Barron River Half-Day White Water Rafting Cairns or Port Douglas
4.8
Barron River Half-Day White Water Rafting Cairns or Port Douglas
By Raging Thunder Adventures
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 12-70, max of 50 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Professional river guide
- Transport by private vehicle
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
- All rafting equipment (except shoes)
What's not included- Photos $59 (available for purchase)
- Rafting shoes (available to hire)
- $30 per person levy is payable direct on day of travel
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
- Lake Placid Road, Lake Placid Rd, Kamerunga QLD, AustraliaMeet your river guides at the Lake Placid Carpark, near the Caravan Park.
Pickup details- We can pick up from Cairns City, Northern Beaches & Port Douglas accommodation. Guests are more than welcome to make their own way to Lake Placid Park (self drive).
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Additional pickup optionsDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included pickup points.- Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf St, Port Douglas QLD 4877, Australia
- Skypark Cairns by AJ Hackett, Lot 2 End of, McGregor Rd, Smithfield QLD 4878, Australia
- Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, 6 Skyrail Dr, Smithfield QLD 4878, Australia
- Lake Placid, Caravonica QLD 4878, Australia
- Reef Fleet Terminal, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3537BAR2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children aged 12-18 years require a Parents or Guardians counter signature on waiver form
- Minimum age is 12 years
- $30 per person River Levy is payable on the day of travel
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 3537BAR2
From
AU$128.00
per adult
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Allison R0 contributionsHighly recommend!!Absolutely amazing!!! So much fun and the tour guides were lovely. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush look no further! Highly recommendWritten 21 March 2025
- S1144HLtonyr0 contributionsThe best way to see a great rain forest river.The best way to see a river and some very exiting rapids and grade 4 drops. Thanks Des for keeping us safe in the raft and sharing your great stories. to anyone else booking, make sure your raft trip starts at the top of the river unless the water is too high. Recommend staying at Mission beach and joining the group at Tullly. Its a long day of driving from Cairns.Written 19 March 2025
- G2210JSzoem0 contributionsHighly recommendWe had an incredible time white water rafting, and a big shout-out to our guide, Paulie! His expertise and engagement with the group made the experience unforgettable. Highly recommend this rafting experience!Written 25 February 2025
- Z6657YNjosephinem0 contributionsAn unforgettable adventure on the rapidsThe rapids were absolutely incredible when we went! Our guide, Paul, was fantastic—his deep knowledge of the area made the experience even more special. It truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and easily one of the best things I’ve ever done!Written 24 February 2025
- 233gerganap0 contributionsHad a great time and so much fun!Such a fun rafting trip with Paul leading the way! He is super skilled, made us feel safe, and kept the vibes fun the whole time. Highly recommend this adventure!Written 24 February 2025
- 231willy0 contributionsTULLY RIVER RAFTINGAmazing day out, great fun and very nice instructors, I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys the outdoors.!!Written 23 February 2025
- Extraordinary6973590 contributionsA great day full of actionThanks again for this fantastic experience! We really enjoyed the rafting with our crew and our guide Paul. It was our first time rafting and we were really well instructed. The currents were surprisingly strong but we never felt unsafe und it was a lot of fun. We highly recommend the Tully river raftingWritten 15 February 2025
- Chubbachunga0 contributionsWhite WashWas great day, highly recommend to anyone travelling to Nth QLD. The staff and our guide Sean were excellent! from pick up to drop off was a great experience.Written 9 February 2025
- georgekD4210TT0 contributionsTully river full dayGreat time on the Tully river, would highly recommend. Our team leader Paul was Extremely knowledgeable of the rivers and very thorough with the safety briefing. We never fell from the boat once!Written 2 February 2025
- 800phoebek0 contributionsAmazing Day with an Amazing Guide - PaulWe were lucky enough to have Paul as our guide for the Tully River White Water Rafting. We all had the best day, and it was a definite highlight of our trip up the East Coast of Australia. Some of our group members were initially a bit apprehensive about the activity, however with Paul’s amazing guidance and encouragement, we were all soon paddling down the rapids and smiling the whole way! We were even lucky enough to spot a Cassowary! Thank you Paul for such an incredible day!Written 28 January 2025
- blL7342OG0 contributionsFantastic dayWe had an amazing day! Lots of rafting, swimming and cliff jumping. Great tour guides, all of them very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!Written 27 January 2025
- coconutpotato0 contributionsFun experienceFriendly staffs and fun experience. No one got injured. Just make sure don't bring Gopro or phones on the rafting boats. You don't want to ruin this experience with losing a device with photos and videos.Written 25 January 2025
