Most Tasmanians know about Cataract Gorge. It’s in Launceston and is a really nice picnic spot, with some nice short walks. It has a chairlift (largest single span in the world apparently), an Olympic sized swimming pool, and is often swamped by tourists in the warmer weather. It also has a series of f*@king big rapids flowing through it. Some of you may remember that a number of years ago a rafting company used to operate on it, offering big water – with a big dollar sign attached. This was (a) because unless in flood you have to BUY water from the Hydro which is very expensive and (b) because the water was so big that they frequently put people in hospital with broken limbs, etc. The company no longer operates – but the people who ran it have since founded the Australian Rafting Federation and are responsible for running the National Competition that the Club attended in March and also trying to get the International Rafting Competition down to Tassie to raft (you guessed it) Cataract.
The Rafting Club rediscovered Cataract Gorge late 2001 (I say ‘rediscovered’ since there was apparently a trip in the early years of the Club that no one seems to remember) after much river research conducted by Pants Downie the Dragon Slayer. Since that date two trips have gone there, and the river has become the favourite of every insanely suicidal rafting club adrenalin junkie who has been on it.
If you want to come on the next trip keep your ear to the ground – they don’t happen very often because river flows are very hard to predict. If you don’t, well you’re probably too sane to enjoy it anyway.
Mark's Notes:
4 trips down and I haven't had a flip or wrap, and only had one person swim - who was pulled back in straight away.
once the spill level was 22cm - too small, once was 33 and twice it was at 44cm, these seemed good levels (1400-1900cs)but I wouldn't like to see it above 50cm. Getting in at duck reach also provides a shorter and easier trip.
at low levels 25-35 it is just lots of rocky g4 drops, at higher levels 35-45 the rapids flow into each other a bit and you get some g4/5 stuff.
from trevallyn to tamar is 5k, from duck reach down is 2k.
The first k has a few g3s and some flat water, then a 4+ rapid swinging to the left, from here to duck reach is lots of g4 (and if the water is height g5) rapid which require a little scouting and precise navigation. A very nice cascade flows around a corner and all the way to duck reach. Below the suspension bridge at duck reach is a technical g4 drop then a little flat water then the island. The left chute around the island is technical low-volume steep g2 building to 3 then when the river rejoins 4. When the water is too low to take the left the right is portaged for the first half, then some big drops are encountered during the second half. A few short g4s are taken on the right, then a big long g4+ taken on right, then two weir stoppers shot left directly before first basin. After first basin is one of the coolest rapids, the 'slalom rapid' a long g4+ cascade start middle and the river will push you to the right.
That's the thing about this river, once there is enough water in it she becomes very pushy, and you end up going where she wants you to go, not always where you planned. A cool head and quick thinking is required, as the 'corrective action rafting' is continuous.