Tully River White-Water Rafting

Full-day grade 3–4 rafting · World Heritage rainforest · Australia's best-known rafting river · from Cairns

4.7 / 5 | GuestTours Rating
Grade 3–4
rapids
Full day
on the water
Ages 13+
minimum age
From $240
self-drive · $280 w/ Cairns transfers
Our Review

Tully River White-Water Rafting Review 2026: The Big One

If you only raft once in your life, do it on the Tully. It's Australia's best-known rafting river, and after years of sending guests north I still rate it as the standout adrenaline day out of Cairns, grade 3–4 rapids winding through genuine World Heritage rainforest gorge.

You don't need any experience. Your guide runs the full safety briefing and paddle training before you launch, and every rapid has a name and a knack to it that you'll be laughing about by the end. It's a proper full day, roughly a 10 AM pickup and back to Cairns around 9:15 PM, with a hearty pub dinner to cap it off. Return transfers, all gear and the river levy are included in the Cairns fare.

Minimum age is 13, so it suits confident teens and adults who want a real thrill rather than a gentle float. Our pick for the best rafting day from Cairns.

GuestTours Verdict
The most exciting day trip out of Cairns: grade 3–4 rapids through World Heritage rainforest, no experience needed, all training and gear provided, and a pub dinner to finish. A real adrenaline hit for confident teens and adults. Our pick for "Best Rafting Day."
📷 Photos coming soon — the rapids, the raft crews and the rainforest gorge of the Tully will be added here.
Tully River White-Water Rafting
Full-day grade 3–4 rafting · from Cairns
4.7 / 5 GuestTours Rating
Operated by Raging Thunder · booked through GuestTours
Ticket Prices
Rafter · with Cairns transfers
13+ years · levy included
$280
Other options
Self-drive to Tully
Golden Gumboot meeting point · levy included
$240
Mission Beach transfers
levy included
$260

Tell us your pickup point and we'll confirm your fare when you book. The $35 river levy is included in every price above.

🔒 Secure booking · no payment now
✉️ Confirmation within 1 hour
↩️ Free cancellation 48h+
Inclusions

What's included in your ticket

  • Return transfers from Cairns (on the Cairns fare)
  • Full safety briefing & paddle training
  • All rafting equipment (helmet, PFD, paddle)
  • Professional river guide in every raft
  • Full day on grade 3–4 rapids
  • $35 river levy included in the price
  • Hearty pub dinner after the river
  • World Heritage rainforest gorge scenery

Other options confirmed when you book: self-drive to Tully (Golden Gumboot meeting point) $240 and Mission Beach transfers $260, both with the $35 levy included. Bring your own swimmers, towel and a change of clothes.

Honest Assessment

Pros and cons

What we love
  • Australia's best-known rafting river, grade 3–4 rapids
  • No experience needed, full training before you launch
  • World Heritage rainforest gorge the whole way down
  • All gear, guides and the river levy included
  • A hearty pub dinner rounds off the day
  • A genuine adrenaline hit close to Cairns
Worth knowing
  • A long day, roughly 10 AM pickup to a ~9:15 PM return
  • Minimum age 13, not for young children
  • Does not run 4 Aug – 5 Sep 2026 (river maintenance)
Who It's For

Best for these travellers

Great fit
🤙
Thrill-seekers
Grade 3–4 rapids on Australia's best-known rafting river, a proper adrenaline day.
Great fit
🧑‍🤝‍🧑
First-timers & groups
No experience needed, full training and a guide in every raft. Great for mates & teens 13+.
Great fit
🌿
Nature lovers
The river cuts through World Heritage rainforest gorge you can't reach any other way.
Not ideal
👶
Young families
Minimum age is 13. For little kids, a Tablelands waterfalls or reef day suits better.
Your Day

How the day runs

~10:00 AM
Cairns pickup
On the Cairns fare, pickup is around 10 AM for the drive south to the Tully. Self-drive guests meet at the Golden Gumboot.
Midday
Safety briefing & training
Kit up with helmet, PFD and paddle, then a full safety briefing and paddle training with your guide before you launch. No experience needed.
Afternoon
Rafting the rapids
A full stretch of grade 3–4 rapids through the World Heritage rainforest gorge, with calmer pools between the big drops.
Evening
Pub dinner
Dry off and swap stories over a hearty pub dinner, included in your trip.
~9:15 PM
Return to Cairns
Back to Cairns around 9:15 PM. Times are approximate and depend on river and traffic conditions.
The Highlights

