Frenchmans 1:50,000 Topographic Map – Tasmania

An essential wilderness map for navigating, planning and exploring Frenchmans Cap, the Franklin River and the remote landscapes of western Tasmania.

The Frenchmans 1:50,000 Topographic Map provides a clear and accurate representation of some of Tasmania’s most dramatic and isolated country. Produced in 2024, Edition 3 features enhanced building symbols, hill shading and simplified vegetation classification, making the terrain easier to interpret both in the field and during expedition planning.

At 1:50,000 scale, 1 centimetre on the map represents 500 metres on the ground—an excellent balance between regional coverage and practical topographic detail.

🗺️ Map Coverage

Frenchmans Cap, rising to 1,446 metres, is the central feature of this sheet. Its magnificent white quartzite dome forms one of the most prominent and recognisable peaks within Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

Important locations and landscape features shown include:

• Frenchmans Cap – 1,446 metres

• The approximately 46-kilometre return walking route

• Lake Tahune, beneath the mountain’s spectacular cliff face

• Buttongrass plains, rainforest and glacial valleys

• The Franklin River and surrounding catchments

• The Cheyne Range and route of the Franklin towards the Gordon River

• Darwin Crater in the western part of the map

• Kelly Basin and the remains of Pillinger

• The former railway formation leading to the historic port settlement

• Remote mountains, ridges, valleys, rivers and wilderness terrain

The walk to Frenchmans Cap is considerably more demanding than many other established Tasmanian walks. The route passes through open buttongrass plains, rainforest and spectacular glacial valleys before reaching Lake Tahune beneath the Cap’s immense quartzite cliffs.

The Franklin River flows approximately 125 kilometres from its headwaters in the Cheyne Range to the Gordon River. Renowned for its wild scenery, powerful water and profound tranquillity, it remains one of Tasmania’s most iconic rivers and a celebrated destination for highly experienced rafters and kayakers.

To the west, Darwin Crater is believed to have formed more than 800,000 years ago following a meteorite impact. At Kelly Basin, the remains of the once-busy port township of Pillinger can be found at the end of the former railway formation, adding an important layer of industrial and settlement history to the sheet.

⛰️ Map Content and Features

The 1:50,000 map series is designed to provide a clear portrayal of topographic information for navigation, recreation and professional fieldwork. Features include:

• Contours and hill shading for interpreting elevation, slope and terrain

• Mountain peaks, ridges, cliffs, glacial valleys and other major landforms

• Rivers, lakes, creeks and drainage features

• Walking tracks, historic routes and access corridors where mapped

• Buildings, ruins and infrastructure where present

• Simplified vegetation classification

• National-park and wilderness-area coverage

• Historic railway and settlement features

• Named geographic features and points of reference

• Standard topographic symbols for efficient map reading

🧭 Who Uses This Map?

The Frenchmans 1:50,000 Topographic Map is suitable for:

• Experienced bushwalkers and wilderness travellers planning the Frenchmans Cap walk

• Search and rescue teams and emergency services operating in remote terrain

• Rafting and kayaking parties requiring broader land and catchment context

• Conservation workers, park managers and environmental researchers

• Geologists and earth-science researchers studying the region’s landforms

• Land managers and field professionals working in isolated areas

• Outdoor educators and advanced navigation students

• Historians and heritage visitors exploring Pillinger and Kelly Basin

• Map enthusiasts interested in Tasmania’s Southwest Wilderness

This sheet covers isolated and potentially hazardous wilderness. The Frenchmans Cap walk is a strenuous multi-day undertaking exposed to rapidly changing mountain weather, flooding, snow, strong winds and difficult terrain. River travel on the Franklin demands specialist whitewater skills, appropriate equipment and careful planning. Always check current park, track, river, access and weather information, carry reliable navigation and emergency equipment, and leave a clearly communicated trip plan. This topographic map does not replace a specialist river guide or current paddling advice.

💧 Field-Ready Options for Rugged Use

Choose the format that best suits your intended use—from lightweight trip planning to demanding all-weather fieldwork.

✅ Standard Paper

• Printed on 100 gsm FSC® coated paper

• Produces crisp, clear text and finely defined map symbols

• Lightweight and convenient for general reference or protected field use

• An economical choice for trip planning, research and office applications

✅ Waterproof and Tearproof Tyvek®

• Made from genuine DuPont™ Tyvek®, an advanced synthetic material composed of pure polyethylene fibres

• Waterproof, tear-resistant, foldable and extremely lightweight

• Printed using HP pigment-based inks for a permanent waterproof finish

• Suitable for backpacks and exposed wilderness conditions

• Ideal for bushwalkers, emergency personnel and outdoor professionals

• Provides exceptional durability without the weight and bulk of lamination

✅ Laminated

• Fully encapsulated between two 80-micron gloss laminate sheets

• Highly resistant to water, stains, smudges and tearing

• Draw on the surface with whiteboard markers for route planning or instruction

• Use Mark-It-Dots to identify campsites, access points, hazards or other locations without marking the map permanently

• Wipeable and reusable

• Ideal for offices, classrooms, operations centres and repeated field reference

📐 Map Details

• Title: Frenchmans Topographic Map

• Series: Tasmania 1:50,000 Topographic Map Series

• Edition: 3

• Production year: 2024

• Scale: 1:50,000

• Ground distance: 1 cm represents 500 metres

• Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 — GDA2020

• Coverage: Frenchmans Cap, Lake Tahune, Franklin River, Cheyne Range, Darwin Crater, Kelly Basin, Pillinger and surrounding wilderness areas

• Available formats: Paper, waterproof Tyvek® or laminated

• ISBN: 9318923027860

Important Datum Information

This map uses GDA2020. When transferring coordinates between the map and a GPS receiver, navigation application or other spatial data source, ensure the equipment and coordinates are set to the same datum.

🔍 Preview the Area in LISTmap

Use the LISTmap coverage preview to confirm that your destination, proposed route or area of interest falls within the Frenchmans sheet before ordering.

🛒 Choose the Right Format

• Paper: Best for planning, office reference and protected field use

• Tyvek®: Best for wilderness walking, expeditions and wet or demanding conditions

• Laminated: Best for repeated use, route marking, training and operational planning

🎯 Summary

Whether you are planning the demanding journey to Frenchmans Cap, studying the Franklin River catchment, exploring the story of Pillinger at Kelly Basin or conducting professional fieldwork across Tasmania’s western wilderness, the Frenchmans Topographic Map provides the terrain detail and geographic context required for this extraordinary landscape.

Plan with purpose. Navigate with confidence. Explore Tasmania’s western wilderness with accuracy.