- susangG4658FJ0 contributionsFantastic day rafting.We thoroughly enjoyed our rafting experience. Very well organised and felt very safe under Paulie’s instruction. It was very exciting going down the rapids. My husband and I did raging thunder rafting 29 years ago and we wanted to do it again. Obviously we are a bit older now but we had just as much fun. Thanks guys for a great time.Written 18 January 2025
- meganbS6219KR0 contributionsFun day outHooray! This was a great day and well organized. The crew were all very fun and put us at ease. The day was very well organized and vegetarian option was pretty good.Written 18 January 2025
- pf5270 contributionsWhat an amazing and beautiful experience!Paulie was an absolute motivational wizard for our all girls group! He was clearly experienced and well versed in river rafting. Some of us were extremely nervous to begin with but Paulies reassurance, encouragement and inclusive jokes quickly put us at ease. Probably the best experience of my 6 week trip and would definitely do it again. Thanks guys! XWritten 17 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.8
85 reviews
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CarloHelmond
Helmond, The Netherlands730 contributions
July 2024 • Family
This tour is well suited to take with kids. You will use the lower part of the Barron river which is not as wild as other parts and is classified as a level 3. Very well organized. Pickup from Cairns is included. Bring your own shoes or hire them for $5,- Depending on the size of the group you will end up with about 6 people in a raft. All safety gear is provided. There is a short introduction, safety talk and some practice activities at the start of the trip before goin through the rapids. In July the water is refreshing but not cold. You will get wet! The last part is mainly peddling back to the buss. There are no showers at the end, so bring a towel and a dry set of clothes. Great fun with the kids. If you are more experienced you might want to try the longer trips they offer.
Written 22 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great fun! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We love to hear it Carlo!
Some great info here for those researching at home.
We had the best day on the Barron with the family! Thank you for choosing us, and we look forward to welcoming you all back on board again soon!
Written 26 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ghazale A
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Couples
I had the thrill of white water rafting with Raging Thunder, and it was an absolutely unforgettable experience! From start to finish, the team was professional, organized, and focused on ensuring everyone had both a safe and exciting adventure.
The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, and full of energy, making the entire trip engaging and fun. They provided clear instructions, shared interesting facts about the area, and had a great sense of humor that kept the atmosphere lively. The rafting route itself was breathtaking, with stunning views of nature and heart-pumping rapids that offered the perfect mix of adrenaline and adventure.
Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced rafter, Raging Thunder caters to everyone with expert guidance and an emphasis on safety. I felt completely at ease throughout the journey, which allowed me to fully enjoy the thrill of the rapids and the beauty of the surroundings.
If you're looking for an unforgettable outdoor adventure, I highly recommend Raging Thunder. This was hands down one of the best experiences I've had, and I can’t wait to do it again!
The guides were incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, and full of energy, making the entire trip engaging and fun. They provided clear instructions, shared interesting facts about the area, and had a great sense of humor that kept the atmosphere lively. The rafting route itself was breathtaking, with stunning views of nature and heart-pumping rapids that offered the perfect mix of adrenaline and adventure.
Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced rafter, Raging Thunder caters to everyone with expert guidance and an emphasis on safety. I felt completely at ease throughout the journey, which allowed me to fully enjoy the thrill of the rapids and the beauty of the surroundings.
If you're looking for an unforgettable outdoor adventure, I highly recommend Raging Thunder. This was hands down one of the best experiences I've had, and I can’t wait to do it again!
Written 2 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, what an incredible review! We are stoked to hear that it was one of the best experiences you have had, and we can't wait to see you back out on the river! We agree, the Tully is absolutely breathtaking :)
Written 2 December 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mel from Oz
1 contribution
July 2023 • Friends
I highly recommend this half day rafting adventure. Josh was our guide and he made it so much fun. My sister and I (in our late 40’s) went on a raft with a family of 4 (mum, dad and two teenage boys) and Josh. We booked online and self drove to Lake Placid and met the organisers and other adventurers there. Not overly Adrenalin inducing, the experience was a good workout and a lot of fun. I got thrown out of the raft on one of the rapids but once I came to surface, Josh was quick to pull me back in. I felt safe the whole time. I saw some older people on this day trip that would have been in their 60’s and the youngest would have been in their early teens. This really is an activity for all age groups. The views from the Barron River are also spectacular. Definitely do this half day experience if you’re looking for a fun afternoon adventure with like minded people. And ask for Josh, he had everyone on the raft laughing and having a great time.