What you'll do

Grade 3–4 rapids
the Tully River
A full day on named rapids with real punch, balanced by calmer pools where you can catch your breath.
World Heritage gorge
Tully Gorge National Park
Rainforest walls, waterfalls and scenery you can only reach from the river.
Paddle training
before you launch
Full safety briefing and paddle training with your guide, so first-timers are set up to enjoy it.
Pub dinner
after the river
A hearty pub dinner is included to round off the day before the drive back to Cairns.
Practical Information

Before you go

🕘
Timing
Full day. On the Cairns fare, pickup ~10:00 AM and back around 9:15 PM. Times approximate.
🚐
Transfers & pickup
Cairns transfers $280, Mission Beach $260, or self-drive to the Golden Gumboot $240. Tell us your pickup point and we'll confirm when you book.
🎂
Minimum age
13 years and over. This is an adults-and-teens rafting trip, not a young-family activity.
🌊
Rapids
Grade 3–4 white water. No experience needed, but you should be comfortable in water.
📅
Off dates 2026
Rafting does not run 4 August – 5 September 2026 due to scheduled river maintenance.
🎒
What to Bring
Swimmers under your clothes, a towel, a full change of clothes, secured footwear (straps), sun protection. Leave valuables behind.
Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions

The Tully runs grade 3–4 rapids, genuine white water with real drops and momentum, spaced out by calmer pools. It's the standout adrenaline rafting day from Cairns, exciting but run by professional guides who set the pace to your raft.
You must be at least 13 years old to raft the Tully. It's an adults-and-teens trip rather than a young-family activity, so confident teenagers and adults are the right fit.
No experience is needed. Before you launch, your guide runs a full safety briefing and paddle training so everyone knows what to do, and there's a professional guide in every raft on the water.
You should be comfortable and confident in water. Everyone wears a personal flotation device (PFD) and helmet, and your guide covers what to do in the water during the briefing. If you have any concerns, let us know when you book.
A full day on the river with all rafting equipment, a safety briefing and paddle training, a professional guide, and a hearty pub dinner afterwards. The $35 river levy is included in every fare. On the Cairns fare, return transfers from Cairns are included too.
Wear swimmers under quick-dry clothing and bring a towel, a full change of clothes, secured footwear (shoes or sandals with straps) and sun protection. Leave valuables and phones behind, you'll be in the water.
It's a full day. On the Cairns fare, pickup is around 10 AM and you're back in Cairns around 9:15 PM, including the drive each way, a full stretch of rafting and dinner. Times are approximate.
Three options, all with the $35 levy included: return transfers from Cairns ($280), transfers from Mission Beach ($260), or self-drive and meet at the Golden Gumboot in Tully ($240). Tell us which you'd like and we'll confirm it when you book.
White-water rafting carries inherent risk, but the Tully is run daily by professional guides with a full safety briefing, quality equipment and a guide in every raft. Follow your guide's instructions and it's a well-managed adventure.
You raft in small crews per boat, each with its own guide. We'll confirm the exact numbers for your date with you when you book.
The Tully rafting does not operate from 4 August to 5 September 2026 due to scheduled river maintenance. Outside those dates it runs year-round. Pick a date and we'll confirm availability.
Rafting is river-dependent. If conditions make it unsafe to run, we'll offer you an alternative date or a refund, weather and river levels are outside anyone's control and we won't put you on unsafe water.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure. Within 48 hours the booking is non-refundable, except where the trip can't run for weather or river-level reasons, in which case we'll reschedule or refund.
Tully River White-Water Rafting
Full-day grade 3–4 rafting · from Cairns
4.7 / 5 GuestTours Rating
Operated by Raging Thunder · booked through GuestTours
Ticket Prices
Rafter · with Cairns transfers
13+ years · levy included
$280
Other options
Self-drive to Tully
Golden Gumboot meeting point · levy included
$240
Mission Beach transfers
levy included
$260

Tell us your pickup point and we'll confirm your fare when you book. The $35 river levy is included in every price above.

🔒 Secure booking · no payment now
✉️ Confirmation within 1 hour
↩️ Free cancellation 48h+

We confirm availability and send a secure payment link by email. No charge until confirmed.

Ready to raft the Tully?

Reserve your grade 3–4 rafting day. Pick a date, confirmation within 1 hour, payment link by email.

🔒 Secure booking✉️ Confirmation within 1 hour↩️ Free cancellation 48h+
Before you book

Planning guides from our team in Cairns

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