active participant, expect to get wet and get in the river. Stunning scenery, amazing tour.
© I Love Cairns 2026
