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West Tasmania Accommodation
West Tasmania Activities

Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, this national park protects Tasmania’s great western rivers; the Franklin, Gordon, Jane and Denison, and the remote mountain ranges where they rise. The Lyell Highway (A10) cuts through the national park on its way to Queenstown, entering the WHA just west of Derwent Bridge. Take time to stop and explore the rainforest bordering the road, there are excellent short walks at the Franklin River, Donaghys Lookout and Nelson Falls.

Lake St. Clair, Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park
Southern gateway to the famous Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the park centre at Cynthia Bay is the base for information and walker registration for walks within the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. It is also the finishing point for the Overland Track, one of the world’s best multi-day bushwalks. From Cynthia Bay, Australia’s highest ferry service carries bushwalkers and day visitors on the spectacular 20 km return voyage to the northern end of Lake St Clair, ringed by dramatic peaks and dense forest. Turn off the Lyell Highway (A10) at Derwent Bridge.

Sarah Island Historic Site
In the remote reaches of Macquarie Harbour, Sarah Island was once a feared penal settlement where convicts laboured under harsh conditions in the rainforest, felling Huon pines. Today the convict ruins give a chilling insight into the cruelties of convict life. A walking track links important sites. Most people access the island on one of the day or half-day cruises that depart from Strahan to explore the harbour and the nearby Gordon River.

Gordon River, Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
The dark waters of the Gordon flow through the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area before quietly entering Macquarie Harbour. Cruise boats from Strahan explore several kilometers into the river’s wide, calm lower reaches, with their often perfect reflections of riverside rainforest. Disembark at Heritage Landing and follow a short boardwalk track to see ancient Huon pines.

Montezuma Falls
Near Rosebery are Montezuma Falls, Tasmania’s highest. From Williamsford the walking track is level along an abandoned tram line (3 hour return) to the falls. Aswing bridge spans the gorge below the falls to link with the 4WD access track from Melba Flats (14 km each way).

Strahan Visitor Centre
In the heart of Strahan’s working waterfront, this innovative and challenging centre presents stories of the West Coast’s cultural heritage, including a performance of the play “ The Ship That Never Was ”.

Teepookana Plateau
Guided commercial tours and guided walks can be arranged at Strahan. Climb to the plateau, once logged for Huon pine and today the site of a forestry operation salvaging Huon pine stumps and limbs left by early timber cutters. The boardwalk reaches a lookout tower with views over the plateau, distant mountains, Macquiarie Harbour and the ocean. The track then continues through a demonstration forest that shows how Huon pines are replanted after the salvaging.

Lake Burbury
This extensive hidro lake surrounded by dramatic mountains and west Coast wilderness is just east of Queenstown on the border of the World Heritage Area. The trout fishing is excellent and there are good picnic, barbecue, boat launching and camping facilities.

Lake Mackintosh
Tullah, 80 km north of Strahan on the Lyell Highway (A10), is the only access point for boating and fishing activities on the hydro storage Lake Mackintosh.

Lake Pieman
Take a break for picnic, launch a boat or fish for trout in this West Coast hidro lake The C252 crosses the lake over the Reece Dam, 36 km north of Zeehan.