Raft Tasmania's renowned Franklin River
40+ years pioneering the 'World's Best River Journey'
Acknowledged as one of the most spectacular and challenging river trips around, the Franklin River has attracted adventurers from all over the world. The opportunity of an expedition-style trip, rather than merely "thrills and spills" makes this the ultimate wilderness experience.
Perhaps there is no better example of a pure outdoor experience than rafting 129km of virtually untouched Tasmanian wilderness, reaching areas untouchable by vehicle and on foot.
But like all great expeditions, there will be times when patience is required. However, you will be one of the privileged few to have experienced this relatively untouched wilderness area – one of Australia's most scenic and prized destinations.
What makes the Franklin River a wilderness haven?
There are few great frontiers left in the world and the Franklin is one of them.
Free of pasture and any human habitation, it is a veritable feast for the intrepid explorer, and for many Australians, the Franklin is a river that flows deep through the nation’s psyche.
It is synonymous with wilderness conservation and once slated to be dammed, now provides one of the purest and most challenging wilderness trips in the country.
One of the world's last truly great wild rivers, it forges through the rugged south west of Tasmania, through deep gorges, quiet pools and magnificent temperate rainforest. Voted the best river journey in the world by Outside Magazine in 2012, you’ll be hard-pressed coming across a rafting destination as wild, clean and unique as the Franklin.
It won't be dammed: history of the legendary Franklin River
Celebrating more than 40 years rafting the majestic and mystic Franklin River, World Expeditions, Tasmanian Expeditions' parent company was the first operator on the river and continues to offer this popular adventure.
It’s been four decades since Australia’s famous environmental campaign ‘Save the Franklin’ was voiced to the entire country – a momentous victory in saving the Franklin River and surrounding pristine wilderness from extinction. Read more about the history >
It'll be hard to find an area as pristine and World Heritage Listed that hasn’t changed over the last 40 years. Even the Dunlop Volley shoes are still on the gear list, 40 years on!
Geoff Law and Bob Brown discuss events around the campaign.
Rafting options on the Franklin River
There are trips where you enjoy spending a few days exploring remote wilderness at a comfortable pace, but sometimes you need to feel your heart pound, to dive into a more challenging grind, to experience that exhilarating rush, or catch a lump in your throat as part of the venture.
If you are fit, have some experience on the water, willing to brave the elements and ready to pitch in to portage the gear when the rapids are rough, then a trip along the Franklin is for you. Rafting down this superb river is the only way to truly appreciate its wild beauty.
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"The rapids were fast, fun and wild. We felt safe, well fed and well looked after by the two very experienced guides ... Although it was one of the toughest things we have done, it was also one of the most beautiful and rewarding."
– K. Radcliff, NSW, Australia
Our Franklin River expeditions take place in the summer season between November and February.
The 129km rafting journey stay in unique, river-view camp spots each evening, which remain relatively unchanged since we pioneered this journey back in 1978.
Visit the historic Kutikina Aboriginal Cave, navigate the picturesque Rock Island Bend, discover the Lost World at Penghana Cave, and camp beside the riverside and listen to its rhythmic tones. The journey will provide you with an understanding of the importance placed on saving the river, now for everyone to experience.
Find below our top river journeys guaranteed to get your heart pumping as you navigate through stunning waterway wilderness, and endeavour to recreate the 1978 raft expedition with the pioneers of rafting. You can even tick off two great Tasmanian adventures: rafting the world's best river journey with an exhilarating climb up the prized summit of Frenchman's Cap for a superb view of the South West World Heritage Site.