LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY > FRANKLIN – GORDON WILD RIVERS NATIONAL PARK AND THE WEST – TASMANIA > Nelson River (Nelson Falls Track, Franklin – Gordon Wild Rivers National Park)
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The Nelson Falls Track is a lovely short walk through lush Tasmanian rainforest alongside the Nelson River. Especially in winter when the water levels are higher, Nelson Falls becomes one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Tasmania.
With its rugged mountain peaks, raging rivers and lush rainforest, Franklin – Gordon Wild Rivers National Park World Heritage Area is the essence of true wilderness. Apart from a few short walks, most of the park is remote and inaccessible. Frenchman’s Cap, a dramatic white quartzite peak with its 450m (1480′) vertical cliff, is the most well-known feature of Franklin – Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
Photographer’s Reflection:
“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.” (Songs of Songs 8:6-7)
I was on my way up to Cradle Mountain. It had been a few years since I last travelled the road, due to our busy lives following the birth of our blessed little daughter. As I drove up through Tarraleah and Bronte, they began to evoke a deep emotional memory. Just like an old fragrance, the sight of the Highlands carried me back in time…to a time before our little girl…when it was just my husband and me.
Joe used to work for Hydro Tasmania, and when he went on site, I would often go up with him to the Highlands. Sometimes we would take little holidays up to the lakes, and I would follow my keen fly fisherman around to all his favourite fishing spots, happy to just be in his company as he hunted trout and I read my Bible and prayed.
But as all parents can probably sympathise, life became extremely busy after our daughter arrived, and without any family here to help us, Joe and I were constantly doing baby shift work in order to provide the other with a little sanity and alone time with God.
But at the sight of the Highlands I began to remember my husband. As I drove through our old spots I remembered the different times we had had together and how much life had changed for us in the last few years.
As I entered Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park I stopped at Nelson Falls, and I couldn’t help but think of how the Bible says that many rivers cannot wash away love (Songs of Songs 8:6-7 (above)). I began to contemplate my marriage. The rivers of busyness in our lives had risen to new heights, but had they been successful in washing away our love for each other?
My mind then drifted onto my relationship with God. What about the Lord? Had the rivers of busyness as a parent drained the love I had for God at first?
All these things were running through my mind as I stepped into the Nelson River, just downstream from Nelson Falls, to shoot this photograph of the wild Tasmanian rainforest.
…No, I don’t think rivers can wash away true, deep, lasting love…
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13)