7 Waterfall Boat Tours and Cruises in Australia to Book This Year

1.Katherine Gorge Cruise & Edith Falls Day Trip from Darwin

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 158 reviews · from $247Our pick

Leave Darwin at 6:30am for Nitmiluk National Park with an accredited outback guide. Cruise between 70-metre sandstone walls on the NitNit Dreaming boat, hear Jawoyn stories, then walk to Edith Falls for a swim when conditions allow. Guides may include Aaron, Boggie, Chris, Naomi, or Pascal. Expect a beautiful but very long day.

“A long day, but time passed quickly, great to see places as interesting and as beautiful as Edith falls and Katherine Gorge. Really enjoyed the day”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Amazing Daintree Rainforest Tour Waterfall Hike, Lunch, Swim & Crocodile Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 103 reviews · from $182Top rated

Travel from Port Douglas or Mossman with guide Allister into a secluded part of the Daintree. Walk a sometimes-slick rainforest trail to a waterfall swim, enjoy a chef-prepared lunch with several main-course choices, then cruise the Daintree River by solar-powered boat to look for crocodiles and other wildlife.

“AMAZING EXPERIENCE! A tour for those who are truly outdoorsy as it is true hiking. Alister was the best tour guide and person. He shared so much of his life experiences living in the rainforest with us and was very knowledgeable about the Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Cygnet Bay Unique Tidal Waterfall Reefs Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 63 reviews · 2 hours · from $184

Ride from Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm in an amphibious vessel, then transfer to a 12-seat rib powered by twin 250-horsepower engines. Your English-speaking guide takes you through the Buccaneer Archipelago to see a reef exposed by the Kimberley’s huge outgoing tides. The timing changes with the tide, so available departures are limited.

“I loved the whole experience. I have looked forward to seeing the Tidal Waterfall and it was fantastic. The staff were great, passionate and really informative.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Darwin: Nitmiluk Edith Falls Tour & Katherine Gorge Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · 13h 30m · from $244

Leave Darwin at 6:30 AM for Nitmiluk National Park. Cruise Katherine Gorge for two hours, hear Jawoyn Dreamtime stories, then walk and swim at Edith Falls when conditions allow. An accredited guide such as Lee, Ethan, or Dani leads the long drive, with stops at Adelaide River, Katherine, and Pine Creek.

“Fantastic day the gorge was beautiful, we spotted a crocodile while on the boat, the guide Jason was knowledgable and gave so much info. The swim at Edith falls was nice as it was a hot day, the creek was a highlight. Take note it is a very long day spending 10+ hours on a bus but it’s worth it and comfortable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.PRIVATE Blue Mountains Scenic World Wentworth Falls & Cruise Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · from $534

Travel from Sydney in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a guide such as Joseph, Yousaf, Shevy, or Rene. See Wentworth Falls, Echo Point, Katoomba Falls, Scenic World and quieter lookouts, with cableway, railway, Skyway and Walkway access included. You can adjust the pace, add stops, and return by vehicle or scenic cruise.

“Joseph was truly a pleasure, his knowledge and awareness amazing. Although the views were not as expected due to the weather, he made every effort to travel around to different vantage points to allow us to get different perspectives.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Daintree Rainforest: Waterfall Walk, Swim & Crocodile Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 8 hours · from $173Best value

Join guide Allister from Port Douglas or Mossman for an eight-hour Daintree adventure. Walk an exclusive rainforest trail to a secluded waterfall, swim if you wish, eat lunch with a choice of fish, chicken, steak, kangaroo, or vegetarian dishes, taste tropical fruit, and cruise the Daintree River for crocodiles.

“Our experience was nothing short of amazing. Allistar goes above and beyond to make the experience enjoyable for each and every guest. He offers an exclusive experience which not many tours do, allowing a private waterfall experience for the tour group and the lunch we received was incredible. His knowledge about the area and history is extensive allowing him to answer any questions with ease and providing us with an abundance of insight into the local community and its botanical history. I would highly encourage anyone wanting to visit the Daintree rainforest to take this tour an experience it for themselves as it exceeded our expectations by a mile.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Darwin: Katherine Two Gorge Cruise Edith Falls Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 17 reviews · 13h 30m · from $225

Leave Darwin at 6:30am for a full-day coach trip to Edith Falls and Nitmiluk National Park. You’ll cruise Katherine Gorge beneath 70-metre cliffs, hear local stories from your English-speaking guide, and have time to swim when conditions allow. Guide Leigh has been praised for lively commentary, but bring snacks: meals are not included.

“It is a very long day but the gorge is absolutely worth it and the guide Leigh was so knowledgeable he told facts and stories all the way which made the time go quicker. One negative is there is no lunch included in the cost which is a shame for such an expensive trip. There are limited food outlets on the way so bring snacks with you.”

Check availability →Read our full review