What are the best river activities in Australia?
The best river activities in Australia include white-water rafting on the Nymboida River, canyoning in the Blue Mountains, tubing on the Mulgrave River and gondola tours in Adelaide. Other options include nature cruises in Tasmania, crocodile-watching on the Daintree River, stand-up paddle-boarding in Noosa and paddlesteamer cruises on the Murray River
White-water rafting on the Nymboida River
Where? Near Bellingen, New South Wales
For mixing scenery with shock factor, there can be fewer better places in Australia than the Nymboida. The river makes its way through stunning forest landscapes and the odd canyon on its way towards the ocean – but the water’s passage isn’t always smooth. A series of Grade 3 and 4 rapids line the route – and while they’re hardly death-defying, they’re challenging enough to get the heart going. In terms of a rafting adventure, it offers the perfect mix – time to drift along enjoying it, interspersed with thrills that’ll have you grinning like a simpleton.
Book your river activities: Exodus Adventures offers one day white-water rafting tours on the Nymboida River from Coffs Harbour. Prices start at $225. Rafting tours are also available on the Tully River in Queensland.
Tubing on the Mulgrave River
Where? Goldsborough Valley, near Cairns, far north Queensland
If fighting through white water doesn’t appeal, then the more sedate alternative is just as much fun. River tubing is the art of sitting inside a giant, inflatable tyre inner tube as you casually float downstream. On the Mulgrave River, you’ve got a few more aggressive stretches of water to combat, but on the whole it’s about being taken along by the current for a couple of hours, enjoying the rainforest scenery.
Book your river activities: Aussie Drifterz Tubing Tours operates half day Mulgrave River tubing tours from Cairns, costing $90.
Crocodile-watching on the Daintree River
Where? Far north Queensland
The Daintree River is something of a dividing line between civilisation and the untamed wilderness of the Cape York Peninsula. The rainforests to the north around Cape Tribulation are home to the elusive cassowary. They almost certainly hide species that mankind has yet to discover, too.
The Daintree River itself isn’t exactly free of beasties. Birds fly overhead, pythons dangle from trees and any thoughts of going for a refreshing swim are cancelled out by what lies in the water. This is crocodile central, and while the scenery is gorgeous, it’s the croc-spotting in a worryingly small boat that makes a Daintree cruise truly memorable.
Book your river activities: The Daintree River Cruise Centre offers four crocodile-watching cruises per day, each lasting an hour to an hour and a half. Tickets cost $30. Alternatively, just take the Daintree River ferry across the river. Crocodile-watching cruises are also available on the Proserpine River in the Whitsundays region further south in Queensland.
Wine-tasting cruises on the Swan River
Where? Perth, Western Australia
Most wine tours are conducted in mini buses, but in Perth you can use the Swan River as the highway. You can get on several boat cruises from Elizabeth Quay, but the best bets go further upstream. The Sandalfords and Houghton wineries in the Swan Valley are easily accessed from the river. It’s possible to combine the indulgence of generous wine and cheese sampling with a lazy river cruise from Perth to the Swan Valley wine region.
Book your river activities: Captain Cook Cruises is amongst the companies offering Swan River wine-tasting cruises. The Gourmet Wine Cruise costs $185.
Paddlesteamer cruises on the Murray River
Where? Echuca, Victoria
Despite none of the Murray River technically being in Victoria (the state boundary is the high water mark on the Victorian bank), the majority of the great Murray River towns are there. Echuca is arguably the most fascinating of them, and it’s the perfect place to hop on board a paddlesteamer cruise. A number of these old river carthorses have been restored and offer pleasure cruises from the giant wooden wharf at the Port of Echuca. Checking out the bird and plantlife along the Murray as the boats chug along is a treat, but spare a thought for the poor, sweaty soul down below who has to keep chucking fuel into the engine.
Book your river activities: Murray River Paddlesteamers run basic one hour paddlesteamer cruises from Echuca Wharf for from $25. Elsewhere on the Murray River, it’s possible to do kayaking tours from Albury.
Gondola tours on the Torrens River
Where? Adelaide, South Australia
You’d have to squint really, really hard to convince yourself that Adelaide is a southern hemisphere Venice, but at least the gondolas are authentic. There’s a delicious absurdity to being gently paddled along the placid waters of the Torrens River in a gondola imported from Italy, but the city views, twittering birds and glass of wine should relax you into the O Sole Mio vibe.
Book your river activities: Adelaide Gondola offers 40 minute Torrens River gondola trips for $115.
Nature cruises on the Gordon River
Where? Strahan, Tasmania
For postcard scenery, the Gordon River in western Tasmania is tough to top. The water can seem like a blue, glassy mirror and the surrounding rainforest and craggy mountains make you feel very small indeed. In short, there are fewer better places for a day cruise. The boat heads through Hells Gates – the tiny entrance where Macquarie Harbour opens into the sea, and around world class trout and salmon farms. There’s also a stop off with walking tour at the notorious Sarah Island convict settlement.
Book your river activities: Gordon River Cruises runs day tours from Strahan for from $140, including a buffet lunch.
Stand-up paddle-boarding on the Noosa River
Where? Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Hawaiian sport of stand-up paddle surfing has taken off in beach town Noosa, and sickeningly healthy types can be found propelling themselves along the waterways that adjoin the Noosa River every morning. In theory, it’s quite simple, you stand on an oversized surfboard and paddle yourself along. Maintaining balance isn’t that straightforward, however, and you’ll have a few dips in the water before you graduate to the river proper and the proper surf off the beach. The drive from Brisbane to Noosa takes just under two hours.
Book your river activities: Two hour stand-up paddle-boarding lessons/ tours with SUP Noosa cost $50. Further down the Noosa River, it’s possible to go for a cruise on the Noosa Everglades.
Canyoning on Rocky Creek
Where? The Blue Mountains near Sydney, New South Wales
The Blue Mountains is a hotbed for canyoning, the sport that takes going downriver to new levels. The premise is simple – you follow the creek or river through canyons by whatever means possible. Sometimes this involves abseiling, sometimes it involves leaps of faith from great heights and sometimes it involves sliding down waterfalls. Degrees of difficulty vary massively, but there are some relatively fun routes. The Sheep Dip and Rocky Creek trip is a comparative trip to the playground. It should have you shouting “wheee” as you slide down the rocks.
The Blue Mountains Adventure Company offers full day canyoning tours that visit Sheep Dip and Rocky Creek for $285.