A guide to Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tas
Located on Tasmania’s rugged west coast, the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is brimming with natural beauty and an intriguing history.
While Tasmania is the smallest state in Australia, it has no shortage of beautiful landscapes and stunning national parks to explore. The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is one such attraction, and is renowned for its mountains, deep gorges and cool temperate rainforest.
The park is a 2.5-hour drive northwest of Hobart, a two-hour drive southwest of Launceston or a shorter, approximately one-hour, drive from Strahan.
The national park forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, and there is a single road — the Lyell Highway — that runs through the park, with various walking tracks splintering off it to explore. Travellers coming west from Derwent Bridge will drive out onto an open plateau with spectacular views (weather permitting) of Mount King William I, the mountain that sits at the heart of this beautiful national park.
Camping
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is primarily a day-use park, and those wanting to spend longer than a day there should utilise the accommodation or camping options in nearby Lake St Clair, Strathgordon, Maydena, Strahan and Queenstown.
The West Coast Information and Booking Centre is located in Strahan and is a great place to visit to find out more about the park, its walking trails and other attractions to experience within the area.
Required permits
Travellers will need a valid parks pass to explore this national park (and all other national parks in Tasmania). More information about the passes can be found here.
Passes can be purchased online, at national park visitor centres, most accredited Tasmanian travel information centres, onboard the Spirit of Tasmania or at Service Tasmania stores.
Walking tracks
The walking tracks that lead off the dubbed ‘Wilderness Highway’ range from 30-minute forest strolls to more challenging, multi-day hikes. Here are some of the best hikes and walks to explore:
Franklin River Nature Trail
The Franklin River Nature Trail offers a sensory immersion, leading walkers along a fern-lined path and offering views of the junction of the Franklin and Surprise Rivers. It’s an easy 30-minute walk that remains fairly flat and is suitable for wheelchairs. The Franklin River Nature Trail picnic area features a stainless-steel sculpture with complex mirrors named ‘Forest Spectacular’ which was created by Hobart-based artist Nadège Philippe-Janon. The sculpture symbolises the Palawa people’s close connection with a land that was saved from destruction and was inspired by the successful anti-damming demonstrations of the Franklin Dam hydroelectric scheme, which we’ll cover further down.
Frenchmans Cap Track
For those who enjoy a multi-day walk, the Frenchmans Cap Track is a great option. The track leads up to the summit of Frenchmans Cap. There are a couple of unstaffed, well-equipped cabins along the way (Lake Vera Hut and Lake Tahune Hut) and many options for camping. All hikers must register for the track before beginning the walk.
For those who want something a little easier, there is a 15-minute walk to the Franklin River Swing Bridge in the first section of the track.
Donaghys Hill Nature Trail
Continuing further down the Lyell Highway travellers will be able to access the Donaghys Hill Nature Trail, a 45-minute return walk that leads to a wilderness lookout with stunning views of the Franklin River Valley below. You’ll also be able to spot the dramatic mountain peaks of Frenchmans Cap in the distance if the weather is in your favour.
For up-to-date information about the walks, alerts, closures and leave-no-trace principles, head to the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service website.
Rafting
A Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park exploration isn’t truly complete without experiencing some time on the water.
Once you’ve driven across the Collingwood River, you’ll be in one of the best spots to start an epic whitewater rafting experience along the Franklin River — a multi-day journey that emerges days later at the Gordon River.
These multi-day river adventures are run by companies such as Water by Nature Tasmania, who will ensure you successfully navigate the wild rapids in this remote part of Tasmania. Water by Nature Tasmania’s guided tour can be customised if you’re tackling it as part of a group and can run anywhere from three to 14 days depending on how far along the river you want to travel.
A wonderous waterfall
Continuing further down the Lyell Highway, travellers can stop and enjoy the easily accessible boardwalk that leads past moss-covered rocks and ferns on the walk up to Nelson Falls. The boardwalk features informative panels so you can spot the ancient plants visible along the walk, including around seven species of ferns. It’s a beautiful spot and highlights ancient species that once dominated Australia but are now only found in the wetter regions of Tasmania and southeast and eastern mainland Australia.
A time of change
Countless visitors travel through this part of Tasmania each year, but there was once a time when the area was almost destroyed.
In the early 1980s, the Franklin River became famous far and wide for its role in the heavily politicised debate surrounding the Tasmanian Government’s planned hydroelectric operation which included damming the Franklin River. If dammed, much of the surrounding area, including the Tasmanian Wilderness Heritage Area, would have been flooded, destroying the habitats of endangered wildlife and irreplaceable cultural sites.
Protestors and environmental activists banded together to protest the dam, and in December 1982 the Brown and Wilderness Society led a blockade of the Franklin River, stopping workers from entering the dam worksite. The blockade lasted until March 1983 and approximately 2500 people took part in it, with around 1400 arrested.
This campaign was effective in sparking greater awareness of the environmental issues faced around Australia and resulted in a High Court ruling in favour of the proposed dam’s construction.
Continue the adventure
The Franklin-Gordon Wild River National Park is one of many national parks to be found within the beautiful Apple Isle. If you're heading back towards Hobart, stop in at Mount Field National Park, which is renowned for its beauty and abundant native wildlife. Or north of the park there's the iconic Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
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