The Apsley River was rafted by a small group from the Club in May 2003, after a huge downpour on the East Coast – at trip that turned into an epic. The Apsley River rarely flows, being in the heart of the dry East. However, when there is water in it it is characterised by continuous rapids and big waterfalls. The section we did (the day walk from the Douglas – Aplsey National Park campground that goes over the ridge and rock hops along the river bed) was at a moderate water level and consisted of numerous continuous G3+ rapids ending with nasty G4 or G5 drops that required extensive portaging. There was also the biggest G6 waterfall I’ve seen for a while. This, coupled with the very steep and slippery sides of the gorge (that always slope towards the gnarly rapids), the tendency of the river to rise quickly with rain and the lack of high level portage options makes the river a risky run. On this trip we drove from Hobart at 5:30am, got to the river at 10am, ferried across the river at 10:30am, pack-hauled along the 2km walking track until 12noon and got on the river at 1pm. The water level was such that we could just drive over the submerged bridge to the National Park in a normal car. Unfortunately, the excessive portaging required and a punched raft meant that we could not complete the entire 3km section in the remaining daylight and we were forced to abandon the river at the end of the gorge, about 1km downstream. We bush bashed up the hillside, attempted to find the walking track we came in on, didn’t, and camped the night. We then walked out the next morning. The remaining section of the river is most likely much tamer. If anyone wants to try to conquer it again - good luck! You’ll need it at the same water level that we had, with stable weather, a strong crew and as much daylight as there is in a day. It’s worth it – you don’t see many rivers like this in Tassie! Dave Butler

There are numerous sections on the Arthur River and the club has done a few. A favorate is the section to Farquars bridge, which is mainly g2 with a nice long g3/4 rapid called the mouth just before farquars bridge, there is another g3 before this which gets washed out at high levels. This section can be done from blackwells bridge (15k?) at most water levels, this is a pretty long car shuffle. You can also put on the hellyer river at the murchison highway (hellyer gorge picnic area) when the water is high enough. This adds about another 10k of rocky g2. The sections Farquars Br to Tayatea br, and from kannanuh br to the ocean are fairly flat with occasional g1/2 rapids. The section from tayatea br to kannunah br is 25+k with long flat spots and occasional nice g2 rapids. There is a choice camp spot blow the rapid river junction found by taking a right off the road to lake chisolm, the first half of this trip is review by racheal below, the second half is much the same. There is also potential for rafting above the hellyer junction, the club has not ventured up there yet. Matt Dean After the adrenaline rushes of Bradys Slalom Course the day before and a 6-hour car drive the Arthur was an agreeable river on which to stretch out and relax. Get in – Tayetea Bridge Tayatea (3445) 1:25 000 Map 483525 Get out – Arthur River Camping Area Holder (3444) 1:25 000 Map 402458 (~500m below the confluence of the Rapid and Arthur Rivers) Water Level – ~ 2 metres of rocky beach exposed at get in. Considerable rain had fallen in the area for 2 weeks before the trip however no rain had fallen in the preceding week. Evidence of a recent flood 2-2.5m above encountered water level. Grade – 2 (similar characteristics to the lower Huon) Time – 4-5 hours Length – ~13km Description: This section of the Arthur River winds its way through charming rainforest past secret streams and fairy dens. It is a very appealing, relaxed river and would be fantastic to raft on a bright sunny day with out time pressures, enabling exploration of the many hidden treasurers that abound on the riverbanks. An ideal water levels for this section would be ~ 50cm higher. The possible raft-able water levels for this section are between the encountered level and 1-1.5m higher. Higher than this and there would be the possibility of the river becoming very pushy in some parts. Rachel Anderson

The club rafted Butler's in Feb. 2001, when it heard that this normally Hydro diverted (i.e. always dry) river was running as the lack of water in other dams led them to use the butlers gorge turbines for generation. There are two sections, a continuous G5+ section, and a continuous G4+ section. The G5+ section is extremely narrow and very steep and is thus nearly impossible to raft. The G4+ section is much the same, but slightly easier - so we rafted it. The top section has some powerful waterfalls, the lower section is half as steep without the waterfalls. and flattens out at the end. Butler's is about the most difficult river you could raft in Tassy, and makes for a continuous adrenalin fix. Oh, and it also goes through some nice forest too.

