FRANKLIN RIVER EXPEDITION

This seven-day adventure takes in the beautiful upper and middle reaches of the Franklin River, the jewel of Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage area. As well as rafting through Tasmania's most spectacular gorges, your journey includes the opportunity to attempt a day walk to the imposing Frenchmans Cap, the monarch of the south west.

ITINERARY
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You meet in Hobart at 7.00am on Sunday morning to receive your rafting equipment including wetsuit, thermal underwear top and spray jacket, and to pack your waterproof gear bag. You travel by private coach to the put-in point on the Collingwood River, a tributary of the Franklin. Here your guides will load the rafts and give a safety briefing. The day is spent mastering the rafts and enjoying the easy rapids leading down to the evening's camp at the junction with the Franklin proper. A short climb takes you to Donaghy's Hill for panoramic views down the Franklin River and across to one of our goals - Frenchmans Cap.

the Franklin's gorges, Aesthesia Ravine. After tackling the Log Jam and Nasty Notch portage, we rocket through the rapids of Descension Gorge before arriving at the beautiful Irenabyss, or "Chasm of Peace", your base for the next two nights.

Today you can stretch your legs on the trail to Frenchman's Cap. Although it is unlikely you will reach the actual summit, in fine weather the views on the way encompass the entire south west World Heritage Area, including the rapids of the Franklin sparkling below. If the weather is poor there are a number of lower level walks nearby that offer a different perspective of the river.

Today it's straight back into the action. Dozens of rapids, interspersed with quiet reaches, lead us past Mt Fincham, the Jericho Walls and The Crankle and on to our campsite at the base of the Engineer Range. Here we relax under a canopy of towering Sassafras and Myrtle trees.

A spectacular day's rafting that brings us to the awesome Great Ravine, one of Tasmania's deepest gorges. First you'll tackle the Side Slip rapid before coming to The Churn. Teamwork and tenacity will be required to portage at least part of this huge obstruction in the river. Later you arrive at your camp for a well-earned rest on the banks of Serenity Sound, deep in the Ravine.

You will need all of your well-practised rafting skills to negotiate the Coruscades, one of the longest rapids on the river. A short float takes you through to our next portage at Thunderush, then it's on to the last obstacle, The Cauldron. Our expert guides will ensure that we pass these awesome rapids safely and efficiently. Tonight's camp at Rafter's Basin is a great place to relax after the efforts of the day.

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Today we head into Propsting Gorge and arrive at the Mt McCall Track, where our re-supplies await. Those people only taking part in the Upper Franklin section of the tour will leave us here; others may join for the Lower Franklin section. After re-packing the rafts you continue through the exciting Trojans rapids before arriving at Rock Island Bend and the Pig Trough, with its delightful waterfall cascading into a fern-lined grotto. Safety dictates that we portage the actual Pig Trough rapid before we round the bend to tackle the famous Newland Cascades. This section will have everyone whooping with delight as we plunge through a maelstrom of spray and whitewater. Newland Cascades is the Franklin's finest stretch of whitewater - over 400 metres of roaring rapids..

You have the chance to appreciate all that the Franklin has to offer as you spend the full day exploring the surrounding wilderness of the Newland Cascades area. There is the opportunity to take repeated thrilling runs down the Newland rapids, to walk and explore Rock Island Bend and Pig Trough, to take some great photos, or just relax in the camp and enjoy a good book.

The river abruptly leaves the quartzite gorges of the middle Franklin and enters the limestone country of the lower reaches. Tranquil pools are broken by the occasional large rapid; Little Fall is a great spot for action photography! Slowly the river increases in volume. The Jane River enters from the left just above our mid-day break on Flat Island, a beach of polished river stones dominated by the impressive Cromleich Cliff.

Early this morning you encounter the last step down in the river's bedrock, Big Fall. It's a deceptive rapid which we portage easily and quickly. Around the corner is the gaping Pengana Cave, a towering vault in the cliffs. You enjoy your last lunch near the junction of the Franklin and Gordon Rivers.

The final few hours are spent drifting along this mighty river, carried along by the huge volume of water that makes the Gordon Tasmania's largest waterway. All too soon you reach Sir John Falls where a Wilderness Air seaplane meets you for the return flight to Strahan. Enjoy this spectacular flight with views of the Franklin and the entire south west wilderness area below. From Strahan a bus will complete the journey to Hobart.

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