Written 7 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your awesome review and recommendation, we agree rafting on the Barron River is a fun activity for the young at heart of all ages! 😃 Great to hear you were so well looked after by Josh and he kept you feeling safe and entertained all at the same time!
Written 9 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jess R
13 contributions
Mar 2021
There was no change rooms available at the top of the river so staff informed myself and some other girls that we could get changed on the bus. Staff stated "there are no change rooms, but do not worry you can use the bus as a change room, the windows are tinted and there are blinds so don't worry it's still private". Myself and others were happy to get changed on the bus as staff reassured us it was "private", however, once we started getting changed Raging Thunder Adventure staff were telling other customers/members of the public to go put their belongings on the bus - they were instructing members of the public to go onto the bus knowing that we were getting changed. Unfortunately, I was getting changed so I experienced members of the public seeing me half naked which was completely inappropriate that Raging Thunder staff would enable this to happen. After the rafting, I told the staff member Kristian what had happened and he told me "yeah nice" completely dismissing my concerns that they told me it was safe and private to get changed yet allowed the public to be ushered onto the bus seeing myself and others half naked. Imagine if children were getting changed?! I wonder how often Raging Thunder Adventures lets women get changed and then tells the public to go on the bus to expose naked women without their permission completely disrespecting their privacy...
Raging Thunder are completely unprofessional and unorganised. This was again proven by the '$5 rental fee' for enclosed shoes, however, the Raging Thunder staff member came on the bus and stated "can you all just give me whatever cash you have and you can sort out the change amongst yourselves". Everyone started handing over whatever cash they had, I handed over $15 and my friend handed over $10. Yet we were on the bus with complete strangers so how was I ever going to find the time or who they even were to get my change back? So my friend and I ended up paying $25 for shoe hire when it was supposed to be $10 for the both of us. This was a stupid way to collect money for rental hire because I ended up paying more money than I should of.
Despite Raging Thunder allowing women to be seen partially naked and taking extra money due to most of their staff being disrespectful and unorganised, my group's instructor Cooper was amazing. Cooper was kind, friendly, extremely knowledgeable on the water and a great rafting instructor. My group was all very impressed with Cooper.
Raging Thunder are completely unprofessional and unorganised. This was again proven by the '$5 rental fee' for enclosed shoes, however, the Raging Thunder staff member came on the bus and stated "can you all just give me whatever cash you have and you can sort out the change amongst yourselves". Everyone started handing over whatever cash they had, I handed over $15 and my friend handed over $10. Yet we were on the bus with complete strangers so how was I ever going to find the time or who they even were to get my change back? So my friend and I ended up paying $25 for shoe hire when it was supposed to be $10 for the both of us. This was a stupid way to collect money for rental hire because I ended up paying more money than I should of.
Despite Raging Thunder allowing women to be seen partially naked and taking extra money due to most of their staff being disrespectful and unorganised, my group's instructor Cooper was amazing. Cooper was kind, friendly, extremely knowledgeable on the water and a great rafting instructor. My group was all very impressed with Cooper.
Written 28 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your post Jess although we're disappointed you felt the need to write this considering there has already been several emails between ourselves and you, along with other members of your group regarding the misunderstanding while you were getting changed.
As advised, it was never our intention to have you or your friends exposed to other passengers on the trip. As there are no change facilities at the top of the river the person that told you to get changed on the bus was suggesting the best alternative, as there is a lot happening right before the trip it appears they were unable to communicate this to every guide and another staff member has innocently told their guests to put their gear on the bus not realising you were in there. We realise this was far from an ideal situation and we appreciate your angst, but please understand this was a pure miscommunication and not our staff being unprofessional or disrespectful.
The culture of Cairns Adventure Group is one of respect toward females, we are strong advocates in encouraging female river guides to gain employment and grow a career in rafting and we even went so far as to sponsor the Australian Women’s Rafting team in the 2019 World Rafting Championships.
As advised in our direct correspondence with you, other matters raised in your email have been dealt with by our owner and operational changes have been made to ensure a similar situation will not re-occur.
Once again, our sincere apologies.
Written 2 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Derek S
Melbourne, Australia75 contributions
From booking, to pickup to splash time this was a really great little white water experience. Grade 2-3 rapids were just enough for first timers and those who had been before. This trip was exactly as described at booking…a few hours on the river, beautiful gorge and experience guides. There were 22 boats on the river…so it was a big group overall but the guides worked on pods keeping everyone having fun and safe. There was one particularly exciting rapid that challenged a few boats (and swimmers) but the guides were spot on pro with safety ropes and no one was in any real trouble! I've been on a few other White Water trips…this is a good intro….other longer, bigger rivers have a bit more punch to the number and size of some rapids…but for the length of time and the ease of access from Cairns…this is a great trip….our first timers had a great day!
