April 20th, 2012 
Tushar Mathur One way to access an otherwise inaccessible wilderness is to take a raft. Travelers with a serious taste for adventure, a passionate love of the great outdoors and a sensitivity for the environment have found whitewater rafting on the Franklin River in Tasmania the perfect way to get everything they are looking for and more.
Although not dangerous or life threatening if undertaken with an experienced guide, a rafting tour of the Franklin is not an excursion for weekend warriors. For one thing, the excursion takes around 10 days to complete if you travel the full length of the river. For another, Tasmania’s climate is cold and sometimes harsh. You won’t be stopping your raft on the shores fronting a resort every afternoon: you’ll be camping out in one of the world’s great wilderness areas.
Are you still interested? Here are some of the things you can expect to encounter when you go whitewater rafting on the Franklin River:
- An easy start will take you down the Derwent River to the confluence of the Derwent and Franklin Rivers
- A stunning first day on the Franklin River as you traverse Aesthesia Gorge, the first of many.
- A climb to the top of Frenchman’s Cap to an elevation of nearly 5000 feet.
- Some serious rapids, combined with tranquil paddles surrounded by stunning wilderness.
- The breathtaking Great Ravine.
- Some portaging when necessary before tackling the infamous Cauldron.
- Adventures through thick rainforests and explorations of limestone caves.
- Finally, you will meet the Gordon River and enjoy a leisurely drift to your final destination.
Several experienced whitewater rafting companies offer excursions like the one outlined above. As exciting as it sounds, words can’t do such an adventure justice, though. Should you decide you want to go on one of these adventures, you’ll need to come prepared. A 0 degree Celsius rated sleeping bag is recommended, plus thermal underwear and warm socks. Footwear should be rugged enough to handle the areas where you’ll be portaging and you may even want to bring along a wet suit or dry suit for some of the rapids. Other than that, you will need to travel light.
Franklin River whitewater rafting excursions are eco-friendly. What you take in with you, you will also take out. No waste will be left to tarnish the pristine wilderness you pass through. Also, don’t expect to even find a comfortable tent site, much less any amenities. On many nights you will be sleeping in densely wooded areas where erecting a tent is not an option. Tour operators recommend skipping the tent altogether and bringing just a tarpaulin to lay your sleeping bag on top of.
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