Tasmania Dec 00 - Jan 01
Back when I lived in Perth I purchased a Kayak.  I use to paddle the swan river before work and on the weekends.  I got a rod holder fitted and had much success with catching fish by trawling behind the kayak.  I had always wanted to paddle the Gordon River in Tasmania.  Finally after my discharge from the Army I started to plan for it.  As I was going alone as this is probably one of the most remote places in Australia, I did not want to be ill prepared.
After about 12 months of planning to organise food, safety gear, maps, etc etc I was ready to go.  I could write about this trip forever but basically it went like this:

I caught the ferry from Melbourne to Launceston.  From here I drove to Strahan where I made a few local contacts and gathered some info from the Rangers.  One of the biggest challenges of this trip was to find camping spots.  Of the whole length of the river that I was going to paddle, there was only 3 spots where there was enough flat land to put up a tent.  I then caught the tourist ferry to the Gordon River.  You really feel the remoteness when that boat leaves with all the tourists and you are left all by yourself!

Paddled up stream for 2 days and camped at Sir John Falls.  This is where the water plane lands if you catch this from Strahan.  From this base camp I paddled up stream fighting two big rapids to the Franklin River.  One rapid was too long for me so I had to walk the kayak up along the bank.  This is harder than it sounds considering the amount of rocks and forest growing right up to the water.  Just used a long rope and plenty of patience!  Spent a day paddling up the Franklin then back to base camp.  The base camp was the bottom left photo on the sand bar.  Heaps of snakes around at night time so always had to wear my boots and long pants.

As this is a world heritage area no fires are permitted so you need to carry a small burner and fuel (shellite) for hot food.  I paid the extra bucks and got a good unit from the Scout Outdoor Shop in Adelaide.  This has been used and abused on this trip and also all the 4wd'ing as well and is still performing as good as new.

On the return to the pickup I spent a couple of days at a fishing hut where I tried my hand at fishing.  Not a bite!  Lucky I changed my plans on living partly off the fish I was going to catch!  Used this as a base camp to paddle out to Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour also.  Hell of a paddle back for hours and hours fighting the stream of the river pouring out into the Harbour.  Doesn't look bad as the river is deep and wide, but it was very hard to paddle against.  Probably my hardest day in the kayak I have experienced.

Caught up with the ferry again on the 7th day and returned to civilisation.  Then spent 2 days (recovering) in town then off to Lake St Clair where I spent a couple of days doing some walks around there.  Then onto Port Arthur, Coles Bay then back to Launceston and caught the ferry back to Melbourne then the drive back to Adelaide.

Now that I am married, I would love to take my wife back to this part of Australia.  We have both travelled Tasmania as a normal tourist, but seeing the Gordon River by kayak was an experience I would like to share also.  Photos and video just don't do it justice.  The remoteness is unique that not many people feel during their whole lives and it makes you appreciate these parts of Australia which are now protected.

I am currently recovering from a few operations from being too "gun ho" in my younger days!  Looking forward to getting back into the kayak one day again soon.