A rainforest river drift on the Mossman River, 20 minutes north of Port Douglas: hike upstream towing a lightweight river sled, then float back down through a secret creek and the main river.
Days
- 2 hours
Age
- 8+
Group size
- Small group, 2 to 12
Start / finish
- Port Douglas / Port Douglas
Return
- See itinerary for details
Transport
- Complimentary pick-up from Port Douglas and Mossman; river sled on the water
Meals
- Snacks
Route
Included experiences
- Mossman River — walk upstream on a granite sand bed
- Mossman River — float downstream on a river sled
- Secret creek — drift through to the main river
- Rainforest swimming holes — swims in clear water
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 29 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 29 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the river drift experience for its combination of rainforest immersion, wildlife and cultural education, and the calm, scenic floating activity itself, with guides regularly commended as knowledgeable, friendly and skilled at engaging groups of mixed ages and abilities. The experience stands out most frequently as a peaceful yet engaging family adventure that balances activity with relaxation, offering a distinctive alternative to other regional attractions like reef visits or gorge walks, with particular appreciation for the provision of equipment, complimentary photographs and hassle-free logistics including pick-up and drop-off. The most common caveat is that the experience involves more walking than some travellers anticipated, and there are occasional reports of guides positioning themselves at the front of the group, which created minor issues when slower participants needed assistance; additionally, river conditions can vary seasonally, affecting water clarity and the overall experience.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“Great immersive rainforest adventure for families”
Quite different from Mossman Gorge, which we'd seen the day before: an immersive, slow river and rainforest experience at a good pace for our teens. The team handled my husband's health screening carefully. Full wetsuits were warm, and those in shirts got more gravel in their boots. Photos were provided, so we could just enjoy it. Do both.
“Hands down best experience :)”
We loved it six years ago and came back with our kids aged 11, 8 and 4, who said it was the best thing they've ever done. The walk through the rainforest, the facts and the drifting beat even the reef, and the guides were funny and great with our boys.
“Highly recommend the river drift experience.”
A fabulous river drift that was more than we expected, and everyone had a great time. Thanks to Tia, Stephi and Davey.
“Mossman River has never been more perfect.”
A wonderful day on the Mossman River with Tia and Aiden, who were outstanding and shared lots about the rainforest and the river's history.
“Peaceful fun way to see the awesome Daintree”
Real nature immersion in the rainforest away from the crowds, with lots of fun swimming and drifting. Will was a knowledgeable, fun guide. Less effort than the warnings suggest, and we'll be back with friends.
“Amazing”
River drifting was amazing, with knowledgeable, friendly guides who made the whole morning enjoyable. Good value.
