Two wild rivers – the Collingwood and the Franklin – hurtle through mountainous rainforest wilderness and merge as the Gordon River, which flows into the vast Macquarie Harbour on the west coast. The rivers are the heart of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, in the Wilderness World Heritage Area of the south-west. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, they were part of an environmental controversy, when the Gordon River was to have been dammed for hydro-electricity, but the scheme was stopped by an international environmental campaign. Both rivers flow through deep valleys and spectacular ‘narrows’ and over rapids in deep rainforest country where few have walked. If you’re looking for adventure you can join a group whitewater rafting on the Franklin. For a gentler river experience drive to Strahan on the west coast and join a cruise up the Gordon River (Gordon River Cruises, World Heritage Cruises), or board a scenic flight from Strahan that takes you deep into the Gordon River to Sir John Falls and 1,000 year old myrtle and Huon pine trees. Any of these will be an unforgettable experience.