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Swirling tannin-stained river waters and water-worn rocks at Rock Island Bend, Franklin River
Rock Island Bend, Franklin River (photograph: Cam Blake)
World Heritage Area logo

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Wild river valleys and deep gorges.

Find out more

FeaturesExpand/Collapse

  • Access friendly
  • Camping
  • Fuel stove only
  • Kayaking
  • Overnight walk
  • Parking
  • Picnic facilities
  • Short walk
  • Toilets
  • World Heritage Area

ContactExpand/Collapse

  • Lake St Clair Visitor Centre
    c/- Post Office
    Derwent Bridge TAS 7140
    Phone: 03 6289 1115
    Email: LakeStClair@parks.tas.gov.au

    ​Visitor centre opening hours
    Open 7 days
    8.15am to 4.45pm from 1 October to 31  May
    9am to 4pm from 1 June to 31 August 
    8.30am to 4.30pm in September

About

In Tasmania’s west, the rivers are wild, the landscape is rugged and the mountain peaks are dramatic and imposing. Pristine fresh waters stained by tannins from surrounding vegetation weave their way through breathtaking gorges.

Water is ever-present in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park – trickling down from mountain peaks, running into creeks that cascade and twist through the rocks, combining to make the powerful Franklin and Gordon rivers.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park lies in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, just an hour from Strahan. Along the Lyell Highway, short walks provide easy access to view the famous Franklin River, while at Strahan, commercial cruises provide access to the magnificent Macquarie Harbour and Gordon River.

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​​Much of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is remote and rugged. However, along the Lyell Highway through the heart of the park, a number of attractive stop-off points provide a glimpse of the treats in store for those who have the time, equipment and fitness to explore this remarkable area.

The wheelchair-friendly Franklin Nature Trail is an ideal stopover for a toilet break and a picnic.  Two wild rivers – the Franklin and the Surprise – wind through this area.  Other excellent walks within easy access of the highway are a temperate rainforest stroll to Donaghys Hill and a nature trail to the majestic Nelson Falls​; two of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks.

A short, five-minute walk along the eastern bank of the Collingwood River leads to the junction of the Alma and Collingwood rivers where summer rafting and k​ayaking parties can be seen setting off for the mighty Franklin. While two weeks of thrill-seeking on the rapids and pounding gorges of untamed rivers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, you can’t help but share the excitement of these daring adventurers. You need to be an experienced paddler or in the company of an experienced, qualified river guide to tackle this remote and extremely challenging river.​

For hard-core walkers, there is no better way to appreciate the grandeur of the park than the multi-day walk to Frenchmans Cap​. This attractive but distant peak can be seen from the Lyell Highway on King William Saddle which also affords a spectacular view of the King William Range and Mount Rufus. The glacier-shaped wild river landscape is truly captivating.  

The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is also accessible by cruise boat from Strahan.

The region is perhaps best known as the location of largest conservation battle ever fought in Australia: the fight to save the Franklin River. The issue dominated Tasmanian politics throughout the late 1970s and early 80s and caused huge rifts between those who supported the construction of a dam as part of the proposed Gordon-below-Franklin hydro-electric power scheme and those who sought the preservation of the wilderness values of the region. A ruling by the High Court on the 1 July 1983 backed the Federal Government's bid to preserve the wild rivers.

With an annual rainfall of more than 1900mm, the park is located in the wettest part of Tasmania. It supports luxuriant growth including vast tracts of wet temperate rainforest, buttongrass moorland and eucalypt forest. These distinct vegetation types form habitats for a wide variety of native animals. The three largest carnivorous marsupials in the world -  Tasmanian devil, spotted-tail quoll and e​astern quoll ​- can all be found here.

Platypus can be seen in the shallows of the wild rivers while echidnas and pademelons scuttle about the undergrowth.

For more information on our wildlife please see Tasmania's wildlife.

Visit our caring for wildlife page for more information on interacting with and protecting our native animals.

The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park contains numerous Aboriginal sites which confirm the southernmost extent of human occupation during the last ice age. Understandably the area continues to be of great spiritual significance to today's Aboriginal community. There are a number of sites that have been returned to the Aboriginal community under the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995 due to their cultural significance such as Kutikina Cave. 

The establishment of a penal settlement on Sarah Island​ in Macquarie Ha​rbour in 1822 sparked a bleak chapter in the colonial history of the Wild Rivers region. The few convicts who successfully escaped from the island prison were, unwittingly, among the first European 'explorers' of the area. Many of those who opted to take the treacherous journey across the wild, unknown mountain ranges perished in the harsh wilderness. The most notorious account of short-lived survival in the impenetrable rainforest of the Wild Rivers was that of Alexander 'Cannibal' Pearce who escaped from Sarah Island not once, but twice. During his brief periods of liberty Pearce killed and ate his fellow escapees.

Convicts from Sarah Island were among the pioneers of the pining industry that was to last for more than 150 years. Parties of prisoners felled huge Huon pine trees on the banks of the Lower Gordon River before commercial interests became involved. The legendary piners pushed further up the Gordon and into the Franklin to harvest the highly-prized timber. Working conditions were wet and dangerous, and all supplies had to be rowed upstream by punt. Isolated for months, gangs of four to six men lived in huts called 'badger boxes' which could be quickly evacuated in floods.