Written 26 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are stoked to hear you had an awesome time rafting! Thanks for joining us and for sharing your experience!
Written 30 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Annette Paysden
Adelaide, Australia2 contributions
Awesome fun doing this white water rafting experience. The guides are amazing, train you really well and are very experienced. The river and mountains are stunning to look at as you get an opportunity to jump in and cruise down the river. It's great value for a 3 hour trip. Loved it! And I totally recommend an authentic Italian wood-fired pizza and a glass of Montepulcano afterwards at Alessandro's at the caravan park overlooking the beautiful lake placid.
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great to hear you had so much fun rafting with us Annette, thanks for the wonderful feedback! 😃
Written 14 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DayTrip761989
1 contribution
I had never been rafting before and I was extremely anxious about this activity however Levy, our guide, made me feel safe and comfortable and ensured I too enjoyed the experience. My fellow travelers who had rafted previously, had a great time fully immersing themselves in the experience. Another tick on the bucket list.
Written 11 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to write a review! It's fantastic to hear you overcame your nervousness and enjoyed your first rafting experience! We are thrilled that we were able to help you add another tick to your bucket list :-)
Written 13 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Abbi M
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Family
We had a very fun day on the Barron River rafting with Kristian as our guide. He really gave us the best experience possible not only with his great sense of humour but he made us feel safe while still
giving us a wicked ride. Overall it was a super fun day and I would 100% do it again!
giving us a wicked ride. Overall it was a super fun day and I would 100% do it again!
Written 31 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your awesome feedback! Great to hear you had such a fun time rafting with Kristian, we hope to see you again some time! :-)
Written 1 November 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Global Review 2025
Australia210 contributions
Apr 2021
If you have never been rafting before this is a fun experience to try whilst in Cairns. We were put in a raft with another family we didn't know but all quickly picked up the instructions Izzy our guide gave us.
The rapids are good for beginners but if you've been before you might prefer something more challenging. There was also a very long stretch of flat river at the end after the rapids which seemed to go on for ever with nothing happening other than us making small talk with the other family in our raft.
Izzy suggested we all jump out the raft and have a swim in the water about half way through which was unnecessary and just meant we struggled to get back in the raft after and then sat there soaking wet and cold for the rest of the trip. Unfortunately it was raining towards the end which didn't help.
The photos seemed expensive at the time but when we received them they had taken loads of great shots and its actually a very good souvenir to have.
This was the second time we have been rafting and the first time at Barron River. If you've never been before give it a go as its a fun way to spend the afternoon just don't bother with the swim in the river. If you've been rafting before then you'd probably be better trying the Tully river trip instead as the Barron river rafting is really for beginners.
The rapids are good for beginners but if you've been before you might prefer something more challenging. There was also a very long stretch of flat river at the end after the rapids which seemed to go on for ever with nothing happening other than us making small talk with the other family in our raft.
Izzy suggested we all jump out the raft and have a swim in the water about half way through which was unnecessary and just meant we struggled to get back in the raft after and then sat there soaking wet and cold for the rest of the trip. Unfortunately it was raining towards the end which didn't help.
The photos seemed expensive at the time but when we received them they had taken loads of great shots and its actually a very good souvenir to have.
This was the second time we have been rafting and the first time at Barron River. If you've never been before give it a go as its a fun way to spend the afternoon just don't bother with the swim in the river. If you've been rafting before then you'd probably be better trying the Tully river trip instead as the Barron river rafting is really for beginners.
Written 15 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us, much appreciated. Good to hear you had fun on the Barron which is a great introduction to white water rafting but as you say, experienced rafters such as yourself would probably be better suited to rafting on the awesome Tully River! Hopefully we can take you there some time :)
Written 16 May 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Phoebe W
1 contribution
Had a lot of fun rafting down the Barron River with Raging Thunder. Our guide Andy was excellent. He made everyone feel safe and provided great banter whilst cruising down the river. Really good intro to white water rafting.
Written 2 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great to hear how much fun you had rafting on the Barron River with Andy, thanks for sharing your awesome feedback! :)
Written 5 April 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi Ashar,
Is this a safe activity for 14 year olds?
Thanks.
Written 20 October 2021
Yes very, they will love it. My daughter was 12 when she went
Written 7 September 2024
The price listed on TripAdvisor, is this in dollars or AUD? The RnR site itself has the rafting trip for $136AUD, which is $94US. You guys have it for $107, so I'm confused.
Written 30 May 2019
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