Mossman River Drift Snorkelling from Port Douglas or Mossman
5
Mossman River Drift Snorkelling from Port Douglas or Mossman
By Back Country Bliss Adventures
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About
Ages 3-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Snacks
- Local guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Port Douglas or Mossman
- Use of snorkels, wetsuits and safety equipment
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Experienced river trained guides
- Prescription masks available upon request
What's not included- Please bring a towel
- Food and drinks
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- Our pickup times may vary, so please provide an email address for us to send updated timing. Alternatively, please call us before your tour to confirm the pickup time.
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.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: 50757P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Minimum age to participate is 3, please call to check if conditions are suitable
- Not recommended for participants with Knee, hip or ankle problems
- Swimming in moving water
- WHAT TO BRING: swimmers for under the wetsuit, towel, camera, any personal medication required, a full refund will be given should tours be cancelled due to weather conditions
- If there are any dietary requirements, please let us know.
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not suitable for guests with limited mobility
- Must be able to climb out of the river using steps
- 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 experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 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: 50757P1
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- anabT189FS0 contributionsA fantastic rainforest experience!Wow! Such an amazing day with our guide Josh. He is so passionate about the rainforest and everything in it, which made for an awesome experience. We loved hearing him tell us about everything from leaves and plants to birds, spiders and all kind of other creatures. We enjoyed some delicious local ice cream, lunch at a great restaurant, and a walk down to Noah's Creek. Saw 3 Cassowaries, a giant Orb spider and so many other cool things. Definitely recommend these guys for a memorable experience!Written 8 February 2025
- Vacation204330732170 contributionsBack Country Bliss River DriftingGreat family adventure. A bit of walking, a bit of learning, and a bit of cruising along the river on the river sleds. Really good fun and would recommend, we had 13 and 15 old boys with us and they loved it too. Would definitely recommend. Would also recommend if you have a hire car, to drive up there and take a bit of a picnic as where you finish up, is a great place to spend the day lounging around int he very shallow river.Written 21 January 2025
- Andrea C0 contributionsWent rafting with the amazing tour guide Guy!Went rafting with the amazing tour guide Guy! This was the best scenic adventure activity we did in Port D. Learnt so much about the rainforest along the way. Would highly recommend it.Written 8 January 2025
- teambloopy0 contributionsDo this!Fabulous few hours walking, snorkeling, swimming and rafting in the river. Our brilliant and friendly guides, Josephine and Sammi, made this such an enjoyable experience - loved by our whole group - 2 adults and 2 kids (9 and 11). We were also lucky with amazing weather and a small group of 5 for our trip. Would absolutely recommend this trip. Such a unique experience and a thoroughly fabulous way to experience the rainforest and the river!Written 12 December 2024
- John L0 contributionsDaintree MagicOur brilliant guides, Josh and Leo brought new meaning to a memorable day. They were both consummate professionals right from the start. Full of knowledge on all things flora, fauna and beyond throughout our adventure floating down a section of the Mossman River and walking through the Daintree Rainforest while photo capturing key activities. Highly recommended!!Written 24 November 2024
- C7056FAkatherines0 contributionsThe BEST in Port Douglas and AustraliaThe BEST of many great things I did in the Port Douglas area...and in a month of wonderful adventures in Australia. I didn't expect to have so much fun and to smile the whole time. The guides gave us great information about plants and animals (a kookaburra! an orange-footed scrub fowl nest [huge!]! a killer plant!), and of course the fun, relaxing, and peaceful trip on the river. It was the right mix of everything, including letting us play at the end in the water - when of course we wanted the fun to last. Wonderful for all the kids on the trip, including this much older kid at heart!Written 13 November 2024
- AussieTraveller4eva0 contributionsDon’t go past this amazing experience!Pop this on your ‘must do list’!! What an amazing hidden gem, this is nature at its best. Become a tree hugger (with the staff to start the tour) and thank nature for this beauty! You will feel a million miles away discovering various plants, trees and animals. Along the way, you get a couple of taste tests of natures tasty wonders. Josh and Miki were lovely knowledgeable staff to guide you along the way. Thanks for the experience! The photos don’t do this beautiful place justice.Written 21 October 2024
- Mobile188888105540 contributionsDon’t question whether you should do this adventure - this is a bucket list item you won’t ever forget - it’s a MUST DOThis tour made our 2024 Family Holiday complete. This was a fantastic experience and we felt honoured and privileged to be on such special country. It was a family friendly tour and all the guides are truly industry professionals. If you are lucky enough to have Vincent take you as a guide, you won’t find a more passionate, caring and genuinely involved guide.Written 18 October 2024
