Upper Yarra River tubing: Self-guided float with rapids

Navigate your own course down a real river, paddling through natural obstacles.

Self-guided tubing on the Upper Yarra River near Warburton takes 2 hours to float 3 km of scenic river with gentle sections and small rapids. You control the pace, paddling and maneuvering your own sturdy tube around rocks, branches and shallow spots. The operator provides a safety briefing, shuttle upstream, and round-trip transfers from Warburton. Children aged 10 and up are welcome when accompanied by a paying adult. All participants must be confident swimmers, and closed-toe shoes or water booties are required.

The experience

You start at the Warburton oval with a briefing and equipment demo, then ride a shuttle upstream to the launch point. From there, you have up to 90 minutes to explore the river at your own pace on a durable tube designed to handle rocks, branches and shallow sections. The 3 km course mixes relaxing floats with playful rapids and natural obstacles that require paddling, agility and swimming skill to navigate. This is a real river, not a controlled course, so conditions vary daily and the terrain changes with water levels.

The tube is easy to maneuver once you're on the water, and you'll use a paddle to steer around obstacles and control your speed through faster sections. Weak swimmers should hire a river guide for the day. All other participants need to be comfortable in moving water. Children aged 10 and up can join if a paying adult stays with them, and everyone wears closed-toe shoes or water booties to protect against rocks and branches. A personal flotation device is mandatory for weak swimmers and recommended for children.

What’s included

• Safety briefing and equipment demonstration.
• sturdy river tube.
• optional paddle.
• shuttle upstream from the launch point.
• round-trip transfers to and from Warburton oval.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (18 to 75 years) · Child (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Warburton Adventure Company

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to control your own pace down the river and don't mind navigating real obstacles. The self-guided format means you paddle when you want to move faster and float when you want to slow down, making it work for mixed-ability groups as long as everyone swims confidently.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 17 years). Under 10: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer to tube the Upper Yarra River?

All participants must be able to swim confidently in moving water. If you're not a confident swimmer, the operator offers the option to hire a river guide for the day, which gives you support through the rapids and obstacles.

What's included in the tubing adventure from Warburton?

The package includes a safety briefing and equipment demo at the start, a shuttle ride upstream to the launch point, your sturdy river tube, an optional paddle, and round-trip transfers to and from the meeting location in Warburton.

How long does the actual float take on the water?

You have up to 90 minutes to float the 3 km course at your own pace, though the total experience including the briefing and shuttle is approximately 2 hours.

What happens if the river conditions are rough on the day I book?

The Upper Yarra is a real river, so conditions vary daily based on water levels and weather. Natural obstacles like rocks, branches and logs may require paddling or standing to navigate. The operator adjusts the experience based on conditions on the day.