Tasmania’s Gordon River usually only sees whitewater rafters — not an Olympic-class eight

The Gordon River, with its mirror-like surface, lies in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

The only boats usually seen in the Gordon’s upper reaches are whitewater rafters and kayakers, who have reached the mouth of the Franklin River and are trying to return to civilisation after a week in the wild.

The masters crew from the Lindisfarne Rowing Club believe they are the first to tackle the Gordon in an Olympic-class eight.