Franklin River Rafting 8-day Expedition

Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup in Launceston—either 6:15am at the Grand Chancellor or 6:30am at Penny Royal. From there, we travel to the Franklin River’s put-in at Collingwood Bridge, arriving around midday to inflate the rafts, enjoy lunch, and prepare for launch. After a safety briefing and paddling introduction, we hit the river, tackling exhilarating sections like Log Jam, Nasty Notch, and Descension Gorge before floating into the serene Irenabyss. We camp riverside in the heart of the wilderness, where a warm meal and the sounds of the wild await.

*You will need to arrive in Launceston the day before your trip, ensuring that you arrive in time to attend the 1:00pm pre-trip briefing.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Today is a long and rewarding day of rafting through some of the Franklin River’s most scenic stretches. The river’s character changes with recent rainfall, making each journey unique and dynamic. Along the way, look for the brilliant red blooms of climbing heath spilling down the cliff walls. As night falls, your guides prepare another delicious meal before you drift off under a canopy of stars.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we enter the iconic Great Ravine and face our first major portage at the Churn—a thrilling moment in the journey. Along the way, we navigate challenging whitewater and glide past the striking Blushrock Falls, with its distinctive red-hued stone. Keep an eye out for glimpses of Frenchman’s Cap from the river as your experienced guides share both legendary and little-known stories of the Franklin. Tonight, we camp deep within the Great Ravine at the beautiful Coruscades Camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we journey through the final stretches of the Great Ravine to reach Deliverance Reach and on to Rafter’s Basin. After breakfast, we navigate a series of thrilling rapids and portages—Coruscades, Livingstone’s Cut, Thunderush, the Masterpiece, and the Cauldron—before arriving at the Mousehole, a dramatic gorge marked by a watchful, cat-like boulder. Just 2km downstream, we reach our peaceful camp at Rafter’s Basin, beside Interlude Creek. The surrounding terrain gives us a taste of the wild, remote beauty of the Lower Franklin ahead.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depending on the weather, today’s journey takes us to either The Black Forest or Newlands Cascades. The Franklin is a wild and ever-changing river, and our guides are experts at adapting with a solid Plan B, whatever the conditions. We paddle through Propsting Gorge and tackle some of the river’s most exhilarating rapids, including the iconic Newlands Cascades after lunch. Along the way, we’ll stop at the breathtaking Rock Island Bend and, by day’s end, settle in under a dramatic rock overhang for a cozy night in the wilderness.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Greet the day with a warm drink as sunlight slowly spills down the valley walls toward camp. The banks are lined with ancient Huon Pines and flowering Leatherwoods, their branches alive with birdsong. Today’s paddle is gentle, allowing you to soak in the beauty of this protected rainforest sanctuary. We journey through the lush lower reaches of the Franklin, a landscape preserved by the passionate environmental protests of the 1980s.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s journey winds past dramatic river landmarks—Double Fall, Big Fall, and the ship-like formation of Galleon Bluff—before gliding beneath the towering Verandah Cliffs. We pause at the Lost World and quietly acknowledge the culturally significant Kutikina Aboriginal Cave. Our final camp is at Sir John Falls on the majestic Gordon River, a peaceful spot framed by rainforest and rich with birdlife. As your guides prepare dinner, take a dip from the wharf and watch for white-bellied sea eagles overhead.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, you are collected by the Stormbreaker yacht and cruise down the length of the river before reaching Paralungatik/Macquarie Harbour. Take the chance to kick back on the deck and enjoy the views over the broad expanse of the Gordon River. In Strahan, we are met by our bus, which will transfer us back to Launceston. Arrival in Launceston may vary from late afternoon to late evening. Our two drop-off points in Launceston are the Grand Chancellor and the Penny Royal. We usually celebrate with a group farewell dinner this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch