Mulgrave River tours: River tubing near Cairns

A Mulgrave River tubing tour allows you to drift through the rainforest near Cairns, spotting native Australian wildlife and tackling the odd gentle rapid.

Cairns in far north Queensland is a great hub for white water rafting, with Tully River and Barron Gorge rafting trips amongst the top experiences in Cairns.

If you fancy something a little gentler, however, try a Mulgrave River tubing tour.

To skip the explanation and book a Mulgrave River tubing tour with instant confirmation and a mobile-friendly ticket, step this way.

Mulgrave River tubing tour information

The Mulgrave River Tubing tour from Cairns is a half-day adventure operated by Foaming Fury. The tour starts with hotel pick-ups in Cairns or the northern beaches, followed by a short drive to the Mulgrave River.

Once you arrive at the river, you’re provided with all the necessary equipment, including a sturdy inflatable tube, life jacket, and helmet. The experienced guides give a brief safety demonstration and provide advice on how to make your tubing adventure more fun.

Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance

From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.

Mulgrave River wildlife and scenery

Once the safety briefing is out of the way, it’s time to hit the water. The float downstream through the rainforest offers a mix of mild currents and gentle rapids. It’s mostly a lazy drift through the rainforest scenery, but there’s an occasional burst of excitement.

There’s also a good chance of seeing native wildlife – particularly birds, butterflies and freshwater turtles.

At the end of the tour, drinks and snacks are served up. Usually, about two hours are spent tubing on the river.

The tour operates all year round, and at the time of writing costs $84. You should book your trip online.

Other things to do in this part of Queensland include Green Island snorkelling tours, a Cairns dinner cruise, jet boat rides and the Cairns Aquarium by Twilight tour.

Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday

Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.