Cairns & the Tropical North

Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas

Badge of ExcellenceCairns & the Tropical North, Australia
Barron Gorge National Park Half Day White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas
Likely to Sell Out

From $79.85

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

  • 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Overview

Tackle the grade II and III rapids of the Barron River on this adrenaline-pumping half-day tour from Cairns or Port Douglas. Prepare to get wet and wild as you hurtle over the rapids, then float downstream past the jagged cliffs, plunging ravines, and lush rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park. Best of all: with gentle rapids and full instruction provided, this tour is suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.
  • White water rafting tour from Cairns or Port Douglas
  • Navigate the Grade II and III rapids of the Barron River
  • Full instruction provided: suitable for complete beginners
  • Great-value tour includes hotel pickup and round-trip coach transport

What's Included

  • Pickup and drop-off from Cairns or Port Douglas with transport by air-conditioned coach
  • Safety equipment
  • AU$30 river levy (payable direct)
  • Optional extras such as shoe rental ($5)
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

AU$30 River Levy per person payable on board. We pick up from limited hotels and accommodations in Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas.

What To Expect

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Minimum age is 12 years
  • Children between 12 and 17 years require a parent or guardian to sign a waiver form
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 70 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Filter by:

Q:What time is pickup and drop off for the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:For guests staying in the Cairns area, approximate pickup is 2 pm with drop off around 5:30 pm. For guests staying in Port Douglas, approximate pickup is 1:15 pm with drop off around 6:30 pm.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I bring my young child with me on the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:For safety reasons, the minimum age to participate is 12 years old. Guests under 18 years old require a parent/guardian to sign their waiver form in order to participate.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I sign the waiver for the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour prior to arrival?

A:Yes - you will receive a link to the electronic waiver form on your ticket upon confirmation.

Jun 2021

Q:How long do we spend on the river during the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:The group will spend approximately 2 hours white water rafting.

Jun 2021

Q:Can I participate in the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour if I have medical conditions?

A:Some medical conditions, disabilities, and impairments may exclude participants from rafting for safety reasons. Guests should disclose any medical condition, disabilities, and impairments at the time of booking.

Jun 2021

Q:How do you keep guests safe during the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:All customers are fitted with hand-checked, top-of-the-line safety equipment. Safety handouts are provided in various languages. Detailed safety talks are conducted prior to any rafting and guides monitor passenger safety during every rapid.

Jun 2021

Q:What kind of training do the guides have on the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:Guides receive regular ongoing first aid and river training to maintain existing high standards. All guides carry safety equipment to deal with any situation. Guides also have detailed knowledge of their local area and surroundings.

Jun 2021

Q:What should I bring with me on the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:Bring your ticket, a large towel, a change of clothes, water-resistant sunscreen, and cash/credit card for the $30 river levy and any additional souvenirs and snacks. Please leave all jewelry and valuables at home or at your accommodation.

Jun 2021

Q:What should I wear on the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:Wear your swimsuit under your clothes and secure footwear (lace-up shoes or reef sandals that will get wet.) If you do not have appropriate shoes (or don't want your shoes to get wet) you can rent shoes for $5 upon arrival.

Jun 2021

Q:What kind of rapids will we encounter during the Barron Gorge National Park Half-Day White Water Rafting tour?

A:On this tour you will enjoy approximately 2 hours rafting on rapids up to grade 3. Your experienced guide will be with you the whole time to make sure you have a safe, fun time!

Jun 2021

Traveler Photos

See more
Featured review
Karen_G
Well organised and fun experience. Our guide Keanu was informative and interesting. He gave us extra information about the area and the green ants as well as making the rafting experience lots of fun and safe. Great job Keanu and thank you. This experience is for any age group as long as you are moderately fit. Give it a go and enjoy the exhilaration of the ride.