- soloavo0 contributionsBeautiful and funHighly recommend this activity for singles, couples and families of all ages. It was fun and informative. The walking and floating and swimming are easy to manage towards the end of the dry season. It would be awesome if there were adult only tours. We (a couple in our mid 50s) ended up on a tour with 2 young families of 4 that slowed things down and made it a bit noisier than expected. Will and Josephine did their best to give us a private experience away from the families. Nonetheless, we wouldn't hesitate to do this again. Janie and JimWritten 17 October 2024
- tanianiven0 contributionsBrilliant day!Scotty was our day guide and he was so knowledgeable and friendly and Nike (sorry if I have spelt this wrong) was so lovely and fun! Highlight was river drift, licking ants, stroking ferns, walking the Daintree, fire ceremony! All of it!!! Had a brilliant day! Thanks Scotty!Written 1 October 2024
- Kathy C0 contributionsBeautiful River Drifting!We did the River Drift Adventure! It was so beautiful, drifting along the river under the canopy of the rainforest listening to the trees, birds and water! Vincent & Renee were great guides, very knowledgeable and friendly! Free photos of the day were amazing and greatly appreciated! A very very safe activity that doesn’t require a high level of fitness or swimming ability (although the river level was quite low when we did it, I believe it gets deeper depending on the season & rainfall). Highly recommended!Written 30 September 2024
- Y9188TPdeborahk0 contributionsRelaxing drift, but...Our family (incl 2 teenagers) enjoyed our river drift experience. There was more walking than I expected, although it makes sense - to drift down the river, you have to walk upstream first. Our guides Will and Nike were enthusiastic and full of knowledge but we would have felt more comfortable if one of them would walk at the back of the group, instead of both at the front. Our 13yo was a little slower (the rest of the group were all adults) and we were a little behind the rest of the group a lot of the time. At one point we were even left behind - my son stopped to empty the sand from his boot and the group continued on without noticing (we called out but they didn't hear). They walked through the forest and we were lucky we were able to find them (the path is not clear). When we caught up they were in the middle of a talk about a tree, with no apparent recognition that 1/3 of the group was missing. It was rather disconcerting. Other than that it was a great experience, and the long river drift at the end is very relaxing and refreshing.Written 27 September 2024
- Bianca D0 contributionsGreat “soft adventure”Leo & Josh were amazing - fabulous experience floating down the river and hearing the interesting narrative of the flora and fauna surrounds. Great “soft adventure”Written 26 September 2024
- capetownhasi0 contributionsA must do in Port Douglas! Fabulous!Oh this was so special to float in Mossman River through the rain forest! Our guides Josh and Josephine were lovely. Definitely a highlight for the entire family! Highly recommend! So much fun!Written 15 September 2024
- ilariac9140 contributionsPerfect family adventureWe did the River Drift Experience and had a fantastic time! We had our 8 and 14 yr old daughters with us and our 17 yr old niece. All loved it. Josh and Josephine, our guides were accommodating and very knowledgeable. We learned heaps about the environment we were visiting. Highly recommend. Bonus points for having some of the least uncomfortable wet suits we have tried and for having inclusive sizes, including for rounder ladies!Written 14 September 2024
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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5.0
258 reviews
Excellent
244
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13
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WorldTravla7
Cairns, Australia8,626 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
I’d wanted to do this tour for a while and finally got wetsuited & jumped in the gorgeous Mossman River with the Back Country Blilss team and about 10 others in February.
I was picked up at Raintrees Service Station in Mossman town centre in the tour bus and we were driven out to the site about 5 mins away via Syndicate Road.
We got our suit and fins on, grabbed our inflatable rafts and headed down to a beautiful secluded section of creek in perfect rainforest to do some basic training.
We then trekked through the forest for a few minutes (there was some commentary on the rainforest and trees we passed) and started our snorkelling. There weren’t many fish to spot the day I went but a few of the group saw some freshwater trout.
Artemis was our guide assisted by Carlos and both were super friendly and helpful and made sure everyone enjoyed the tour and took photos of us all.
My favourite part was cruising down the section with the rapids where the speed picked up and I also enjoyed the drift at the end staring up into the rainforest canopy in silence surrounded by trees and basket ferns. My snorkel accidentally slipped off the raft without me noticing so I recommend keeping an this close to you at all times.
There were a few locals floating down the river too so I think I’ll come back and try it on my own some time.
At the end the team offer you bikkies and water as you get changed out of your wet gear and head back into town.
All in all an excellent and unique tour that visitors and locals alike will enjoy.
I was picked up at Raintrees Service Station in Mossman town centre in the tour bus and we were driven out to the site about 5 mins away via Syndicate Road.
We got our suit and fins on, grabbed our inflatable rafts and headed down to a beautiful secluded section of creek in perfect rainforest to do some basic training.
