Franklin River Rafting 8-day Expedition

Please note that a compulsory pre-departure briefing is held the day before the trip, it commences at 1:00 pm, you will need to be in Launceston the day before the trip.

An early start today, we leave Launceston at approx. 6.00am and drive to our put-in point at Collingwood Bridge. We aim to be there around 12:00 noon and here we will inflate and load our rafts. Before getting on the water the guides will provide a safety briefing and instruction on paddling the raft. Today we will tackle the Log Jam, Nasty Notch, Descension Gorge and float calmly through the Irenabyss and camp just on the side of the river below the gorge. We spend the evening relaxing at our idyllic camp deep in the wilderness. While your guides prepare a hearty evening meal, why not take a cup of tea down to the river to look for the wildlife that comes out at dusk.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Today is a long and beautiful day of rafting, with some interesting paddling and numerous campsites along the river banks. The mood of the river depends completely on how much rain has fallen recently. Keep your eye out for the red flowers of climbing heath cascading down the surrounding rock faces. Tonight we enjoy another feast prepared by your guides, then turn in for a night under the open sky.

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We reach the Great Ravine today and encounter the first major portage at the Churn. There are some challenging sections along the river prior to reaching the Churn. We pass Blushrock Falls, named for the red tinge in the rock. As we paddle, look out for a view of Frenchman’s Cap from the river. Your passionate guides will share stories of the Franklin’s famous history, as well as intriguing lesser-known tales they’ve gathered over their years of adventuring on this wild river. Tonight, we camp at Coruscades Camp within the Great Ravine.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today takes us to Deliverance Reach, the end of the Great Ravine, and on to Rafter’s Basin. After breakfast, we paddle and portage through Coruscades, Livingstone’s Cut, Thunderush, the Masterpiece, and the Cauldron to the Mousehole – a narrow recess with a cat-like boulder overlooking the river. It is only a 2 km paddle from the Mousehole to Rafter’s Basin, where we camp for the night by Interlude Creek. The terrain around our camp tonight is somewhat of a prelude to the forthcoming Lower Franklin.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depending on the weather today, our destination is either The Black Forest or Newlands Cascades. Life on the river is highly influenced by the weather, and your guides are adaptable, with a great plan B no matter what Mother Nature throws at them… it’s all part of the adventure! Today, we paddle through Propsting Gorge and some of the Franklin’s best rapids. After lunch, we navigate the longest rapid on the river: Newlands Cascades. We’ll also visit Rock Island Bend. At the bottom of these rapids, there is a long, large rock overhang that makes a cozy place to spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Greet the morning with a hot drink in hand, watching the sun creep down the sides of the valley towards our camp. Huon Pines and Leatherwood trees drape themselves elegantly along the banks of the river. Listen and look for the birds that flit amongst their branches. The paddling today is relatively straightforward, to Blackman’s Bend, through the deep temperate rainforest of the lower river that was protected by the environmental protests of the early 1980s.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, our adventure takes us past Double Fall, Big Fall, and Galleon Bluff, which is said to resemble the sterns of several ships jutting out into the dark water. Shortly after, we float under the impressive overhang of Verandah Cliffs. Today, we will visit the Lost World and acknowledge passing the Kutikina Aboriginal Cave. Our camp tonight is at Sir John Falls on the Gordon River, about 5 km downstream of the junction of the Gordon and Franklin. The small wharf in front of our campsite is the perfect place to have a swim in the Gordon River and to look out for white-bellied sea eagles as your guides prepare the final evening meal.

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