Mossman Gorge Adventure Day
Book nowStarting Time
Duration
Minimum age
Physicality
Starting Time
Duration
Physicality
Minimum age
A Daintree adventure not to be missed!
Beginning the day at a secret location on the Mossman River for our one of a kind River Drift Snorkelling tour; searching for turtles, water dragons and the elusive platypus.
After a well earned lunch, enjoy a traditional Kuku Yalanji smoking ceremony at the Mossman Gorge; where you’ll be cleansed of bad spirits and have traditional rainforest body paint applied.
Exploring the Daintree National Park at an easy pace, this interpretive 1.5hr walk, will leave you with a deeper understanding of this breath-taking rainforest.
Tour Prices
Adult: $265 | Child: $225 | Family (2A+2C): $880
Cairns & Palm Cove Transfers
Adult: $70 | Child: $50 | Family (2A+2C): $210
Our small groups fill up quickly, so we advise booking ahead to avoid missing out.
Waiting List
If our tours are full on the date you’re after, you can easily join our waiting list.
We always try our best to fit you in on the date requested, or offer you an alternative.
Availability & Bookings
The ultimate day in the rainforest
Welcome to country
Traditional “Welcome to Country” and smoke ceremony with a Kuku Yalanji guide; the traditional custodians of Mossman Gorge.
River Drift Snorkelling
It’s swimming, snorkelling, floating and a rainforest walk. All combined into the best rainforest experience in the region!
Learn about this hidden rainforest ecosystem, as your river guide takes you on a journey you’ll never forget!
Green wonderland
Surrounded by lush green rainforest, your guided walk takes you through some of the most stunning parts of the Daintree National Park.
Dragons are real!
Keep on the lookout for the Boyd’s Forest Dragon. Learn about these wonderful creatures found nowhere else on earth!
Safe Refreshing Water
Enjoy a refreshing swim in paradise! The perfect location for an afternoon snack, as you bliss out besides this beautiful waterhole.
Tour details
Who is this for?
Our adventure is filled with beautiful surprises and unforgettable moments. However, one surprise we want to avoid is guests discovering they are not physically suitable for the tour.
While the overwhelming majority of our guests thoroughly enjoy the experience with ease, it’s important to note that our tour is physical in nature, and requires a certain level of fitness and mobility. Most people who lead an active lifestyle and have a reasonable level of fitness will have no issues participating in our tour.
Before you book, we want to ensure that all our guests have a safe and enjoyable time. To do so, we have some basic requirements that all participants must meet.
What you’ll need to be able to do
Paddling
Your river sled is controlled by paddling, similar to how one would paddle while laying on a surfboard. While you don’t need to be a professional athlete, you should have enough upper body strength and endurance to paddle for short periods. If you’ve ever tried to paddle on a surfboard, you’ll have a good idea of the kind of effort required. This is a key part of navigating certain sections of our river, and enjoying the full experience.
Carrying Equipment
During the River Drift Snorkelling section of your day, each guest will be responsible for their own river sled, which weighs approximately 3kg. You’ll need to be able to carry this equipment over short distances, and they have convenient handles to make this easier. We have smaller sleds for children, and can also assist in carrying them if required.
Navigating Uneven Terrain
Your day includes walking up to 4km on natural rainforest trails, walking through a river with round, loose rocks and a current, over uneven ground. This requires balance, stability, and the ability to walk on irregular surfaces. If you’ve ever walked along a pebbly beach or walked along the uneven surfaces of a dry creek bed, you’ll understand the kind of mobility required. This ability to adapt to changing and uneven surfaces is crucial for safely navigating our river and rainforest trail.
Exiting the River
At the end of the River Drift Snorkelling sssection of your tour, you’ll need to exit the river by climbing up a few of steps made from strong tree roots, similar to climbing a ladder. This climb is approximately 1-2 feet high. It requires some lower body strength, upper body strength for grip, and the ability to climb without assistance. If you’re comfortable climbing a small ladder or a steep set of stairs, you should be able to handle this part of our adventure.
Water Confidence
River Drift Snorkelling is an immersive water experience. Therefore, it’s essential that all guests are comfortable in water. This doesn’t mean you need to be an Olympic swimmer, but you should be able to handle yourself confidently in a water environment. If you’re unsure about your water confidence, consider how you feel when you’re in a swimming pool or at the beach. Can you enter the water without fear, move around comfortably, and exit without assistance? If so, you’re likely to be just fine on our tour.
Treading Water
There may be times when you’ll need to tread water. This means staying afloat in one place, using only your own physical ability. You don’t need to be able to do this for hours on end, but you should be able to tread water for at least a minute without assistance. This is a basic safety requirement for participation in our tour.
Snorkelling
If you’ve never snorkelled before, don’t worry! Our experienced guides will be there to help you explore the underwater environment. They’ll provide guidance and support, ensuring you’re comfortable with the equipment and techniques before you start.
However, if you decide that snorkelling isn’t for you, that’s perfectly fine too. The rainforest above the water is equally impressive and there’s plenty to see and enjoy while others are snorkelling. Our tour is about experiencing the beauty of the river environment, both above and below the water, in a way that suits you best.