We then trekked through the forest for a few minutes (there was some commentary on the rainforest and trees we passed) and started our snorkelling. There weren’t many fish to spot the day I went but a few of the group saw some freshwater trout.
Artemis was our guide assisted by Carlos and both were super friendly and helpful and made sure everyone enjoyed the tour and took photos of us all.
My favourite part was cruising down the section with the rapids where the speed picked up and I also enjoyed the drift at the end staring up into the rainforest canopy in silence surrounded by trees and basket ferns. My snorkel accidentally slipped off the raft without me noticing so I recommend keeping an this close to you at all times.
There were a few locals floating down the river too so I think I’ll come back and try it on my own some time.
At the end the team offer you bikkies and water as you get changed out of your wet gear and head back into town.
All in all an excellent and unique tour that visitors and locals alike will enjoy.
Written 10 March 2020
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.
Hi there, great to hear from you, and thanks so much for taking the time to write and share your experience - we really appreciate it!
We're thrilled you chose to drift and snorkel down beautiful rainforest river with us, and so happy you experienced the diversity of both our rapids and canopy drifting. Thanks also for such a detailed and glowing recommendation.
Artemis and Carlos had a wonderful time showing you our neck of the woods, and the whole team at Back Country Bliss sincerely hope you're able to visit the region again one day, to perhaps try another of our adventures :)
Written 12 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jessie M
1 contribution
Jan 2020 • Family
The highlight of the trip was the Back Country Bliss Adventure tour. This was an amazing experience that showed us a new side to Australia and it’s beautiful rainforests. Our tour guide Glen managed to deal with my crazy family and our annoying requests, for example our coffee needs and complicated dietary requests. He brought plenty of water and delicious treats for the hike and was patient with all members of our group, which spanned from different ages and walking abilities. He knew the rainforest like the back of his hand and kept us away from annoying tourist crowds. He was very knowledgeable on the nature and wildlife of the aussie terrain. He spotted many of the native Australian animals and gave us detailed information about their species. He was appropriately informative while still allowing us to enjoy the tranquility of the rainforest. He had hilarious stories and it really just felt like hanging out with one of your mates. Overall he was an excellent guide who introduced us to a beautiful side of wonderful Australia. One member of our group left behind a sentimental ring and Jason was extremely helpful with locating the ring and shipping it back to us. He was very attentive and a great communicator to us. We are so appreciative of the amazing staff of this lovely company. I would HIGHLY recommend this experience if you’re ready for a fun day.
Written 5 January 2020
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.
Hi there, great to hear from you, and thanks so much for taking the time to write and share your experience - we really appreciate it!
We're thrilled you chose to hike our beautiful rainforest alongside Glen, and honored by such a glowing recommendation. Thank you also for travelling so far to tour with us!
Glen had a wonderful time showing you our neck of the woods, and the whole team at Back Country Bliss sincerely hope you're able to visit the region again one day, to perhaps try another of our adventures :)
Written 12 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Leanne T
5 contributions
Oct 2020
This is a MUST DO! We had two kids 7 & 9 who both said this was one of their favourite parts of our holiday. Our guides were fantastic, informative and knew all the best spots to look out for creatures.
You have such beauty in the rainforest & in the water, it really is a next level way to experience the rainforest .. much better than the Mossman Gorge in my opinion and only the people in your group, not hoards of people like at the Gorge..
The water was cool & crystal clear, but the wetsuits & water boots made it really pleasant for the whole trip ... The kids favourite part was the rapids (super easy) and our favourite part was the silent, gliding down the last part of the river at the Cathedral ..absolutely magic! This really is a MUST do trip when visiting!
You have such beauty in the rainforest & in the water, it really is a next level way to experience the rainforest .. much better than the Mossman Gorge in my opinion and only the people in your group, not hoards of people like at the Gorge..
The water was cool & crystal clear, but the wetsuits & water boots made it really pleasant for the whole trip ... The kids favourite part was the rapids (super easy) and our favourite part was the silent, gliding down the last part of the river at the Cathedral ..absolutely magic! This really is a MUST do trip when visiting!
Written 4 October 2020
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.
Kylie H
15 contributions
June 2023 • Couples
Id say this is more a river float than snorkelling. We were expecting to see more whilst snorkelling than we did - we saw the same type of fish but nothing else really. We did enjoy the tour though & the guides were really knowledgeable about the rainforest etc. It was also great they took photos throughout & shared the photos with everyone at the end for free. It's lots of fun but not very good value for money (when compared to other tours we did on our trip)
Written 5 June 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.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. While we’re disappointed to receive a 3-star review, we're glad to hear that you had a fun time on our tour. We appreciate hearing about your experience and how our guides' knowledge of the rainforest, along with the free photos we provided, enhanced your tour.
