Tully River Rafting from Cairns

Highlights

• Approximately 4 or more hours rafting
• Grade 3-4 white water rafting
• Visit the iconic Feluga Hotel
• No rafting experience required

Description

Located just 2 hours south of Cairns and inland from Mission Beach lies Australia's best river rafting location on the Tully River. Rafting the Tully River with its technical and challenging grade 3-4 rapids attracts professional white water rafting guides and rafters from all over the world. With over 4 hours of rafting this is a must-do experience with Raging Thunder.  

The Kareeya Hydro Power Station provides a regulated river flow and guaranteed water levels year round creating ideal rafting conditions. The Tully River was also home to the Australian Canoe and White Water Championships in 1991.

The beauty of the Tully Gorge National Park through which the river runs completes your rafting experience. So spectacular, the surrounding rainforest was protected by a World Heritage Listing in 1987. Raging Thunder was the first company to start commercial white water rafting expeditions on the Tully River back in 1984. Raging Thunder are committed to creating a memorable day out for keen rafters whilst not disturbing the pristine, natural environment.

Each raft holds a maximum of seven passengers and one river guide. You can rest assured you are in good hands with the Raging Thunder guides as every guide is expertly trained by internationally renowned safety company Rescue 3. All of our rafts stay together, traversing the rapids in a carefully planned sequence with guides providing cover from the river banks. Raging Thunder operate two Tully River Rafting itineraries throughout the year in accordance with the power station's water release times:

Tully Classic (February to May & October to November)

You will be collected from your Cairns accommodation early in the morning and travel south to the spectacular Tully surroundings, with time to grab breakfast or a coffee at the Feluga Hotel en route (own cost). Alternatively, you can be collected from Mission Beach or meet the Raging Thunder team for pick-up in Feluga if self-driving. On arrival at the Tully River you will be given a safety briefing and fitted with a helmet and life jacket.

As you begin your journey down the Tully River, you will be guided through the technical rapids and can expect to hold on tight. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on the scenic riverbank midway through your adventure, before completing the second half of the river. No experience is necessary to take on the Tully Rafting, most of your fellow rafters will never have rafted before. A sense of adventure, however, is a must!

Tully Rafting (June to September & December to April)

The Tully Rafting itinerary operates a later schedule, starting mid-morning with collection from your Cairns or Mission Beach accommodation, or meeting your Raging Thunder crew at the Feluga Hotel. Your day of white water rafting down the Tully River will be non-stop action, from getting fitted with your helmet and life jacket to rafting all the way to the take out point. Finish off your adrenaline-filled day with a pub meal and drinks at the Feluga Hotel, giving you plenty of time to reminisce about the day's antics with your Raging Thunder guide and crew.

Trip Includes

• Approximately 4 or more hours of white water rafting
• Guaranteed water levels all year round
• Picnic lunch beside the river or pub dinner
• All tuition - no experience necessary
• All accommodation transfers
• Optional Extras: photos & merchandise available for purchase same day

Duration

• Allow a full day
• Approx 12 hours from Cairns
• Approx 9.5 hours from Mission Beach
• Approx 7.5 hours from Feluga (self-driving meeting point)

Departures

• Tully Classic (Feb-May & Oct-Nov) - departs at 6:00am (Cairns), 7:45am (Mission Beach) and 8:45am (Feluga Hotel)
• Tully Rafting (June-Sept & Dec-Apr) - departs at 10:00am (Cairns), 11:45am (Mission Beach) and 12:45pm (Feluga Hotel)
• Meet in Feluga if self-driving, or return transfers available from Cairns or Mission Beach
• Operates all year

Other Information

• The minimum age for rafting is 13 years
• Please note: Raging Thunder may only receive 24 hours notice of changes to water release times, please ensure you have set aside the full day and evening for your Tully River white water rafting trip
• Professional photos available for purchase after trip
• No previous rafting experience required although you must be confident in the water. If you can't swim or are not confident in the water then we recommend you book the Barron River Rafting which has much smaller rapids
• Bring your bathers/swimmers, a towel, a change of dry clothes, sunscreen, money for souvenirs & drinks
• Also, bring lace up shoes or reef sandals to wear in the raft which WILL get wet (or you can hire them for $5 per pair)
• Thermal tops and dry tops available for hire on the day at $5 each
• Please leave any valuables or jewellery at home unless you want to donate them to the Tully River
• Remember that you won't be able to bring anything aboard the raft other than yourself, but items such as bags/towels/clothes etc. can be stored securely on your coach
• Not suitable for anyone who is pregnant
• A $30 per person Pay on Board fee for insurance charges, land management agency prescribed daily client fee, water release fees, transfer costs, GST and administration charges is payable on the day of travel