Barron River Half-Day White Water Rafting

Rapids to Grade 3

The Barron River Gorge is located just 20 minutes drive north of Cairns and lies along a traditional pathway used by the original indigenous Djabugay people. The spectacular Barron Falls, further upstream, are considered a sacred site. The famous Kuranda Railway and Skyrail Cableway also traverse sections of the gorge.

This heart thumping ride spears through The Barron Gorge National Park and the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics. In the calmer sections you will get to enjoy the ethereal beauty of the worlds oldest rainforest and waterfalls from a unique waterline perspective. During the day you will also discover why the Barron's rapids have names such as 'Rooster Tail', 'Cheese Churn' and 'Hells Gate'.

All you need to bring is lace-up shoes (that WILL get wet), swimming costume & towel (you will need to have your swimming costume already on when you are picked up), a spare change of clothes and don’t forget the 15+ sunscreen. You will be provided with safety equipment, including life jacket, helmet and spray jacket, as well as light refreshments after the trip while viewing the day's photo's.

Click the 'view map' button to view a complete hotel pickup list.

Schedule Details Departs:

• Cairns and Northern Beaches: Daily
• Port Douglas: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

Departure Point:

• Tour departs from your Cairns, Northern Beaches or Port Douglas accommodation

Northern Beaches includes: Palm Cove, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach

Departure Time:

• Departs Cairns and Northern Beaches at 1:30pm
• Departs Port Douglas at 1:05pm

Hotel Pickup:

• Please advise your hotel details at time of booking in the space provided
• If you do not advise your hotel details at time of booking, you are required to call the tour operator at least 24 hours prior to tour commencement to arrange your pick up.
• To check if a hotel pickup is available from your hotel a complete hotel list can be viewed by clicking the 'View Map' button.

Itinerary: Australian Whitewater Rafting Grading System. (1995)
The river grading system used for grading the degree of difficulty for river travel in Australia is as listed hereunder. Rapids are divided into six broad categories; from grade (1) which is flat, or still water to a grade (6) which is difficult enough to tax the most experienced crew of rafters to the limit. The ability of a paddler, thrown from his raft, to swim through a rapid in safety is also a consideration when rapid grades are fixed.

The grade of difficulty of any given section of whitewater will depend upon the degree of skill required to negotiate it, or indirectly, upon the nature of the obstruction that the raft crew needs to overcome.

Grades do vary when water levels vary. As a generalisation grades tend to go higher as water levels increases because of the steep nature of river gradients in this country. These grades are referred to as the NORMAL grade. Below are the general characteristics of the six grades of whitewater.

RAPID GRADE (1)
Rapids are small regular waves. The passage is clear an easy to recognize and negotiate. Care may be needed with obstacles like fallen trees and bridge piers.
RAPID GRADE (2)
Rapids with regular medium sized waves (less than 1 m); low ledges or drops; easy eddies and gradual bends. The passage is easy to recognize and is generally unobstructed although there may be rocks in the main current, overhanging branches or log jams.
RAPID GRADE (3)
Rapids with fairly high waves (1-2 m); broken water, stoppers and strong eddies; exposed rocks; small falls. The passage may be difficult to recognize from on the river and inspection from the bank may be required. Maneuvering to negotiate the rapids is required.
RAPID GRADE (4)
Difficult rapids with high, powerful, irregular waves; broken and confused water; often boiling eddies; strong stoppers; ledges; drops and dangerous exposed rocks. The passage is often difficult to recognize and inspection from the bank is preferable. Precise and sequential maneuvering is required.
RAPID GRADE (5)
Very difficult rapids with confused and broken water; large drops; violent and fast currents; abrupt turns; difficult powerful stoppers and fast boiling eddies; numerous obstacles in the main current. Detailed inspection from the bank is normally required and is strongly recommended for rapids not recently transited at the prevailing water level. Complex, precise and powerful sequential maneuvering is required. A buoyancy vest equipped swimmer risks injury and this is the extreme for commercial operations.
RAPID GRADE (6)
All previous difficulties increased to the limit of practicability. Nearly impossible, very dangerous and cannot be attempted without a definite risk of life.

Additional Information