The Wooden Boat Centre in Franklin is a boat building school and a discovery centre under the same roof. Situated on the banks of the Huon River, Franklin is a maritime heritage township in the Huon Valley, a 45 km drive south of Hobart. In the discovery centre you can read about the history of wooden boat building, water transport on the river and discover maritime tools and artefacts. On the guided tour through the workshop you get to see students and boatbuilders in action and the smell of Tasmania's unique boat building timbers including Huon pine, King Billy pine and Celery top pine will welcome you. On the way out have a browse in the gift shop, where you can choose from a range of nautical gifts and Wooden Boat Centre merchandise. The Wooden Boat School offers boat-building courses ranging in length from one day to full-time certificate courses. The courses teaches traditional wooden boat-building methods and focuses on the construction of timber vessels through all stages from lofting to launch.