Reviews

5.0
1,438 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 1,438 reviews
Excellent experience! The...
Charlie_H, Dec 2023
Excellent experience! The rafting was happy and fun and the safety crew was very helpful and friendly!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you Charlie!
Awesome experience
Lisa_S, Dec 2023
Awesome day and well organised from pick up to getting geared up. To working with our guide Georgia who was so professional and so much fun and very helpful to everyone involved. Definitely great for 1st timers and would fully recommend.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you! Curious as to the 4 star and not 5, maybe clicked the wrong one :P Glad you had a great time with us!
Awesome Fun
Joseph_T, Nov 2023
This was awesome! Highly recommend it!! Look forward to doing it again! The guides were top notch!!!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Awesome review Joseph!
A Must Do
Jason_T, Nov 2023
Great experience. First time doing this and it was worth the time and money. FYI: buy surf shoes (open sandals aren’t as good for this) and scout out and pair up with a couple who seem physically capable if you’re a party of 2-3 people. We ended up with duds that contributed little if any which will put more work on your shoulders. Buy the pics at the end as they’ll be worth the money for laughs. Logan, you kick @ss! Great job and you couldn’t have been a better guide.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Haha Looks like you had abit of a day on tour but glad you carried the team in the end you legend! :P
Fun, Adventure Rafting
Lisa_G, Nov 2023
We had so much fun on our white-water rafting tour. Our guide kept us informed and safe. This was our first experience with white-water rafting, but we felt safe and supported by our guide. We were so proud for challenging ourselves with this tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Great review Lisa! Glad you were able to challenge and overcome any fears. Next is the Tully River rafting :P
Amazing experience felt safe in good hands
Zoe_R, Nov 2023
Kai was our driver and pic gal she was amazing and cam and Andy tour guides! Amazing work made us feel so safe !!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Cheers Zoe! We have a great team here!
5-stars. Highly recommend!
Lauren_P, Oct 2023
Great staff! Pickup and drop off were super easy. I had the great fortune of Dan both as a driver and as my rafting guide. On the road, Dan was warm, kind, considerate, engaging, and conversational. On the water, he was all of those things plus some silly jokes, encouragements, and thorough safety instructions. The other staff were great too—all fun-spirited folks who seem to genuinely enjoy and take pride in what they do. The rafting itself was awesome. Some moments of intense fun in the rapids and many chill moments of paddling and blissful swimming. The rapids were tamer than I’d expected, which made for great time to check out the amazing boulders and foliage of the gorge, as well as floating along the river in the current. I highly recommend this tour and there’s nothing I’d change!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Response from Host, Nov 2023
What a fantastic review Lauren, thank you! Awesome to hear you were so well looked after by Dan, thanks for coming rafting with us 😃
Fun with rafting
Mandy_J, Oct 2023
Thanks Jay - we had a great afternoon. Was safe and very well organised and executed! The whole team was enthusiastic and friendly! Thanks
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Thanks for the review Mandy, we're chuffed you had a great afternoon on the river with Jay 😃
Great experience as solo traveler
Andrea_T, Oct 2023
Beautiful time on the river with Jordan a d a raft full of travelers from around Australia and the world. The tean doing pick ups helped me out when I missed the message about the common location nearby for pick-up. They made sure I got on the bus and didnt miss my trip. Once we were at the river, I was out in a boat with others and immediately made to feel part of the group. Quick lessons from Jordan were really effective and allowed us to be successful. Rapids were good. Not too advanced but definitely made you know you were having an adventure!
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Thanks for sharing your feedback Andrea, we're delighted you were made to feel welcome and were well looked after as a solo traveller. Thanks for travelling with us 😃
Great Adventure!
Julie_L, Oct 2023
So much fun-the guides were great-friendly, professional and dedicated to being sure everyone is having a good time while ensuring everyone is safe. Beautiful area too! Shout out to our guide Ash, while being the new guy he was a skilled and positive guide. Also to Dan for picking us up and dropping us off!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
We're thrilled you had so much fun on your adventure! 🌟😃 Our friendly, professional, and dedicated guides are here to make sure everyone has a great time while staying safe. The beautiful surroundings are indeed a bonus! 🏞️🚣 Shout out to Ash for being a skilled and positive guide, and to Dan for the seamless transportation. Thanks for the great feedback! 🙌👏
great fun
Laura_F, Oct 2023
My family (mom, dad, 2 teen boys) had a super afternoon. Rapids were exciting but not overly intense. Lovely scenery too. Very impressed with their safety procedures. Our guide Eli was the best. Thanks!
