Tully River White Water Rafting

Overview

If you want the ultimate in rafting, you want an unforgettable day on the Tully River. The Tully is Australia’s most famous one-day whitewater rafting experience. It’s the North’s guaranteed tropical white water, white knuckle adventure.

On our Tully River full day trip, rafters can tackle over 45 extraordinary rapids. The magnificent waterfalls that cascade down the gorge walls through World Heritage Jurassic era rainforest provide an unforgettable backdrop.

What's Included

• A full days rafting adventure
• More than 45 rapids
• World Heritage Rainforest
• Riverside BBQ lunch
• Light snack served at Rafters Cafe after your adventure
• Air-conditioned, video equipped, coach transfers
• Photo & video action of your day available for purchase
• Daily departures guaranteed year round

What To Bring

Your ticket, swimming costume & lace up shoes (that will get wet!) · towel · change of clothes · water resistant 15+ sunscreen (!!!) · a cap or visor (which can be worn under your safety helmet, e.g. baseball cap) · and some money for a drink and souvenirs

A limited number of spray jackets and hire shoes are available for rafters for a small extra charge.

Responsibility & Age Limits

Any adventure travel involves an element of risk. Each participant must accept responsibility for their own safety and their property. Passengers will be asked to sign a liability release form before their trip. It is recommended that passengers take out their own travel insurance before participating.

The minimum age for white water rafting is 13 years

Australian Whitewater Rafting Grading System

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 recognise 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 recognise 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 recognise from on the river and inspection from the bank may be required. Manoeuvring 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 recognise and inspection from the bank is preferable. Precise and sequential manoeuvring 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 manoeuvring 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.