Remember, your comfort and enjoyment are our top priorities. Whether you’re snorkelling or simply soaking in the sights of the rainforest, we’re here to ensure you have a memorable experience.
Self Assessment
Your safety is our top priority, and we rely on you to assess your own abilities honestly. It’s crucial to understand that overestimating your abilities can not only impact the overall experience for the group, but also create a safety risk. Our tour guides are always there to ensure everyone navigates our river experience safely. However, if a guide needs to divert their attention to provide extensive assistance to one individual, it can slow down the tour and limit the time we have to enjoy all the wonderful aspects of our river adventure.
Please note that refunds are not guaranteed if our guides decide on the day of the tour that you’re unsuitable to participate. This decision would be made based on safety considerations and the need to ensure an enjoyable experience for the entire group.
Essential Information for Participants
We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for all our guests. As part of this commitment, there are certain requirements and restrictions that we must adhere to. We understand that these may not suit everyone, and we apologise if any of these prevent you from being able to participate in our tour.
Medical Questionnaire and Liability Release Form
For your safety and the safety of our other guests, all participants are required to complete a medical questionnaire and sign a liability release form before joining our tour.
Mobility and Injuries
Our tour is not suitable for individuals with limited mobility, or current or chronic injuries that could impact their ability to fully participate in the activities. This includes, but is not limited to, difficulty walking, back injuries or limited movement of knees, ankles, shoulders, etc.
Pregnancy
Due to the risk of falling on the stomach, sudden jarring movements, and impacts, our tour is not suitable for anyone who is pregnant. We understand that situations can change after bookings are made. If you become pregnant after booking your tour, please let us know as soon as possible. We will be more than happy to reschedule your tour for a later date or provide a full refund.
Weight Limit
Our maximum recommended weight limit is 120kg/265lb. This is due to the limitations of our River Drift Snorkelling equipment. If you are near or over this weight, a good level of fitness and mobility is required to participate in our tour. We encourage anyone with concerns about this to contact us directly so we can discuss the specifics of the tour, and the challenges that may arise.
If you have any concerns or questions about these requirements, please contact us before booking.
What's Included
- Return transfers ex Port Douglas/ Mossman (Cairns & Palm Cove transfers $70per adult / $50 per child)
- Traditional Welcome Ceremony
- Guided rainforest walk
- River Drift Snorkelling
- Lunch and snacks
- BPA-Free water bottle for the walk
- Walking pole if requested
- All wetsuits and snorkelling gear
- Prescription masks (limited)
- All Safety equipment
- Safety trained river guide
Child Policy
Children love this tour, however please note the below requirements:
- Minimum age is 5 years*
- Child age is 5-15 inclusive
- All children 5-8 must wear a PFD/Life jacket (provided)
- Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- Car seats available free of charge in tour vehicle, for children under 7
- Family rate is based on 2 adults + 2 children
River Conditions and Age Requirements
Being in a river means that the water is always moving. In our summer months (Jan-Mar), the river levels increase, and the water flow becomes stronger. Even with increased river levels, we still only operate within a small window of the river’s range due to safety. It’s important to note that during this time, the stronger water flow can present more challenges for lighter individuals, particularly children, due to their lower body mass.
With this in mind, we’ve established the following guidelines to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all our guests:
Low River Level
When the river level is low (which is most of the year), our activity is generally suitable for all ages (5+).
Intermediate River Levels
Between the low and high river levels, we make judgement calls on the minimum age that we will allow on the tour. These decisions are based on the current conditions, the individual’s age, size, swimming ability, and overall fitness.
High River Level
When the river level is higher, the faster flowing water (while fun), presents more of a challenge. During these times, our tour is only suitable for strong swimmers, (generally 14+), with good fitness and mobility. This is to ensure the safety of all participants, as navigating faster flowing water requires more strength and skill.
In all cases, we make a judgement call based on the current conditions, the individual’s age, size, swimming ability, and overall fitness. If we dont think the conditions are suitable, we will try to reschedule your tour, or offer a full refund. We appreciate your understanding that these decisions are made with everyone’s safety in mind.
Schedule
Tours depart Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat
All departure times are approx. and will vary depending on the day and pickup location. We will advise you of your pickup time when booking.
Cairns*
7.30am – return 6.00pm
Palm Cove*
8.00am – return 5.30pm
Port Douglas
9.00am – return 5.00pm
*Transfers from Cairns & Northern Beaches
$70 adult / $50 child
Cairns & Northern Beaches transfers Including: Yorkey’s Knob, Smithfield, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach, Palm Cove.
Return transfers operated by Oasis Trasport
For Self-drivers:
Below times are a guide and will vary depending on the day.
Mossman – George Davis Park in front of toilet block (under the giant trees)
Approx. 9.20am
Port Douglas – Wildlife Habitat bus stop
Approx. 9.05am
We are closed 25th Dec
Itineraries may operate in reverse or in a different sequence
What to bring
- Shoes suitable for walking up to 3.5km/2mi on uneven terrain
(may get wet) - Shorts or pants
- Swim wear and a towel
- Small backpack
- Hat & Sunglasses
- Camera
- Money for souvenirs
- Any personal medication
Leave all other valuables and loose jewellery at your accomodation
River Snorkelling Requirements
Our tour is suitable for all ages 5+, and swimming abilities when the river is calm and relaxing (most of the year).
With faster, more exciting conditions, ideal for strong swimmers.
- Not suitable for guests with limited mobility
- Must be able to walk over uneven surfaces
- You may need to climb over tree roots to exit the river
- Not suitable for anyone who is pregnant
- Max wetsuit size 3XL, max shoe size US 13
- Maximum reccomended weight limit is 125kg/274lb, due to certain limitations of our equipment.
**If you are over this weight limit, it can be waived but please contact our office prior to booking** - We highly reccomend having your own travel insurance
- All participants are required to complete a medical questionnaire and liability release form
Medical Conditions
For safety reasons, some medical conditions, disabilities or impairments may exclude participants from our River Drift Snorkelling tour.
If our guides deem it unsafe for you to participate, you will not be able to coninue on the tour.
If you have any concerns, please contact us before booking, as refunds are not garanteed and at the discretion of Back Country Bliss management.
Prior to entering the river are, you will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and sign our liability waiver.
What animals can I see?
Turtles
Over 30 species of fish
Water Dragons
Colourful birds
Electric blue butterflies
Elusive platypus!
What about crocodiles?!

We don’t swim with crocs!
You should always be Croc-wise in Croc country; that is why you can rest assured that our tour operates in a very safe, Croc-Free stretch of water.
Crocodiles use the water, sun and shade to maintain their preferred body temperature of 30–33°C.
Where we swim is too clear, too cold at 16-22°C, and too shaded for crocodiles.
The cool water is one reason we provide you with a very fashionable wetsuit to use during your tour.
If you want to see crocodiles in the wild, visit Bruce Belcher’s wildlife cruises on the Daintree River (not the same river)…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How difficult is the walk?
The great thing about the Mossman Gorge, is how accessible it is. Along the trail there are some steps and small obstacles; with most of the walk on fairly flat ground. The walk crosses a suspension bridge that boasts spectacular views of Mossman River and the unique flora and fauna of the Daintree Rainforest. With up to 3km of boardwalks and paths, we take our time, as we learn about this ancient landscape; usually spending 1.5-2 hours to get through.
How cold is the water?
The water temperature varies between 16-22C (60-71F) year round. We provide an extra thermal layer during winter, gloves are also available to use.
How long does the tour go for?
From Cairns, the tour takes approx. 11 hours return including transfers.
From Port Douglas the tour is approx 9 hours.
This tour is designed to provide you with the most time in the rainforest, and not in a vehicle.
Can I meet you at the river?
Do we still run the tour if it is raining?
Yes, the rainforest loves the rain! For your comfort, we also have umbrellas for you to use during the tour; If heavy rain is forecast, it’s best to bring a change of clothes.
River Drift Snorkelling may be affected by heavy rainfall. If we are unable to safely use the river, we will offer an alternative wet weather itinerary (still plenty of rainforest to explore). However, If you wish to cancel prior to start of tour, we will provide a full refund.
The tour will only be cancelled in extreme conditions: when it is unsafe to be outside.
Can I swim at Mossman Gorge?
Yes! The crystal-clear water in the Mossman River is perfect for enjoying a refreshing swim.
All of our guides are trained in river safety and will assess if the main river is safe to use on the day. If you have concerns about your ability to swim, please talk to our guide before entering the water.
If the Main swimming area is not suitable, there is an impressive waterhole along the walking trail we can use.
Do I need to call to confirm my booking?
While not necessary, we appreciate if you call or email 24 hours before travel to confirm accommodation details and pick up time. We can also update you on the river conditions.
Do I need my voucher?
If the tour has been booked through a travel desk/Travel agent, please bring your voucher along with you to give to the guide.
Can I be a spectator?
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.
Booking Terms & Conditions
By booking a Mossman Gorge Adventure Day tour, you agree to be bound by our “Booking Terms and Conditions” and “Medical Waiver”.
- Minimum age of participation is 5 years old*
- Family rate is based on 2 x adults + 2 x children (5-15)
- Maximum participant weight is 125kgs/275lb
- As this tour is weather dependent, it may be cancelled in conditions of heavy rainfall or extreme weather. If this occurs, bookings can be placed on another date or full refunds will be provided.
- If you are not waiting at your pick-up point at the date and time specified in your booking, then you will forfeit 100% of the total price paid. At the discretion of Back Country Bliss Adventures, you may be able to reschedule for another day with an added rescheduling fee.
- A medical declaration form must be completed. Any serious medical condition or history may disallow you from participating in the tour.
- If your guide determines it is unsafe for you to participate; due to no swimming ability or insufficient level of mobility and/or fitness, participant/s will have to leave the tour and forfeit 100% of total price paid.
- Prices listed on the website supersede all previously advertised prices.
Full terms and conditions can be found HERE
Don't Miss Out!
Call
+61 (07) 4099 3677
sales@backcountrybliss.com.au