Nelson Falls

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is in Tasmania, Australia.

Understand

The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is a part of the South West Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It was created as the Frenchmans Cap National Park, and was expanded to include a significant part of the South West. It can be accessed from Lyell Highway in the northern part, and it can be entered in the mid region at Strathgordon.

Flora and fauna

Vegetation types within the park are varied, including cool temperate rainforest, drier eucalypt forests and button grass moorland.

Get in

By car

The Lyell Highway (Route A10) runs through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

The park has no facilities within its boundary, so to the east is Derwent Bridge, and the west are Queenstown and further towards the coast, Strahan as the nearest places with facilities.

By boat

Cruise boats departing from Strahan visit the park.

Fees and permits

A park entry permit is required.

Get around

Most of the access is by foot. Unless you are on a rafting venture down the Franklin River.

Do

Bushwalking

• Donaghys Hill Wilderness Lookout Walk. 30–40 minute return walk (updated Nov 2015)
• Franklin River Nature Trail, Franklin River, Lyell Highway, Derwent Bridge. An easy 1-km trail through cool temperate rainforest. (updated Nov 2015)
• Frenchmans Cap Track. A challenging 3–5 day hike. (updated Nov 2015)
• Lake Rhona Trail. 7–10 hours (14 km) one way, depending on conditions and fitness level. (updated Nov 2015)
• Nelson Falls Nature Trail (4 km west of Victoria Pass). An easy boardwalk trail to Nelson Falls. (updated Nov 2015)

Cruises

• Gordon River Cruises, 24 Esplanade, Strahan, ☏ +61 3 6471 4300, grc@strahanvillage.com.au. (updated Nov 2015)

Rafting

• Franklin River Rafting, Tours depart from Hobart CBD, info@franklinriverrafting.com. 8–10 day expeditions (updated Nov 2015)

Eat

There are picnic tables and toilet facilities at the Franklin River Nature Trail.

Sleep

A range of accommodation options are available in Strahan.

Go next

• Going east
  • Derwent Bridge
  • Hobart is 2.5 hours drive via the A10 Lyell Highway
• Going west
  • Queenstown
  • Strahan