Arriving at the pub, we met the shuttle bus to take us to the top of the Tully River. We were lucky enough to be upgraded from the standard to the extreme adventure tour as we filled the final two spots that morning!  Teaming up with three Irish blokes who seemed ready for a challenge, we were introduced to our fearless leader Calum, to take us down the powerful waterway.

Going through some basic instructions, it wasn’t long before we adventured through the first of the fierce rapids.  Being grade 3-4 we were being smashed around the boat and Mark almost toppled out after only the second rapid (what a spud)!  Clinging onto the side of the raft, he was quickly pulled back in.  As we approached the next section of turbulant water, with a simple command of ‘Get down! Lean back!’ we were thrown deliberately straight into a rock in order to bounce off, complete a 180 and continue down the rapid backwards!  The thrills had only just began.

First Expedition on Foot

After racing down the first of the rapids we came ashore and jumped out of the rafts.  Here we had the opportunity to climb up a rocky cliff and go jumping off a 4m+ ledge back into the river!  After a few jumps we were roaring back down through the thick of it where we arrived at a smaller rapid section.  Again we pulled up and climbed out of the rafts.  This time we were to float down these smaller rapids and toward the end we were warned “It may be a drowning sensation as you hold your breath you’ll get smashed by some waves.  Just as you go for another breath, you will crash into another wave and probably inhale some water!  You’ll be right though!”.  Starting to jump into the Tully to face these rapids, Calum yells “Watch out for dildo rock!”.  By the time everyone experienced this rush of drowning, we all admitted that such a rock did attack everyone at least once.

Just before arriving at the lunch stop, we found ourselves on a calmer section of river.  Taking full opportunity Calum taught us how to deliberately flip the raft.  As you can see we all ended up in the drink besides our crafty leader who flung himself around the side as it flipped.  This was only one of the many times we flipped over as the trip continued.  All back on the upside down vessel we rowed under a crushing ice cold waterfall before pulling up anchor to grab some burgers.

Second Expedition on Foot

After lunch we tackled a few more tricky rapids which greatly tested our teamwork.  Departing the raft yet another time we found ourselves above a rapid slide.  One at a time we jumped in feet first and shot down this 3m fall after the leaders had explained “You may be sucked underwater for 2-6 seconds, everyone is different!”  Wanting more, we jumped back in the raft at the bottom and paddled to the base of the slide to climb for a second run.  Only this time was different.  We were instructed to go head first which was exhilirating as we shot through the raging water and resurfaced at the bottom.

Now with adrenaline pumping, we climbed up again for a third slide!  Trying another variation, with only 7 people daring to go again, we linked up one behind another grasping a hold of their life jacket.  That’s right, we made a choo choo train as we all delved into the slide together, losing control as we shot down the rapid.  Nay being in front had her legs shooting up in the air as six blokes pulled down from the back of the train, plunging deep into the water for a solid 15 seconds.  All heads slowly emerged and there were cheers as we had made it without breaking the chain.

Third Expidition on Foot

Pulling up to one last extreme activity we were at the ‘Devil’s Loo’.  Having a raft jammed between two rocks just behind a rapid, we launched ourselves in front of the raft and shot down in the water feet first.  Being flushed out behind the rapid, dodging boulders in the river, we staggered back up onto the rocks to go again!  Mark even flew through this one head first with a few other takers.

With everyone back in their rafts we ventured down the last leg of the river.  After a total of 10km through the day we had a couple of cliff jumps, many raft flips (even one where Nay flung herself on top as the boys ended in the drink!) and not to forget the raging thunder of the rapids.  Totally exhausted we were back on the bus to the pub where we had beers with the crew while banter was had about the days events…