White Water Rafting Expeditions on the Franklin

Active Adventure

The Franklin River flows around Frenchmans Cap and through the Franklin - Gordon Wild Rivers National Park in the Wilderness World Heritage Area of S.W Tasmania.

Rapids range from grade 1 to 6 though the most difficult paddled are usually up to grade 4

Typical Day

The Franklin river carves its way through some of the most beautiful, rugged and inaccessible country in the world. Its significance was recognised in 1982 when it was listed as a world heritage area.

On your expedition you will experience surging rapids, tranquil gorges and pristine forests of myrtle, leatherwood and the ancient huon pine. Platypus, wallabies, quolls(marsupial tiger cats), cormorants and white breasted sea eagles are often encountered.


Negotiating the untamed waters of the Franklin is one of the worlds true adventures.

Water by Nature offers a ten day expedition rafting the full navigable length of the river, a seven day expedition on the Upper Franklin and a five day tour on the Lower Franklin. Our seven and ten day tours include a day walk (optional) to the imposing Frenchmans Cap 1443 metres, as well as rafting through one of Tasmanias most spectacular gorges. On the five and ten day departures you will enjoy a spectacular seaplane flight to Strahan.

Our guides are trained in wilderness rafting, campcraft, first aid and environmental interpretation. Our senior guide has been running commercial tours on the Franklin since 1987 for Wildtrek and Peregrine. Some rapids require portaging, however we have developed safe and efficient methods of negotiating them.

Delicious and nutritious cuisine is prepared with fresh Tasmanian produce.
If you have any special dietary requirements just let us know in advance.

We practice the art of minimal impact travel through this delicate environment and make sure that we carry out all waste.

Each expedition uses two guides and two rafts paddled by a crew of two to five, with a maximum of ten persons per departure. You are issued a waterproof drybag (~ 60 litre) to store your personal clothing and sleeping bag. Each trip has a spare day built in to cope with possible delays.

Age range, type of group

Minimum age is 10 years for the 5 day, and 16 for the 7 and 10 day or lower by arrangement.

There is no upper age limit, several people in their seventies have successfully completed these tours

Sleeping and meals

Nutritious and delicious cuisine is prepared from fresh Tasmanian produce.

Meals included.