Russell River White Water Rafting

A Rush-Filled Rafting Adventure from Cairns

Travel time from Cairns: 1 hour

Rapid Grades: 3 – 4

Those in the Cairns area looking for a rafting experience with a greater challenge compared to the Barron River can put in the extra travel time and head to the south of Cairns for a Russell River rafting adventure.

Approximately 1 hour’s drive away from Cairns city, the Russell River is a short river that flows to the north-east towards the Coral Sea and whose lower stretches are contained within the boundaries of the Russell River National Park.

The river is definitely more “extreme” as opposed to the relative tameness of the Barron River; its most difficult sections consist of Grade 4 rapids, where you can expect to encounter a challenging combination of whitewater, medium-sized waves, rocky outcrops and the occasional sharp drop meaning that for the more difficult tours on its waters a reasonable degree of both fitness and whitewater rafting experience is desirable.

While there are some difficult sections of the Russell River to navigate, tour operators will typically cater the day’s adventures to the skill level of their guests as some of these areas are avoidable entirely. As with the Barron River, the Russell River is not only a great rafting destination but also an incredible scenic locale due to its rainforest surroundings that reflect the atmosphere of tropical north QLD to a tee.