River Drift Experience
Duration:
Operated By:
If you love nature and the water, then this is the perfect tour for you!
Escape into the rainforest on our River Drift Experience, a perfect retreat from the heat, located just 20 minutes north of Port Douglas. This unique tour offers a blend of hiking and serene river floating in the lush rainforest of the Mossman River. Begin with a rewarding walk upstream on a granite sand bed, towing your lightweight river sled behind amidst the rainforest canopy.
Uncover the fascinating history and significance of the Mossman River, learning about its vital role in the ecosystem, take refreshing swims in clear waters, and immerse yourself in the stunning surroundings.
The journey takes an exciting turn as you board your river sled, setting off on a floating adventure downstream. Gliding through a secret creek, you’ll merge onto the main Mossman River. Here, surrounded by rainforest and the gentle sounds of flowing water, the river carries you through its winding path.
This tour is an ideal mix of active exploration and relaxed floating, making it the perfect way to cool off and connect with nature, just a stone’s throw from Port Douglas.
Who is this for?
To enjoy this active rainforest experience, guests require a reasonable level of fitness & high level of mobility.When the river level is low (most of the year), our activity is generally suitable for all ages (4+) and swimming abilities.When the river level is higher, the faster flowing water is only suitable for strong swimming adults (15+) with good fitness and mobility.
If you have any concerns about your suitability, please contact us before booking.
Refunds are not guaranteed if you are deemed unsuitable to participate on the day of the tour.
Guest requirements:
All participants are required to complete a medical questionnaire and liability release form.Swimming Ability
All adults must be confident swimmers, and comfortable in moving water. Some flexibility may apply when river levels are low; please contact our office to confirm.Not suitable if you have limited mobility or injuries
e.g: difficulty walking, injured or limited movement of knees, ankle, back, shoulder etcNot suitable for anyone who is pregnant
Due to risk of falling on stomach, sudden jarring movements and impacts
Max recommended weight limit is 120kg/264lb
Due to limitations of our equipment. A good level of fitness and mobility is required if you are near or over this weight
While conditions do vary, all participants associated with this booking should be able to:
- Walk without having to stop or sit down to rest for up to 20 minutes
- Lay on your stomach and paddle for extended periods
- Walk up an incline equal to a flight of stairs without stopping
- Swim/dog paddle 15m without stopping
- Climb up tree roots to exit river, equivalent to climbing a 1.5m ladder
- Easily stand up from a sitting position on the ground, without assistance at least 3 times in a row
INCLUSIONS
- Complimentary pickup & drop off from Port Douglas & Mossman
- Boots
- Complimentary tour photos
- All Safety equipment
- Safety trained river guide
- Snacks
WHAT TO BRING
- Shorts to swim in, we recommend wearing a shirt to swim in as well.
- Towel
- Waterproof Camera
- Any personal medications
CANCELLATION POLICY
- Cancellations outside of 72 hours from departure — no charge
- Cancellations within 48-72 hours before departure — 50% charge
- Cancellations less than 48 hours before departure, or no show — 100% cancellation fee applies
- Date changes are free of charge, but must be received by email or phone, 48 hours prior to tour departure
- All changes are subject to availability and made at the discretion of the operator
- Rain can influence the safety and overall enjoyment of this tour. If we cancel a trip any monies will be refunded in full
Prepare for your adventure
To ensure you have the best experience on your River Drift Experience, here are some important preparation tips:
Medical Declaration & Liability Waiver
To participate in our tour, all guests must complete their own medical declaration form and sign our liability waiver.
You will receive a separate email from our waiver system Wherewolf with a link to complete these requirements online. It’s crucial that this is done prior to the tour. If you don’t receive this email, please contact us.
If you’re unsure about your suitability for the tour, please contact us immediately. Refunds are not guaranteed if you are deemed unsuitable to participate on the day of the tour.
To ensure you’re fully prepared for your tour, here’s a checklist of items to bring along:
- Swimwear & Towel: Dry clothes and belongings can remain in our tour vehicle.
- Personal Medications: Don’t forget any essential medications you require.
Please note, personal items like cameras are brought at your own risk.
Pickup Information
Please carefully review your pickup details above. Note that the pickup time may differ from the tour time, as departure times vary based on the pickup location. If you’re unsure or need clarification, please contact our office. Keep in mind that all times are approximate and may vary due to the reality of multiple pickups and unforeseen delays. Rest assured, we will do our best to contact you if there are any changes or delays in our schedule.
Complimentary Tour Photos!