Response from Host, Oct 2023
🌊😃 We're thrilled to hear your family had a super afternoon on the river! The exciting but not overly intense rapids, lovely scenery, and impressive safety procedures made for a fantastic experience. Big kudos to our guide Eli for being the best! 🚣‍♂️🌟 Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to see you again soon. 🙌😊
Barron River Beauty From a Raft
Melinda_C, Oct 2023
Enjoyed the challenge absorbing beautful country! Had an experienced guide Mat who kept us safe also having a laugh! Second time rafting on the Barron River first time 20 years ago but thankfully still operating such a memorable experience.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the challenge of rafting while taking in the beautiful country! Having an experienced guide like Mat to keep you safe and add some laughter to the adventure is a great bonus. It's fantastic that you had the opportunity to experience the Barron River for the second time after 20 years and that it's still providing memorable experiences. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable adventures in the future!
Awesome 😁
Alice_G, Sep 2023
Totally brilliant! I was a bit scared, but the guides are amazing, patient and show you everything you need to know to stay safe. Incredible experience, so much fun!! Will definitely be doing this again!!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Your words are greatly appreciated – we're glad you had a fantastic tour. We can't wait to see you again!
Great experience & quality staff
Matt_C, Sep 2023
We absolutely loved our time white water rafting at Baron Gorge! It was my wife's first time and my second time white water rafting. The instructors were so helpful and encouraging, and really put as at ease. We found out that our instructor was a two-time world champion at white water rafting, so he knew what he was doing! It was clear that the staff had a wealth of knowledge and experience, and their consideration of safety and for the whole excursion group was evident; helping us feel safe, but in a very fun and enjoyable way. The rafting was so much fun and we would definitely recommend it!!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Thanks for taking the time to write a great review Matt!
Loved rafting down some...
Narelle_S, Sep 2023
Loved rafting down some of the more intense sections!! Great experience for my husband and I on our honeymoon!!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Thank you Narelle!
An amazing adventure
Tash_M, Sep 2023
This was an amazing adventure we had Jesse as our guide he was friendly Funny and really made the whole experience so much more enjoyable I would highly recommend everyone give this a go.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Awesome Tash :) Good to hear Jesse gave you an exceptional day on the water with us! :)
Big groups & fun guys
TerryT, Sep 2023
Well run and organised. Lovely fun guys who drove the bus and led our adventures but a very easy rapid and a lot of stopping along the way to wait for the other rafts to come through. So I’d prefer smaller groups to manage this. Still fun & beautiful.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Cheers for the review Terry. We do know that we take a little time with a few guests however safety is paramount for us, so taking that tiny bit of extra time, gets everyone to the end safe and sound and hopefully with a belly full of laughs! :)
Amazing experience!
SallyHolden, Sep 2023
We had an incredible time, Jesse our guide was amazing in teaching us and guiding us safely through the whole experience. Even though I was a bit nervous beforehand I felt safe the whole way through. Definitively an exhilarating ride!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Jesse is an amazing guide and full of beans!
Top class
Liam_W, Aug 2023
Brilliant afternoon out on the rapids. A great group of guys with a lot of enthusiasm for their work. Perfect for amateur adrenaline seekers, we were made to feel extremely safe and comfortable throughout whilst still getting the blood pumping!!
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Great to hear you had a awesome tour!
Fantastic Experience - Fantastic Guide
Paul_M, Aug 2023
This was an amazing trip. As an older person who was a bit nervous I was put at ease by our guide Dan. He was so patient and extremely professional. We had the best time. I would recommend it to anyone young or old, you will have an amazing experience. Thank you Dan.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Happy to hear Dan made sure you enjoyed your day with us. :)
...

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 3
Current
Likely to Sell Out
No Photo
Barron Gorge White Water Rafting from Cairns or Port Douglas
1,438
3 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$79.85
Likely to Sell Out
No Photo
Barron River Half-Day White Water Rafting from Cairns
136
3 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$85.89
No Photo
Tully River Full-Day White Water Rafting
472
12 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$133.53
No Photo
Rainforest River Tubing from Cairns
493
4 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$59.72

Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Explore Similar Things to Do

Help CenterCustomer CarePrivacy and Cookies StatementAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
© 1997-2024 Viator, Inc.
Terms & Conditions