Both tours explore the Mossman River at the edge of the Daintree Rainforest, about 20 minutes north of Port Douglas, in small groups with free pick-up from Port Douglas and Mossman. Here's how they compare.
| Compare | River Drift Experience | Mossman Gorge Adventure Day |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A refreshing half-day in the rainforest, or when you're short on time | A full day in the rainforest: the river, Kuku Yalanji culture and Mossman Gorge |
| How long | About 2 hours in the rainforest (about 3.5 hours return from Port Douglas) | About 8 hours, 8:30am to 4:30pm from Port Douglas |
| Departs | 9:00am and 2:00pm | 8:30am, any day of the week |
| Included | River sled, wetsuit and boots, river-trained guides, transfers, free tour photos, light snacks | River Drift Experience, Kuku Yalanji welcome and smoking ceremony, guided 1.5-hour rainforest walk at Mossman Gorge, lunch, snacks and water |
| Minimum age | 4 | 5 |
| Fitness | Active: walking a riverbed, paddling a sled, and you need to be water-confident | Active: the River Drift plus an easy-paced walk of about 3 km |
| Price | A$155 adult · A$115 child (4–15) · A$495 family (2+2) | A$285 adult · A$235 child (5–15) · A$975 family (2+2) |
| See the River Drift | See the Adventure Day |
Want the day to yourselves? Ask us about a private or custom tour.
Both work well for active families. The River Drift Experience takes children from age 4 and the Adventure Day from age 5. The child price applies to ages 4–15, and booster seats are free for children under 7. For younger kids, the 2-hour River Drift is often the easier fit; the Adventure Day is a full day, so think about your children's stamina. More ideas in our guide to Port Douglas with kids.
You don't need to be an Olympic swimmer, but adults must be comfortable in the water, able to swim, and able to tread water without help. Life jackets are free, but they don't replace being able to swim.
Pick-up is free from Port Douglas and Mossman. Coming from Cairns or Palm Cove, you can drive to one of our meeting points in Port Douglas or Mossman, or book a transfer or Uber. If you arrange your own transport, choose Self Drive – Wildlife Habitat when you book and arrive 15 minutes before your pick-up time.
We generally still run. A little rain hardly matters in the tropics, and the rainforest is at its best in it. Our guides watch the river with cameras, a height gauge and radar, and we'll contact you if conditions change enough to affect your tour.
Cancel for free more than 72 hours before departure. Cancellations 48 to 72 hours before are charged 50%, and less than 48 hours before (or no-shows) 100%. Date changes are free if requested more than 72 hours before, subject to availability; within 72 hours they're at our discretion and may be treated as a cancellation.
Yes. We run private and custom days for couples, families and groups, built around what you want to do. Tell us about your trip on our private tours page and we'll reply within 24 hours.
