North Johnstone River
Also known as: The North
World Heritage Wooroonooran rainforest; deep basalt gorge; Stairway to Heaven 150ft waterfall (Aboriginal burial site); ancient trees; bioluminescent fungi
Is there water?
Whether there is a river here on your dates, and what kind of water it is.
Natural flow; un-dammed; flows depend on winter/wet-season rainfall
Apr-Jun typical; entirely rain-dependent (Confirm.)
April to June (winter-rain fed)
Warm tropical water; mild
Flash-flood risk in rainforest catchment; rapid river rises; tropical heat and humidity
Grade & who can come
A river changes grade with its level. These grades describe a normal flow - in flood the same run is harder, and often a different run entirely. Check the gauge before you commit.
Grade IV-V (AUS/intl); Class IV-V
Rafting; kayak (expedition)
Single continuous expedition; not readily splittable once helicoptered in
Advanced/expert paddlers only; commercial trips take fit guided clients; not for beginners or children
The run
Mordor Gorge (sustained Class V); big technical rapids; multiple waterfalls
Numerous rapids scouted/portaged; waterfalls; no road egress
Palmerston NP heli-access wilderness run (incl. Mordor Gorge)
Very remote; near-zero other parties; true wilderness solitude
Access & shuttle
Wooroonooran/Palmerston NP (World Heritage); commercial operators require QPWS permits (Confirm.)
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Access by helicopter only from Mulgalli Falls staging (approx 2 hr drive south of Cairns); no road put-in
Helicopter fly-in of rafters and gear; road shuttle Cairns-Mulgalli
Riverside rainforest bush camps (approx 3 nights); no huts
Full expedition gear, food for 4-6 days, water treatment; no mobile coverage - EPIRB/sat comms essential
Cairns adventure hub; Tully River (day rafting) nearby
Hazards & exits
Committing wilderness; crocodile awareness; flash floods; remote from rescue
No road exits within gorge; helicopter or self-rescue only; carry EPIRB
Guided commercial expedition strongly recommended; self-support only for expert expedition teams
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand river run report. Coordinates are approximate.