Australia Rafting Holidays

The Franklin River

The Franklin River
Duration
11 days
Cost
$3795
River Rafting
Class IV
This 10 day rafting adventure takes you the full navigable length of the Franklin River, deep in the heart of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area.

This 10 day rafting adventure takes you the full navigable length of the Franklin River, deep in the heart of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. The Franklin was featured in Outside Magazine and named the ‘Best White-water Rafting Journey on Earth’ beating other notable rivers such as the Zambezi, Cotahuasi and Futaleufu in Chile. Our journey includes a day’s walk to the imposing Frenchman’s Cap, the monarch of the south west, as well as rafting through one of Tasmania’s most spectacular gorges. Accommodation both sides of the trip plus your airport transfers are included making the trip 12 days in total. Unpredictable river levels on the Franklin, mean our trip will always be an adventure — it is possible to encounter both very low levels and floods within days of each other. Whatever the level, rafts offer the best way to explore this unique wilderness. Join us for the trip of a lifetime.

Itinerary & Map

Duration
11 days
Camping
9 nights
Hotel
2 nights

Arrive in Launceston in the morning (before 11am) and self transfer to your Hotel to relax. At 1pm you’ll have a pre-departure meeting and a chance for the guides to check you’ve got the correct gear, and to get anything else that you need

Not Included: Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

A gorgeous scenic drive to the river nice and early this morning. We set up the rafts and have a thorough safety and paddle briefing before camping at the junction of the Collingwood and Franklin Rivers.

Included: All meals

Today we will takcle the Log Jam, Nasty Notch, Descension Gorge and float calmly through the Irenaybyss and camp on the side of the river below the gorge.

Included: All meals

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.

Included: All meals

There’s some challenging rafting through the Great Ravine in store today along with our first portage of the trip at the Churn! Tonight we’ll make our camp within the Great Ravine at Coruscades camp.

Included: All Meals

We paddle out of the Great Ravine through to the Rafters basin. A mixture of paddling and portaging today through rapids such as Coruscades, Thunderrush and the Mousehole. We camp for the night by Interlude Creek.

Included: All Meals

Depending on the weather today our destination is The Black Forest or Newlands Cascades. Life on the river is extremely dominated by the weather and your guides are adaptable, with a great plan B no matter what mother nature throws down 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 which makes a cosy place to spend the night.

Included: All Meals

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.

Included: All Meals

Today our adventure takes us past Double Fall, Big Fall, and Galleon Bluff, which is said to look similar to 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 5km downstream of the junction of the Gordon and Franklin. The small wharf in front of our campsite is the perfect place from which 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.

Included: All Meals

This morning you are collected by Stormbreaker yacht and cruise down the length of the river before reaching 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. We usually celebrate with a group farewell dinner this evening.

Included: Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel a self transfer back to the airport for your flight back home.

Included: Breakfast

Dates & Prices

DatesDuration
Saturday 1 February 2025 - Thursday 13 February 202511 days£2995€3495$3795
Tuesday 18 February 2025 - Sunday 2 March 202511 days£2995€3495$3795
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What you should bring

We find most of our clients have in their posession already what is needed for a river journey. We have broken down here the items into what you’ll need on the river and in camp. An equipment list of what you will require for your adventure will be sent to you prior to your departure.

Download equipment file

  • A pair of trainers or keens that cover your toes and provide grip on wet rocks.
  • 2 pairs of river shorts (longer leg length) shorts can be purchased from our online Water Shop.
  • Swimming costume or bikini for ladies.
  • Long sleeved thermal top and bottoms to wear under your spray jacket. Capilene, Polypropylene or Merino wool is best. (not cotton)
  • A rash vest (not cotton) as an alternative to the thermal layer.
  • A baseball cap for under the helmet to keep sun off – can be purchased from our online Water Shop.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Chums for fastening your sunglasses to your head – can be purchased on line or from your river crew.
  • 1 Litre Nalgene / Sigg or similar water bottle.
  • Carabiner for fastening water bottle to your boat.
  • Waterproof camera such as GoPro for the ‘action’ shots
  • Waterproof sunscreen and lip balm SPF30 minimum.

  • 2 warm tracksuit pants (not jeans or cotton trousers)
  • 2 Lightweight tops – long sleeved shirts or t shirts.
  • Fleece jumper / sweatshirt / jumper
  • Light weight down jacket.
  • Rain jacket.
  • Woolly hat, gloves, buff / scarf.
  • Walking shoes or boots.
  • Underwear.
  • Woollen or Thermal socks.
  • A 4-season sleeping bag. (Can be hired in advance)
  • Travel Pillow.
  • Trainers or  light weight shoes for wearing around camp. (Walking boots are not required)
  • Thermal top and bottoms. (Good to sleep in)

  • Glasses or Contact lenses. Disposable lenses are ideal.
  • Toiletries. Toothbrush, toothpaste, biodegradable soap and shampoo.
  • Forget the cosmetics and hair dryer! But we do suggest moisturizer.
  • Hand wipes and a small bottle of hand sanitiser.
  • Small pack towel.
  • Insect Repellent.
  • Headlamp or head torch with spare batteries.

  • Your favourite book/kindle or a journal for recording your river memories.
  • Sketchpad.
  • Binoculars.
  • Photographic or video equipment. We recommend a cleaning kit as sand gets everywhere.
  • Spare memory card.
  • Solar or portable charger.
  • Neoprene sailing gloves.
  • Zip lock bags to keep valuables dry and sand free.
  • Rehydration tablets (Phizz, Nuun and O.R.S are easily available)
  • The only money that you need to bring is for meals in town, souvenirs, DVD, personal items, gratuities and the beer kitty for the raft trip if you drink.

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