The history of Bradys is pretty simple. The Hydro had two lakes (Bronte Lagoon and Bradys Lake) and wanted to be able to move water from one to the other. They could have done the normal thing and just built a slipway - but where's the fun in that? No, some bright spark decided to build a kayaking slalom course for international competition instead. With lots of water to move over a high gradient, and water throughout the year it was perfect for the job. But I think the young design engineer got a bit too carried away, with the international kayaking community deeming the course too difficult and dangerous for competition shortly after construction. For all of the same reasons, however, Bradys is the perfect rafting course. Big stoppers, a waterfall and very fast water makes the course extremely fun and wonderfully scary. If you don't come back injured in some way you are in the minority, but I guarantee you will not have had nearly as much fun as your injured counterparts! The river is a G4, with lots of access, two bridges, only 200m long and next to a main road which pushes its grading down to a solid G3. The rafting club considers it our big water 'training' course, it has some nice big rapids and there is a high possibility of falling out of the boat or flipping, with consequent possibility of nasty swims or foot entrapments. Recommended water levels are 12 to 50 cumecs (m^3/s), and contrary to what you might think the river actually gets EASIER at higher levels - except of course the first hole (Jibers, which can be dodged at high levels) and breaking out of the eddie at the bottom of the Cruncher. With more water, swims will not hurt your bum so much, (especially if swimming the Cruncher) but getting to the bank will be harder. Anyone is invited to come on or organise Bradys trips. All you need is to have done and Intro. trip, be reasonably confident you can handle real white water, and have enough experienced guides. Water booking are made though Hydro. A trailer or ute is also a good idea to shuffle boats back to the top of the course.

The club rafted the Cam on the last day of the 2004 winter trip. Like much of Tasmania the river was in flood with brown water, The put in is after a steep kilometre long walk in from a forestry track. The top 4 klms of the section is dangerously willow choked, with some portages, after a bad start the river opens up into a 10-12k long gorge with some stunning rainforest and some pretty wicked avoidable log jams. As far as rapids go most of the river is fast moving gr 1-2 but there where a couple of gr 2-3 rapids near the guide river confluence. In paddle about tas the recommended get out is a weir, The weir was shot but the k or so below the weir is horribly willow choked and also had a major log jam, our get out was the ocean.

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.

I have got in at bills crk once, but from there to usual get in is narrow and flat for 2k. The river is generally a g2/3 similar in rapid size to a low picton, even in flood the collingwood doesn't get too hairy. Min level around 0.8 (4+ hour trip) and the higher it is the faster the water. and it is also quite pretty with franklin-esque rainforest overhanging the river.

The Davey river is a large river draining the Propsting and Frankland Ranges in the far southwest of the state. The lower 15klm of flowing river plus 15k of tidal river where rafted after the confluence of the Crossing river. The river is characterised by its width at least as wide as the Huon or Derwent. and small shingle rapids. Passing through stunning forest. Just above the Davey gorge is some nice long grade 2 rapids. The Davey gorge is short but quite stunning.

Big Bend (or Frog Lodge) to Plentry River Railway Bridge. Traditionally, the start of the year brings on a plethora of new rafters, but more often than not - only the Derwent is running... The Derwent River therefore becomes 'The Intro River'. Aside from the lack of 'big water', Intro Trippers should be happy with the fact that the Derwent is a great place to start out with the club, meet new people and discovering how rafts, equipment, water and club work. The club prides itself on owning and maintaining 'top class' equipment and having professionally trained and experienced guides (as well as some - not so professional). All trips commence with a safety brief before anyone can hit the water - self awareness and looking after one-another is what makes a club such as ours - manageable and long lasting. Enjoy the day on the Derwent and the BBQ afterwards, you'll get out of it what you put in...

This is a very choice section of river. The club has rafted this a few times. You need wayatinah lagoon to be spilling. Ideal spill levels are 1500-3000cs. It could be done higher but it would be big. The thermal suckoff is a g3+ stopper near the start, best to punch through on the left, there is an eddy on the right just before it. There is lots of g2 waves and stuff until the big rapid, a nice solid g4 which I think huey modeled the ideal rapid on, nice and steep with big waves at the bottom. The river flattens out then towards the end and you do a lake paddle to the get out. Another 2 trips were done during the wet winter of 2004 (need dam spill), bringing club total up to 4 trips over the last 7 years. We got it at 2600-2700 cusec, a moderate level (bigger than that and it could be tricky). The juggler sent a few swimming...

