Riri Blue Hole
Riri Blue Hole
4.6
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
2 within 5 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.6
196 reviews
Excellent
136
Very good
44
Average
9
Poor
4
Terrible
3
Luc
Brisbane, Australia479 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Riri blue hole was gorgeous. As a solo traveller I decided against a solo kayak to avoid getting lost, and paid for a local to take me there on a canoe. I was blown away from the natural beauty, hidden away and untouched. There was just 1 other couple there when I visited. Quiet. Peaceful. Picturesque.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aeae
Melbourne, Australia56 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Very special. Just us in the middle of the rainforest. Highlight was the peaceful canoe ride there, just listening to the oars and the birds. We had a hire car and stopped off here to visit the blue hole. It was 1,000 VT per person canoe ride plus entrance to Riri Blue Hole. The kids and I waited by the canoe while my husband followed the owner in our hire car along the rutted track to the blue hole and came back in the owner's car. Then the four of us got in the canoe with our oarsman. It took about 15 mins to get to the blue hole along an impossibly clear brook. Then it opens out into a huge open pool surrounded by forest. There was another couple there but that didn't spoil the serenity and once they left it was only us. No lifeguard, no kiosk, nothing so you'd hope nothing would go wrong!
Was amazing just to swim through the pool - it was so, so deep - slightly unnerving even. We saw a couple of fish but not much happening underwater. There was a big tree trunk on the opposite side of where we got in (there was a ladder) where you could sit/stand and enjoy looking across the pool. There was a rope swing but we would not have been able to swing it up to catch it on shore. Once we were ready to go we walked a few minutes up a track where our car was parked and drove down the rutted trail back to the main road. I'm glad we had chosen to do it this way as meant we were free to leave when we wanted rather than waiting for the owner/the owner waiting for us and driving us back to the main road. The other option had been to have the canoe ride back to the main road but think that was double the cost.
Was amazing just to swim through the pool - it was so, so deep - slightly unnerving even. We saw a couple of fish but not much happening underwater. There was a big tree trunk on the opposite side of where we got in (there was a ladder) where you could sit/stand and enjoy looking across the pool. There was a rope swing but we would not have been able to swing it up to catch it on shore. Once we were ready to go we walked a few minutes up a track where our car was parked and drove down the rutted trail back to the main road. I'm glad we had chosen to do it this way as meant we were free to leave when we wanted rather than waiting for the owner/the owner waiting for us and driving us back to the main road. The other option had been to have the canoe ride back to the main road but think that was double the cost.
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie L
Sydney, Australia16 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
This is such a beautiful place, definitely worth a visit. We did the canoe ride up the creek/river to the blue hole and highly recommend doing it that way. Our driver dropped us off where the creek passes under the road, then drove up and met us with all our bags at the end point.
Great swim hole, beautiful canoe ride through a lush jungle atmos, almost like being on the jungle cruise at Disneyland, but without all the animatronics.
Plus all the locals were really lovely, HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TRIP!!!
Great swim hole, beautiful canoe ride through a lush jungle atmos, almost like being on the jungle cruise at Disneyland, but without all the animatronics.
Plus all the locals were really lovely, HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TRIP!!!
Written 23 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fred H
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Couples
The men at the entrance tried to scam us for more money.
A “taxi driver” was waiting for us at the entrance, where he advised us of the entrance fee:
- 1000V per person to drive to the blue hole
- 1500V per person to be canoed up to the blue whole
We went with the latter and paid 3000V to be canoed up.
When we got to the blue hole, the taxi driver was waiting for us with the “land owner” who advised that the price was actually 6000V for two people (3000V each) and that the “taxi driver” gave us the wrong information.
15 minutes later, the “landowner” canoed up with a another lady be greeted by the “taxi driver” at the blue whole requesting an additional 1500V because she was “given the wrong information”
Beware - they may suck you in with the canoe option at the cheap price of 1,500V to charge your double when you make it up to the blue hole (01/08/2023)
A “taxi driver” was waiting for us at the entrance, where he advised us of the entrance fee:
- 1000V per person to drive to the blue hole
- 1500V per person to be canoed up to the blue whole
We went with the latter and paid 3000V to be canoed up.
When we got to the blue hole, the taxi driver was waiting for us with the “land owner” who advised that the price was actually 6000V for two people (3000V each) and that the “taxi driver” gave us the wrong information.
