053 Fly in Raft out

Remote white water rafting adventure

Moving at pace down the North Johnstone River, passing volcanic gorges and ancient rainforests, is rated in the world’s top ten most extreme whitewater rafting extravaganzas. Over a four-day adventure there’s little time to anticipate what’s ahead, so just loosen up and ride the whirlwind. Qld’s North Johnstone River carves aggressively through the beautifully preserved rainforests of the Palmerston NP, where you’ll glimpse the surrounds between gushing rapids, like the calm before each storm.

“WHAT A BLAST! PACK YOUR COURAGE PILLS, THIS SOUNDS BRILLIANT.” – Sandra Sully
 

Bouncing through the cascading Grade 5 drops is exhilarating; you’re hardly steering, you’re on a vigorous ride and never in control. In your (rare) slow periods you’ll creep past crystal clear creeks, spy timid platypi and turtles and watch egrets soaring above. And the highlight for many is choppering into the gorge from Cairns, peering out at pumping waterfalls and steep basalt cliffs below, just before landing on the banks, gearing up and hitting the water.

 WHERE // On the forking North Johnstone River in North Queensland, through the Palmerston National Park. Tours depart from Cairns. Check out RnR White Water Rafting at www.raft.com.au for more info.

DID YOU KNOW? // The rainforest through which the North Johnstone River runs is more than 130 million years old – and certain individual trees you’ll raft past on the riverbank have stood there for more than three centuries.