Meanwhile, the gold boom of the 1850s prompted many prospecting expeditions in the Jane River area and led to the opening of the western mineral belt. North of the Lyell Highway near the Frenchmans Cap track car park, visitors can see a remnant of the old Linda Track benched into the hillside. It was cut in 1887 to provide access to the western mineral fields and was the forerunner of the Lyell Highway which opened in 1932. 

Buy a map from TasMap

​​The Lyell Highway (A10) connects Hobart in the south-east of Tasmania with Queenstown in the west. It runs through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

From Hobart, travel west for 2.5 hours via the Lyell Highway. From Launceston, travel south via Longford and Poatina on the Highland Lakes Road (A5) to Miena and the B11 to Bronte Park. Join the A5. King William Saddle, west of Derwent Bridge, marks the eastern boundary of the park. A further 56 km along the highway, Nelson Falls marks the western boundary, a 3 hour drive from Hobart.

The park can also be accessed via the lower Gordon River on one of the daily cruise boats from Strahan. 

​The Lyell Highway may occasionally be closed by snow in winter.


Where possible, please avoid driving in our reserves at night. You are sharing the roads with our native wildlife, so take it slow and watch out for animals on the road.

​​​​This is a Fuel Stove Only Area. Fires are prohibited. Please see our Fuel Stove Only Areas webpage ​for more information.​​

Be well prepared for rapid weather changes in this park. See the Safety in parks web page.

Please follow Leave no trace principles.​​​​

​Find out other essential information for visiting Tasmania's parks and reserves on our know before you go section.

Paddling on white water rivers in Tasmania can be highly hazardous. Before attempting white water, learn about the gradings and complexities of the Tasmanian white water rivers on Paddle About Tasmania​.​

Check out Education and Safety on Paddle Australia.

Know the conditions before you set out, check with the Bureau of Meteorology website.

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) has paddle safety information to give you some hints and tips for paddling in Tasmania.

For longer walks be sure to see the Safety in parks web page.​​

​The wheelchair-friendly Franklin Nature Trail​ is a perfect stopover on the Lyell Highway for a toilet break and a picnic.  

Most Gordon River cruise vessels are accessible to people with mobility challenges. Please check with the provider before your trip.

Experiences in Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

40 minutes return, 2.2km, Grade 2

Enjoy views of wilderness, rugged mountains and the Franklin River. The track climbs a small hill at an easy grade and leads you to the lookout, perched on a rocky pinnacle.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Donaghys Hill

Enjoy views of wilderness, rugged mountains and the Franklin River. The track climbs a small hill at an easy grade and leads you to the lookout, perched on a rocky pinnacle.

40 minutes return, 2.2km, Grade 2
Read more
Fishing on the rocks at Friendly Beaches, Freycinet National Park

Tasmania has a wealth of excellent inland and ocean fishing locations where you can cast your line.

Statewide

Fishing

Tasmania has a wealth of excellent inland and ocean fishing locations where you can cast your line.

Read more
25 minutes return, 1km, Grade 1

Those travelling between Queenstown and Derwent Bridge will cross this well-known wilderness river on their way. Plan a rest stop here and enjoy the tranquillity of water and rainforest.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Franklin Nature Trail

Those travelling between Queenstown and Derwent Bridge will cross this well-known wilderness river on their way. Plan a rest stop here and enjoy the tranquillity of water and rainforest.

25 minutes return, 1km, Grade 1
Read more

1 current alerts

3 - 5 days return, 54km return , Grade 4

Frenchmans Cap is the dazzling white monarch of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Guarded by the mighty Franklin River, it is one of our most challenging, most spectacular, and most rewarding bushwalks.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Frenchmans Cap

1 current alerts

Frenchmans Cap is the dazzling white monarch of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Guarded by the mighty Franklin River, it is one of our most challenging, most spectacular, and most rewarding bushwalks.

3 - 5 days return, 54km return , Grade 4
Read more
2-3 days, 28km return, Grade 4

Lake Rhona is a picturesque alpine lake hidden amongst the peaks of the Denison Ranges within the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Lake Rhona

Lake Rhona is a picturesque alpine lake hidden amongst the peaks of the Denison Ranges within the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

2-3 days, 28km return, Grade 4
Read more

The Mt McCall Track is one-day return drive into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Mount McCall Track (4WD)

The Mt McCall Track is one-day return drive into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and the Franklin Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

Read more
20 minutes return, 1.4km return, Grade 1

Located in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, visitors can reach the delightful Nelson Falls after a gentle walk. Break the long drive and stretch your legs—you won’t be disappointed.

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park

Nelson Falls

Located in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, visitors can reach the delightful Nelson Falls after a gentle walk. Break the long drive and stretch your legs—you won’t be disappointed.

20 minutes return, 1.4km return, Grade 1
Read more
Group rafting on the Franklin River

Tasmania’s oceans and rivers have a well-deserved reputation as some of the cleanest in the world, and what better way to explore these wondrous waterways than up-close and self-propelled.

Statewide

Rafting and kayaking

Tasmania’s oceans and rivers have a well-deserved reputation as some of the cleanest in the world, and what better way to explore these wondrous waterways than up-close and self-propelled.

Read more