8 Day Premium Franklin River Rafting Experience

We begin our journey with a scenic bus trip from Hobart to the river’s starting point at the Collingwood River.

It's a good idea to have a little pocket money for the journey, should you need any last-minute items, drinks, or souvenirs in Strahan later. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy lunch and prepare the rafts. Before we launch, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing and all the necessary rafting instruction.

We'll launch onto the Collingwood River, rafting its length until its confluence with the Franklin River, where we continue downstream. Today, we'll navigate challenging obstacles such as Boulder Brace, Log Jam, Nasty Notch, and Descension Gorge on our way to the spectacular Irenabyss, our resting place for the evening.

Wake up to the fresh, clean air of the wilderness after your first night sleeping under the stars. A new day of adventure awaits. What lies around the next bend? Perhaps another exhilarating rapid, tranquil pools with driftwood resting on an untouched beach, or the sight of a wedge-tail eagle soaring high above.

After breakfast, we pack up camp and begin the section known as the Middle Franklin. This winding stretch of the river twists and turns its way through a beautiful, cold temperate rainforest. Ancient Huon Pines, some thousands of years old, stand proudly, often perched precariously above the current. Tonight, we will make camp either on a delightful sandy beach or at one of the established rainforest campsites along the river.
 

Our second day on the Middle Franklin brings us closer to the dramatic Great Ravine. The cliff faces begin to climb higher, instilling a sense of foreboding. In the distance, a thundering roar announces the presence of The Churn rapid—a compulsory portage.

Safely navigating the Franklin’s dangerous rapids is an art form, with varying water levels dictating how we must tackle the task as a team. Once the rafts, food, and gear are safely at the bottom, our next obstacle comes into view. The Corkscrew can be one of the river’s finest rapids. Either way, once we have successfully negotiated this challenge, we'll paddle down "Serenity Sound," feeling tired, satisfied, and ready to make camp.

Today we tackle the crux of the trip: the formidable Great Ravine. Though only several kilometres long, this section of the Franklin River is home to most of the large rapids that must be safely negotiated.

The first party to descend the Franklin River, led by Dean and Hawkins in 1959, took six difficult days through a section they named "Deception Gorge." Dean described the harrowing effort, writing that he "wished I had never encountered this hideous defile."

The Ravine is now generally surmounted in one long day. A combination of rafting, portaging, and lining makes for a truly exciting and memorable experience. But it still remains the scene of many epic adventures. Tales persist of lost rafts, long, arduous portages, or cold, wet nights waiting for a boat swamped due to a hasty shortcut.

Once the last obstacle is behind us, we drift lazily downstream until the gorge opens up to reveal our home for the evening: the beautiful Rafters Basin. Tonight, we feel that profound satisfaction only earned after a hard day's effort. It’s amazing how much one day can hold.

Today we journey through the stunning Propsting Gorge, one of the best stretches of raftable whitewater on the Franklin River. This slightly shorter day is generally welcomed by all after the efforts of the previous days.

Shortly before camp, we arrive at Rock Island Bend, often associated with the campaign to save the river due to Peter Dombrovskis' iconic photograph, "Morning mist at Rock Island Bend." Tonight, we camp at Newlands Cascades, a naturally sheltered site that offers one of the best places to be if rain is falling and the river is rising.

After a quick goodbye to the whitewater we’ve become accustomed to, the Franklin changes dramatically. As we enter the lower reaches, the river widens, the wild water becomes tranquil, and the rock formations become predominantly limestone.

A Sea Eagle may keep watch from above until satisfied with our presence. As it flies away, we are once more left to experience the silent isolation of this immense wilderness. This evening, we arrive at Big Fall Beach, a magnificent campsite gladly received after the day’s paddling.

Our final day of rafting takes us down the Lower Franklin and onto the lower reaches of the Gordon River. Along the way, we pass another majestic set of caves and a little-known canyon called The Lost World. Perfectly named, this unlikely-looking nook opens up to reveal a realm of dark green mosses and delicate spider webs.

Not long afterwards, the Franklin flows into the Gordon River, and with it, the end of our adventure draws nearer—the past week seemingly gone in the blink of an eye. We pass the proposed dam site, a solemn reminder that this place was nearly lost forever. Another six kilometres downstream, we reach the jetty at Sir John Falls, the end of our journey by raft.

We begin the day bright and early to the sound of music coming from on board the yacht 'Stormbreaker'. Sean, the skipper, warms up the engine as we break camp for the last time and head on board.

We cruise down the Gordon River in the early morning mist, past the iconic Butler's Island, where 34 years ago, blockaders attempted to stop the barges carrying bulldozers for the dam. We continue downriver to its mouth and into Macquarie Harbour. On a clear day, you will be treated to 360-degree views, including the dramatic Frenchmans Cap in the distance.

The Stormbreaker takes us all the way into the small west coast town of Strahan. Upon arrival, our bus will be waiting for the last leg of our journey back to Hobart