River Drift Experience

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.

Water Confidence

Our river tour is an immersive water experience. Therefore, it’s essential that all adults are comfortable in water and able to swim. 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. We provide life jackets free of charge, however they are not a replacement for knowing how to swim.

Treading Water

While the river is generally shallow enough to stand up in, 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 without assistance. This is a basic safety requirement for participation in our tour.

Paddling

Our river sleds are 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

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.

Navigating Uneven Terrain

Our tour includes walking through a river bed mostly made up of sand, with some sections of round, loose rocks, as well as a rainforest trail with 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

Our tour can finsih in multiple locations, depedning on the amount of water in the river. At the end of the tour, you may 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.

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.

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.

Mobility and Injuries

Our tour requires a moderate level of physical ability. It is not suitable for individuals with:

•  Limited mobility

•  Current or chronic injuries affecting walking or movement

•  Difficulty navigating uneven terrain

•  Issues with balance or stamina

Participants should be comfortable walking on varied surfaces, including steps and small obstacles.

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 110kg/243lb. This is due to the limitations of our 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.

Children love this tour, however please note the below requirements:

•  Parents/Guardians are responsible for children in their care throughout the tour.

•  The minimum age is 4

•  The child price applies to guests aged 4-15

•  Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 18

•  Guests aged 16 & 17 must have their waiver and medical form signed by a parent or guardian over 18

•  Child booster seats are available free of charge for children under 7

•  All children under 7 must wear a life jacket (included)

Our family rate is for 2 x adults + 2 x children (4-15)
If a family rate is booked with children older than 15, we will update your booking to reflect the correct charges and send a payment request for the remaining balance. This discounted rate is only available when you book directly with us.

River Conditions and Age Requirements

Being in a river means the water is always moving, and during our summer months (Jan-Mar), the river levels can rise, causing faster flows. Even with higher water levels, we always operate within a safe range. However, faster flows can be more challenging, especially for lighter individuals like children, due to their lower body mass.

To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all guests, we’ve set the following guidelines:

Low River Level (Most of the year)

When the river level is low, our activities are generally suitable for all ages 4+.

Medium River Levels

At medium levels, we carefully assess the conditions and take into consideration not only the child’s age, size, swimming ability, and overall fitness but also the competence of parents or guardians. We want to ensure that families feel confident and capable in the water to fully enjoy the experience.

High River Level

When the river is running higher, it adds an extra element of fun and excitement, with faster-flowing water making for a more exhilarating experience! However, this also means the conditions become more challenging. During these times, our tour is only suitable for strong swimmers, typically 14+, with good fitness and mobility. The increased flow can be too difficult for smaller children or non-swimming adults to safely manage.

In all cases, we make judgment calls based on real-time conditions and the individual's abilities. If we determine that the conditions are unsuitable, we will reschedule your tour or offer a full refund. We appreciate your understanding, as these decisions are made with everyone’s safety in mind.

From Port Douglas, the tour takes approx. 3.5 return including transfers.

We aim to spend up to 2 hours in the rainforest, but this can vary based on group size and also how fast the water is flowing in the river. Smaller groups may finish earlier, based on reduced time taken for pickups/getting ready.

Generally yes!

However, it depends on how much rain and also where the rain is falling. 1-5mm of rain will hardly wet the ground in the tropics, so please don't worry if this is the forecast.

Your safety is our top priority. We continuously monitor river conditions through cameras, a river height gauge, and radar systems. This allows us to assess in real-time if the river is safe for our tours.

It's important to note that rain must fall in a specific area to affect our river flow. Heavy rain in Port Douglas or Cairns doesn't necessarily impact our tour location.

If river levels change, we will contact guests to ensure all participants are suitable for a potentially faster version of our tour. In cases where the river rises too high for safe operation, we will cancel the tour and attempt to reschedule or provide a full refund.

If you have any concerns, please contact us for an update on the river conditions. Rest assured, we're constantly vigilant about weather conditions and will never compromise on your safety.

Following Cyclone Jasper in December 2023, the fish population in the river has been lower, but the river is slowly healing. While snorkeling is temporarily paused, fish are gradually returning to the upper sections of the river. There’s still the opportunity to spot various species of fish, turtles, and even the elusive platypus. If you'd like to snorkel, let your guide know, and they can provide a mask. Once the fish population has sufficiently recovered, we’ll officially add snorkeling back to the tour.

Yes! Free tour photos are available for all guests. You can view past tour photos on our Back Country Bliss facebook page.

Due to the nature of our activity, there may be times we are unable to guarantee photos.

If guests would like to receive our free photos, you'll need to agree to a media release, as these photos are shared with you online and may also be used to advertise Back Country Bliss Adventures on social media & print advertising.

If you prefer not to be included in photos, you can easily opt-out when completing your online waiver.

You’re also welcome to bring your own waterproof camera (at your own risk). We highly recommend using a wrist strap to keep it secure.

Unfortunately not.

Due to the tour starting and finishing in different locations, there are no suitable areas to sit and watch.

We do not swim with crocodiles.

We operate in Tropical North Queensland, which is crocodile country, and follow a strict Crocwise and conditions-based approach to river safety.

Under normal conditions, the freshwater section of river we use is not known crocodile habitat. It is cool, clear, shaded, and fast-moving, with water temperatures typically around 16–22°C.

Our experienced local guides continuously assess:

• River conditions

• Recent weather

• Water levels

• Water clarity and visibility

If conditions change, such as after heavy rain or flooding, we simply do not enter the river.

Guest safety is non-negotiable, and we will never operate an activity if there is any increased risk.

For guests wanting to see crocodiles in the wild, we recommend dedicated wildlife cruises such as Bruce Belcher’s or Solar Whisper on the Daintree River, which is a completely different river system.

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.

Please check your reminder email, as long as all details are correct there is no need to contact us. If you have any questions about river conditions we welcome a phone call on 07 4099 3677 or email the team at sales@backcountrybliss.com.au

If you’ve booked the tour directly with Back Country Bliss, there is no need to bring any vouchers or confirmation emails.

By booking a River Drift Experience tour, you agree to be bound by our “Booking Terms and Conditions” and “Medical Waiver”.

•  Minimum age of participation is 4 years old

•  Family rate is based on 2 x adults + 2 x children (4-15)

•  Maximum participant weight is 110kgs/243lb - Please contact our office if you are near or over this weight to discuss

•  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 before the day of your tour. 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.

Full terms and conditions can be found HERE

Book with Confidence

We understand that plans can change, which is why our flexible cancellation policy allows you to book ahead with peace of mind. Cancel for free up to 3 days before departure, or easily change your booking date (subject to availability) if requested at least 2 days in advance. Your adventure awaits, and we’ve got you covered if anything comes up!

Our cancellation policy

•  Free cancellation: If canceled more than 3 days before the scheduled departure.

•  50% charge: For cancellations made between 2 and 3 days before departure.

•  100% charge: For cancellations made less than 2 days before departure, or for no-shows.

Please note: Refunds may take up to 10 days to appear back on your card, and we are only able to refund to the card used for the booking.

Can I change my booking date?

•  Date changes are free of charge if requested at least 2 days before departure.

•  Requests must be made via email or phone.

•  Changes are subject to availability and operator discretion.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. All online bookings must be paid in full at the time of booking. A 1.2 percent payment processing fee applies to all card payments.

If you'd prefer to pay with cash, please call our office on 07 4099 3677. We will require a valid credit card to hold your booking, but we won’t charge it. Please bring exact cash for payment, as our guides will not have change available.