Cairns Adventure Group Tully River Rafting (Gumboot Self Drive)

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A white-water rafting day on the Tully River, through World Heritage rainforest, tackling Grade 3 to 4 rapids with expert guides. Drive yourself to the Golden Gumboot in Tully to start, or take the return transfer from Mission Beach or Cairns.

Days

About 7.5 hours from Tully, or a full day with transfers

Age

13 and over

Group size

Max 7

Start / finish

Tully, Mission Beach or Cairns / back to your start
Tully about 8:15pm, Mission Beach 8:30pm, Cairns 9:30pm

Return

Tully about 8:15pm, Mission Beach 8:30pm, Cairns 9:30pm

Transport

Self-drive to Tully, or return transfers from Mission Beach or Cairns, then bus to the river and a raft

Meals

A hearty pub meal after rafting

Route

Map of Cairns Adventure Group Tully River Rafting (Gumboot Self Drive)

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Included experiences

Tully River Gorge — safety briefing and gear fitting
Tully River — up to 3 hours of Grade 3 to 4 white water
Tully — pub meal and trip photos with the crew

Cairns Adventure Group Tully River Rafting (Gumboot Self Drive)

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

GETTING TO TULLY

Your day starts in Tully. Come down on the return transfer from Cairns or Mission Beach, or drive yourself, depending on the option you book. Everyone gathers at the Golden Gumboot, a giant gumboot 7.9 metres tall, one metre for every metre of the 7.9 metres of rain that fell on the town in 1950, still the highest yearly total recorded in an Australian town. Tully sits between cane fields and rainforest-covered ranges, and all that rain is what keeps the river running. From here the crew takes everyone up to the river together.

UP THE TULLY GORGE

The bus climbs into the Tully Gorge, part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, World Heritage-listed since 1988 for rainforest that has grown here for well over 100 million years. At the top you're fitted with your rafting gear and meet your river guide, who runs a full safety briefing and teaches the paddle commands before anyone gets in. No experience is needed. The river runs at a steady level because its water comes from releases at the Kareeya Hydro Power Station upstream, which is why the Tully can be rafted on most days of the year, wet season or dry.

ON THE RIVER: GRADE 3 AND 4 RAPIDS

Then you're off, for up to three hours on the Tully River. Grade 3 and 4 rapids mean big waves, drops and tight lines between boulders that need the whole raft paddling together on your guide's call, with calmer pools between where you can drift, float and look up at rainforest walls rising on both sides. The river was good enough to host the 2019 World Rafting Championships, and every paddler in the raft has a job to do. Expect to get completely soaked, and to swap stories about who fell in.

PUB MEAL AND THE TRIP HOME

Back off the river, you sit down to a hearty country-style pub meal with your guide and crew and look through the photos taken on the water (the photo package is extra). Then the transfer heads back to Mission Beach or Cairns, or you collect your car in Tully, and you're home in the evening.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Driving yourself: the Golden Gumboot, Tully. From Mission Beach or Cairns: pick-up from your accommodation.
Departure time: Daily. Meet at about 12:55pm in Tully; pick-up is at about 11:45am from Mission Beach or about 10am from Cairns.
Finishes: Back at about 8:15pm in Tully, about 8:30pm in Mission Beach or about 9:30pm in Cairns.
Minimum age: 13 years. Under 18s need a parent or guardian at the meeting or pick-up point to sign the liability release form.
Fitness: You must be a competent swimmer and able to understand and follow the river guide's instructions in English. This is assessed at check-in, and if you can't take part no refund is given.
Please note: Rafting isn't suitable during pregnancy. Tell the operator about any medical condition before you travel. Leave jewellery and valuables at your accommodation.

What to bring

Money for the river levy and any extras
Swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes
Secure footwear with a heel strap
Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses

What is included

Up to 3 hours of rafting
All training and equipment
Hearty country-style meal
Return transfers from your Mission Beach or Cairns accommodation, with those options

Not included

River levy — $35 per person
Shoe hire — $5 per person, if needed
Photo package
Hotel transfers, if you drive yourself to Tully

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 2 reviews

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

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.

(5/5)

The Tully River rafting was amazing, and our guide Izzy was professional, funny and a great host. The office team were great too, helping us move our booking dates around so we could fit more in.

Aileen Burt Verified· Travelled 17th October 2026

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(5/5)

My daughter and I had a great time rafting the Tully, thanks largely to our raft guide Gilly, who kept it smooth and fun. Plenty of chances to swim, everything was well organised from the Cairns pick-up to the meals and gear, and it felt safer than the intense photos suggest.

Chris Diprose Verified· Travelled 5th October 2026

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