april-2013

Franklin River
RAFTING:
FRANklIN RIveR
WHERE IS IT? Franklin-Gordon
Wild Rivers National Park
DURATION: 10 days. Season runs
October–early April
“This is never going to work,” I think
to myself as I survey the group.
Between the eight of us, we range in
age from 16 to 70-plus, and none of
us have any rafting experience.
It’s been a dry summer and the
water’s low, so the first day is mainly
spent carrying our boats along the
Collingwood River. Divided between
two rafts, we quickly learn to work
as teams and I’m surprised at how
efficient we are by the time the first
of our wilderness campsites comes
into view.
Rafting the Franklin River begins
the next day. I soon lose track of
time as we live and breathe this
wild stretch of Tasmanian water. We
depend on each other to negotiate
tricky sections of rapids, and
everyone is bumped from the raft at
some stage and needs to be rescued.
There’s a lot of talking, some tears
and loads of laughter.
did you know?
» TWWHA comprises the national
parks of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair,
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers, Southwest,
Walls of Jerusalem, Hartz Mountains
and Mole Creek Karst – plus Liffey Falls
State Reserve, Central Plateau Conservation
Area and Devils Gullet State Reserve.
» The Western Wilderness only gained
UNESCO World Heritage Area status
after a long battle to prevent the
majestic Gordon and Franklin Rivers
from being dammed.
By the time we meet the Gordon
River, I feel I’ve spent a lifetime with
these people. As I survey the group,
I think to myself that this could not
have worked better.
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holiday, from flights to
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go to jetstartasmania.com
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three of a kind » altitude
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