Big river dreaming
I will always treasure running the Franklin. The 125km-long rough-and-tumble course – a mix of rugged rapids and tranquil flat water flanked by sublime campsites and aeons-old gorges and caves – is both formidable and unforgettable.
To tackle the Franklin River independently – in a kayak, canoe or raft – you need to have plenty of whitewater and river-running experience. But this doesn’t mean the less-experienced paddler needs to relegate it to their aspiration-only list.
Guided rafting trips down the river are available, and range from seven to nine days, making this iconic adventure accessible to anyone who is reasonably fit and game.
The calm before the storm
The Franklin River links the lofty heights of central Tasmania’s Cheyne Range to the Gordon River, and is contained within the massive 4463sq.km Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. In the early 1980s, as many Australians may recall, the Franklin River was at risk of being dammed and transformed forever (see “Water