Where: South of Dover, Flows through Forestry land Catchment: This river has a relatively small catchment area, Flowing off the southern ranges between Moonlight ridge and Adamsons peak Water Levels: Because of its small catchment the Esperance needs more rainfall than the other southern rivers the Picton, Weld and Huon. The Huon water level at Tahune gives a rough estimate of the Esperance’s level. At 1.5 m at Tahune the Esperance is very rocky and a long day. Ideal river levels would be between 1.8 and 2.5m at Tahune, at high levels the Esperance becomes pushy and quite demanding. Distance: About 12 klm (4-5) hrs Put in: 1st Bridge on Esperance Forest road. Take out: Channel highway Bridge a few kilometers south of Dover. The club has rafted this river over half a dozen times in the past couple of years and it has quickly become the river of choice (Nee North West Bay) when there is a lot of precipitation down south. From the get in there is a small hole followed by the drop under the bridge before the river flattens out, about 2klm down river a large log jam may cause troubles at lower water levels, but apart from this the river is cruisy with some nice forest ruined by an logging coup that has come right up to the river banks a definite breach of the states waterways laws. The second half of the trip takes the river through a steep valley with a higher gradient the first major rapid is an abrupt drop Gr3 indicated by a sharp right hand bend (Take this Left). About 500m downstream is Isa’s Staircase, the largest rapid on the Esperance which is high grade 3+ at decent water levels. This feature is a long cascade of rapids with a large drop into a narrow but powerful hole on river right. At low water levels this is the route to take but at high water levels the hole is quite dangerous and the drops down the left are more suitable. Below Isa’s Staircase there is a fair bit of demanding grade 2+-3 for the next Few Kilometers before the flat tidal paddle to the get out. ~Adrian S

The Fisher river is on the club's list of old favourites. To raft the river you need a combined flow from the Fisher River, and the power station (which is at the get in). Awesome continuous G2-3 rapids all the way. 1km lake paddle at the end can be a bit of work with a head wind.

A very nice trip starts with slow moving water, building into g2, then entering a couple of g3 gorges which get g4 at high levels. Best to take a 4WD to reach the get in, there seems to be quite a hole in the road in one spot. Get out at lemonthyme power station. 1.5-2m is a good level, you can go down as low as 1.1 from memory?, but remember that it will take you longer.

The Franklin River in SW Tasmania is one of the most famous rivers in Tasmania: for its beauty, the controversy of its past, and the epic rafting that it provides. A trip down the Franklin River is an 83 km journey that (in rafts) usually takes about 10 days (rest days included). The river features all grades of rapids up to the grade 5-6 rapids in the Great Ravine such as the Churn, Coruscades, Thunderrush and the Cauldron. The Franklin River also provides an insight into the rugged beauty of the SW wilderness of Tasmania. Travelling through gorges 100's of metres deep, surrounded by rainforest and cliffs of quartzite that defines the rough landscape of the west. This image of the Franklin is typified on the Upper and Middle Franklin, as the river archs around the domineering Frenchman's Cap (which can be climbed from Irenabyss in a day). However, below Newlands Cascades, the rocks change to limestone and the river flattens for the final 30 km before it reaches the Gordon River. A trip down the Franklin is an epic journey repleat with danger, isolation and incredible beauty. The Club tries to get a trip together down the Franklin once a year. Here are some photos from our Dec 2000 and Nov-Dec 2001 trips......

there are 3 sections on the hellyer, upper, middle and lower (hellyer/arthur) the upper section from burnie link rd to old highway (hellyer gorge picnic area) was attempted once by the club but a walkout resulted. it is 15k long and was described as g3. We found it narrow, loggy tricky g3/4, and very slow going (scouting rapids that continue around corners chewed up the time) so we walked out at a logging coup, then banana got stuck. middle section from gorge picnic ground to blackwell bridge is rocky, so needs to be in minor flood and is g2/3. from blackwell to farquars br. is mostly 2/3 but with two 3+ cascades at the end (low water), when high the first cascade washes out and the second becomes a bigger g4 called the mouth! This last section (the hellyer/arthur section) has a big car shuffle, and you could go from the gorge picnic ground all the way to farquars if the water was v. high.

The Inglis, near Wynyard on the North-West coast, is a lovely trip. First paddled by the club in April 08, it is a nice gr2 4hr trip. Consistent small drops make for a fun trip in small boats only. A good trip for beginners. Get in is the bridge off Zig-Zag rd, the get out is at the obvious bridge near the gravel pits. It is a 30minute bike shuffle. Allow for plenty of water- the river must totally cover the shingle island directly under the bridge at the get-in. J&H

This is a nice section of river that the club re discovered during the 2004 winter trip, This river requires a fair bit of rain to flow well. The start is flat and has a coupe of logs we had to portage then you enter the deep valley where there is gr 2 leading to a large cool grade 3+ followed about 500m downstream by a rapid consisting of two 2meter drops of which we portaged the top drop, after the major rapid there is more good grade 2-3 to the upper get out in paddocks on river left, Four wheel drives could get into this location otherwise its a 1.5 kilometer steep uphill walkout. This river is one of my favorite rivers in the north of the state.