Rainforest River Tubing Review
Rainforest river tubing is a half-day float down the Mulgrave River south of Cairns, each of you on your own tube, with at least two river guides alongside. It is gentle enough for kids from 5. You choose a morning or afternoon trip, with pick-up in Cairns or the Northern Beaches, and a small snack is included. Prices include the river levy.
River tubing times and prices
Morning tubing
Pick-ups from 6:45am. About 1.5 to 2 hours on the river. Pick-ups from 6:45am.
Afternoon tubing
Pick-ups from 1:35pm. About 1.5 to 2 hours on the river. Pick-ups from 1:35pm.
Prices include the $20 river levy. Family is 2 adults and 2 children. Minimum age 5, and under 18s travel with a responsible adult. Hire shoes are $5.
What is included on Rainforest River Tubing
- 1.5 to 2 hours tubing on the Mulgrave or Little Mulgrave River
- Your own twin-chamber tube
- Safety briefing and at least 2 river guides
- A small snack
- River levy ($20)
- Pick-up in Cairns or the Northern Beaches (if selected)
Is rainforest river tubing right for you?
How the day runs
How the afternoon trip runs. The morning trip follows the same pattern from 6:45am.
Before you go
The full review
When families ask me for something active that the kids can do too, this is my answer. Rafting starts at 12, but tubing starts at 5, and the children get their own tube rather than sharing yours.
You float the Mulgrave River or the Little Mulgrave, whichever is running best on the day, through the rainforest. Expect 1.5 to 2 hours on the water, with at least two guides trained in river rescue and first aid. You carry your own tube in and out, so a basic level of fitness helps.
Wear swimmers under your clothes and shoes with a heel strap, and leave jewellery at your hotel. The morning trip starts early, with pick-ups from 6:45am, and the afternoon trip suits families who like a slow start to the day.
Why it earns Best Family River Float and a 4.6: kids from 5, a family price, and a half day in the rainforest that does not feel like a museum visit. The catch: it is a float, not white water. Older kids who want rapids should try the Barron River rafting.
Rainforest River Tubing FAQs