We understand that memories are an integral part of any adventure. That’s why we’re excited to offer complimentary photo services during your tour. Our team will capture stunning moments throughout the journey, so you can fully immerse yourself in the experience without worrying about taking pictures.
- Accessing Your Photos: The day following your tour, we’ll upload these photos and send you a link to access them. You can download and share these memories at your leisure!
- Keeping Valuables Safe: While we encourage leaving all valuables, including phones, safely behind, we understand if you choose to bring them along. All items not swimming in the river with us; including phones, can be locked up in our vehicle during the tour. Please note that this is done at your own risk.
- iPhone Users: At the end of the tour, we can Air Drop photos directly to guests.
- Android Users: We never want to discriminate against our Android friends! While we can’t AirDrop the photos, we can send a link on the day to download your photos. Please note that they may not be accessible until later that day, as they need to be uploaded first.
Swimwear
Please wear swimwear suitable to wear underneath a wetsuit. We recommend wearing your swimwear at pickup. Please note that there are no change rooms available at the river.
Vision Needs
For your safety, glasses can’t be worn through sections of the tour. We suggest wearing contact lenses if possible. Please bring your glasses case if needed.
Jewellery and Valuables
It’s best to remove loose jewellery and other valuables before the tour. We recommend all valuables are not brought on the tour, however you can store personal belongings in our vehicle, but please be aware that this is at your own risk. We advise against wearing rings or similar items during the tour, as they are worn at your own risk.
Capture the Moment
While our guides are happy to provide complimentary photos of your tour, you’re welcome to bring your own waterproof camera in the river. Please ensure it has a wrist strap, and remember, any personal equipment is brought along at your own risk.
Dietary Needs
If you have any dietary requirements, please inform us before the tour date so we can accommodate your needs.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email or phone. We’re here to ensure your experience with Back Country Bliss Adventures is nothing short of amazing.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SUITS
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Thoroughly recommended.
The guides were fantastic – knowledgeable, friendly, great with kids, and really tuned into the needs of the group. They made us feel safe and well looked after the entire time, while still keeping things fun and engaging.
It’s definitely on the pricier side, but absolutely worth it for the quality of the experience. A brilliant option for families – our kids loved every minute! Highly recommended.
The drift was fun and easy in the crystal clear water.
Insanely beautiful part of the world
Cisco and Vincent, both passionate guides ,made this experience even more special , imparting local and scientific knowledge to our small group. Ages 5 to 60 in this instance.
All I can say is give it a go. We left, all the richer from this experience.
Thank you.
Highly reccomend this activity.
Walking through the rainforest was an amazing experience and the ride back down the river on the floats was exhilarating and relaxing! It was a truly magical experience . So amazing to be so immersed in nature.
Pick up and drop from our Port Douglas accommodation made the adventure even easier to enjoy!
Thankyou both for your knowledge and thoughtfulness on this tour.
I would highly reccomend.
We booked a private river drift experience gor a group of 16 (8 adults and 8 kids) over the Easter long weekend. It was the most glorious way to spend the day. The weather was a little wet and gloomy but it only added to the experience.
Our guides were Vincent, Artemis and Josh, they shared their knowledge of the river, fauna and bird life- their passion for the outdoors contagious. They all have a deep love and respect for First Nations culture, custom, water land; we appreciated how they articulated and shared their passion with us and our children.
Solid 11/10!
The 3 guides were fabulous and with such knowledge of the rainforest! The drift was amazing… so serene! Unforgettable few hours!
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.
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.
Trent was our guide for a day which started with a traditional Kuku Yalanji smoking ceremony and explanation of how indigenous people have lived in and nurtured the rainforest.
Then a fascinating and easy trek through the forest learning about the plants, trees and wildlife. After a great lunch in a locally run cafe we grabbed our inflatable rafts and walked up the Mossman river.
Clear and clean in the most beautiful setting it was almost too perfect.. hard to believe it had been unchanged for up to a 180 million years. We drifted back to our start point in the most relaxing and fun way imaginable.
Trent made the day hugely enjoyable, his humour, knowledge and constant eye on safety meant we were in great hands. Our kids - 11 and 13 - said it was the best day ever (I think about 11 feels the youngest you’d want to take given the walking and carrying of the raft. The river is shallow and feels very safe but you will want to be happy around water for this trip).
Please sign up - you’ll be glad you did.
More info on the local area would be good during the mini rests & would have been nice to click our rafts to belts so our hands were free.
The drift down was really fun, I didn’t want it to end!


























































