Rafting the Tully River

Location:
Australia

white water rafting

By Morgan Ashenfelter

Beautiful and green, the river is like glass, reflecting the shadows of the thick jungle along the banks. Massive rocks, glistening and smooth from thousands of years of steady water, rise steeply out of the river. Curling gum trees, centuries old, stand strong. Their thick roots spread like tentacles across the mossy ground.

Queensland Australia’s Tully River is one of the prime white water rafting spots in the world. Not only is the river grade four rapids, but it also cuts through some of the most distinctive rainforest in the world. Hugging both sides of the river is over 2 million acres of practically untouched UNESCO World Heritage Wet Tropics rainforest.

Currently, the Australian Department of Defence controls and protects the Wet Tropics of Queensland, along with other Australian World Heritage sites. Even though some areas are used for heavy weapons training, the government’s ability to severely limit the public’s access has helped conserve this unique ecosystem.

Because of limited access to the region, white water rafting down the Tully is one of the few ways to experience this rainforest. In 1984, four years prior to the rivers World Heritage listing, Raging Thunder Adventures paddled the first-ever frightened rafters through the rapids. Twenty years later and still going strong, the company paddles around 150,000 customers down the river each year.

Every wave and rock of the Tully River hides the unexpected. You never knew which way you will spin, who will get wet, or who will inevitably fall off. Sometimes you’ll bounce straight through waves, sometimes you’ll take spills. Occasionally rafts stop completely, lodged awkwardly between large boulders.

The ride is packed with adrenaline, but in several spots the Tully’s rapids dwindle into nothing; the current slows almost to a halt. Here paddlers can relax and regroup. The rainforest, the mountains, the water look so pure, so far away from civilization that it is easy to find total peace of mind.

The Wet Tropics could be a World Heritage site solely for its beauty, but the exceptionality of these rainforests is the array of plant species, which dates back to the Jurassic period. These tropics showcase an almost complete record of Earth’s major plant evolutionary stages. Even the animal population is primitive. Arguably the oldest species of kangaroo, the musky rat kangaroo, can be found only in the rainforests surrounding the Tully River.

As travelers gaze into the jungle along the banks of the Tully River, peaceful reveries will come to mind. But the churning waters will interrupt inner peace by signaling the start of a new onslaught of waves. Whether seeking thrills or beautiful and pristine scenery, the Tully River satisfies. This combination of adventure and unique native life is the heart of Australia, and this is exactly what makes the Tully River worth visiting.

Further Information

Other helpful information: Cairns is known as the adventure capital of Australia. Everything and anything that an adrenaline junky is seeking is here. Scuba diving, bungee jumping, white water rafting, parasailing, sky diving, shark diving, the list goes on and on. If you're going to Cairns it's a must to do at least one of these activities.

Must see/do at this place: Definitely scuba dive the great barrier reef. According to the Queensland University's Center for Marine Studies the reef may be dead by 2050 due to global warming. So don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime (perhaps literally) activity.

You should avoid here: The Cairns Aboriginal Cultural Center. If you are truly interested in aborginal culture and history you may be disappointed by the insincere and touristy feel of this park.