Our River Drift Snorkelling tour is a comprehensive journey that combines various activities into one experience. This includes snorkelling, paddling, floating, and even a walk through the beautiful rainforest. The amount of snorkelling we can do varies depending on the river levels, adding a unique aspect to our tour.
I am sorry that you didn't encounter as much wildlife as you'd hoped during your tour. Spotting the varied animal life in the river can sometimes take a bit more searching compared to the marine environment, and a bit of luck. And while we'd love to promise sightings of turtles, platypus, and water dragons on every tour, the unpredictability of nature makes this impossible. However, rest assured that our guides always do their utmost to point out all the wildlife present during the tours.
We are dedicated to making our tours great value for money. This includes keeping our groups small for a personal touch, having two knowledgeable guides for each tour, maintaining top-quality equipment, and offering free transfers and tour photos. It's worth noting that many of these services usually cost extra with other operators. In fact, guests often tell us they are surprised at how reasonably priced our tour is given the comprehensive experience we offer.
We really value your feedback - both the good stuff and the areas where we can do better. It helps us keep improving what we do. We appreciate your thoughts and hope to make your next trip with us a 5-star experience.
Written 8 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ImFromMelbourne
Melbourne56 contributions
Jan 2021
We did the River Drift Snorkelling as a family of three (one adult, two children). We got lucky with our booking as previous sessions had been cancelled due to high water levels. Guides Rohan and Artemis gave a thorough safety briefing and kitted us up with wetsuits, boots, masks, snorkels and inflatable rafts. The experience itself involves floating down the river, snorkelling in some spots and whitewater rafting over a few small grade 1 rapids. All good fun and quite safe (the river depth is usually knee to chest high). You can get knocked about a bit if you come off on the rapids but only I suffered this fate. Both kids certainly had a ball and we would happily recommend it and do it all again.
Written 11 January 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.
Gerlinde B
Brisbane, Australia20 contributions
Sept 2020
Everything about this River Drift Snorkelling experience was wonderful. Our guide Glen was very knowledgeable and very helpful. Hotel pick-up was bang on time, all equipment provided. Learnt lots about plants/trees/flowers found in a rainforest. The river drift snorkelling was brilliant. We saw the smallest of fish to quite sizeable sized fish, we saw a turtle and one person in our group saw an eel. Cruising along the river was just magic. The last section, looking up to the sky, was one of the most beautiful things I have ever done. Highly recommend this experience.
Written 12 October 2020
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.
Lara
Melbourne, Australia4 contributions
Oct 2020
Thank you Glen for such a fun morning out in the rainforest! This tour is a perfect way to spend a morning - swimming, snorkelling and floating down the crystal clear river. We were very comfortable in the wetsuits and boots provided as we explored the river. Glen is clearly very passionate about this area and it makes the adventure even more meaningful. Would highly recommend!
Written 26 October 2020
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.
Oasis Transport & Tours
Cairns, Australia10 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
We had the pleasure of Vincent & Dillon take us on the half day river drift snorkelling tour, Both of them were very friendly and approachable and complimented each other well with their local knowledge & humour. A few in the group commented on how well they both interacted and took care of the younger kids and made it a memorable & special occasion for a 11th birthday. Highly recommend, a very well organised unique experience, well done and Thank you to the entire team.
Written 2 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.
Thank you so much for such a great review and recommendation! We're so happy you enjoyed the River Drift Tour and we'll pass on your gratitude to our guides. Floating through the rainforest is such a magical experience. We hope to see you again the next time you visit!
Written 5 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FunnyMummy_10
Perth, Australia7 contributions
July 2020 • Family
Our family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens) had a fantastic 1/2 day on the river with Back Country Bliss. Our guides were excellent, well informed and keen to ensure we had a good time. Excellent family fun and adventure. Safe and well organised and very ‘covid prepared’. We recommend this activity and would love to return to do the full day trip in the future. This is exactly the type of local business that deserves our support, so check them out!
Written 5 July 2020
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.
Terese C
Brisbane, Australia27 contributions
Nov 2020
We had a wonderful time. The guides were fun and full of intertesting facts and the location stunning. We saw a water dragon sitting in a tree, a little turtle, an eel and lots of different fish. The final section floating down "The Cathedral" was beyond beautiful with the majestic rainforest trees leaning over the river and the beautiful sounds of the rainforest birds all around us – one of the prettiest most moving experiences we have ever done and we have travelled the world!
Written 6 November 2020
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.
Hi was there any concerns about been munched on by a crocodile
Written 21 August 2019
The water is too cool for crocs. The ones up there are also salt water crocs and you’re in a freshwater river.
Written 22 August 2019
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