15 minutes later, the “landowner” canoed up with a another lady be greeted by the “taxi driver” at the blue whole requesting an additional 1500V because she was “given the wrong information”
Beware - they may suck you in with the canoe option at the cheap price of 1,500V to charge your double when you make it up to the blue hole (01/08/2023)
Written 1 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelling Ones
Australia196 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Very friendly locals, well kept with ladies raking leaves and sweeping the whole time we visited. Very nice that we had the pool to ourselves too, for at least some of our visit. However we felt that 1,000 each for a 15 minute paddle upstream was a bit much (then another 500 each to visit the Riri Blue Hole). Possibly this was due to our taxi driver wanting to pick us up at the top, so we never used the outrigger to go back to the bridge at the road. We thought half hour or 45 minutes was long enough to visit and swim, not the suggested two hours. And agree with some comments that repairs needed - no floating pontoon as advertised- and that the price is a bit steep. At higher tide the Ri Ri river and Blue Hole is somewhat murky, translucent rather then clear blue so this may have also added to our feeling of being let down by Santa’s Largest Blue Hole.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tamara Peters
Newcastle, Australia39 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We went to the Riri Blue Hole after visiting Champagne Beach with a local driver as it was on the same road. By the time we got there it was packed with others from the cruise ship so the water wasn’t as clear as expected. The water was also very cold / refreshing depending on which person you asked. Locals collected $5 a person. Their was a rope to swing off if ups dared and some climbed up a high wall and jumped in - I enjoyed watching these activities.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jo_eastaff
Middleton, Australia192 contributions
Jul 2022
The very best way to experience the Riri Blue Hole (the clearest of the Santo Blue Holes) is to get dropped up there just after high tide, Play around a bit in the impossibly clear blue water, then snorkel, swim, or float gently downstream to your ride waiting for you by the bridge. We snorkeled quietly and it took about an hour. It was absolutely stunning and I can't recommend it enough.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
melsmi
Ettalong Beach, Australia6 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
Took a cruise, arrived at the wharf, met the horde or bus drivers touting for business. One man had a fish on is van. So we trusted him. Shing was his name and off we went, 12 of us, he filled the bus. We went to Nanda Blue Hole, then Champagne Beach and finished with Riri Riri River canoe ride. All three were great. He drove slowly, we had seatbelts, did not pick up his phone when it rang. He even gave us a heap of fresh fruit. There were 5 of us in our family. It was a safe drive, the suggested tour was unreal and we got to do it all for less than half the ship price. I would recommend this driver any day, he knew where to take us and we had a great day in a part of the world we never knew existed. And they all have BAR's and shade and safe swimming. Would use him again. Trust on the other side of the world with a complete stranger, Best day of our holiday.
Written 5 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
prw05
Melbourne, Australia272 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
My wife and I whilst on a P&O cruise (Pacific Jewell) decided to do a Riwi River canoe tour booked through the ship. The River was clear and beautiful. Peaceful and very quiet. the paddle took about 45 minutes including time to stop and bail out the boat a couple of times due to a significant leak at the front right under my feet. We finally made it to one of the famous Blue Holes which was great. The quiet was disturbed due to scores of people (mainly kids) swimming and jumping from the rope swing. As I understand it you can get a taxi to the canoe pick up point, hire a canoe and paddler and return to ship for about AUD$25 instead of $129 charged by cruise ship. Make sure you only pay the taxi driver a small portion to start and balance when back at ship otherwise they will take off and strand you. Canoe & paddler cost about $10
Written 24 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AWTYblogger
Mullumbimby, Australia621 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
I would recommend seeing Billy & his family who own the land that this blue hole is on. They will paddle you down to the blue hole by a traditional outrigger canoe, we have been to several blue holes in our travels but never via outrigger, this was a highlight! I have also never seen such blue water, gorgeous. There are 2 rope swings which our kids made good use of & we enjoyed the swim. i would recommend taking your insect repellant & don't go there on cruise ship day.
Written 24 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Colin was the canoe trip worthwhile and how did you book this one please. thanks Tracey
Written 17 November 2017
Hi Colin there was a bit of stuffing around as our driver had to go and see the Chief who owns the blue hole. You have to pay entry fees on every blue hole of $5 each. No I would just get taken straight to the blue hole save the money I think it was Aud $40 hope this helps cheers Tracey
Written 5 January 2018
Hi there, We are spending the day in santo in april as we are arrive on a cruise ship. How do we arrange to come to the Riri Blue hole & are there any entrance fees? thank you
Written 2 March 2015
Hi Maria. You can hire a taxi driver for the day to take you there. The entrance fee was 500 vatu per person at Riri.
Just as a side note, Riri isn't the nicest blue hole, Nanda and Matevulu are better. I say that because when I was there late last year Riri was in a bit of disrepair, the wooden boards didn't look like they were very safe. It does have a tame rope swing though for the less adventurous! Nanda is probably the prettiest of them all with the real deep blue water, and has lots of little fish. There's also a cafe there run by a local lady who is incredibly friendly and knowledgable :) Matevulu was my favourite as it has an awesome rope swing, picnic tables and is huge! (prices are similar)
Written 3 March 2015
Showing results 1-2 of 2
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing