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Visitor centre The centre has an impressive historical display on Tasmania's south-west, including Aboriginal history, European settlement, and more recent events such as the fight to save the Franklin River from being dammed in the early 1980s. In the amphitheatre there is an audiovisual slideshow and a nightly performance of 'The Ship That Never Was', about convict escapes. Esplanade.
Morrison's Mill: one of 4 remaining Huon pine sawmills in Tasmania; tours available; Esplanade. Strahan Woodworks: woodturning, arts and crafts; Esplanade. Tuts Whittle Wonders: carvings from forest wood; Reid St. Ormiston House: built in 1899 and a fine example of Federation architecture surrounded by magnolia trees and expansive gardens. Morning and afternoon teas are served; Bay St. Water Tower Hill Lookout: views of township and harbour; Esk St. West Coast Wilderness Railway: see Queenstown.

Franklin–Gordon Wild Rivers National Park This park now has World Heritage listing after an earlier state government tried to dam the Franklin River. Protests were so heated and widespread that the federal government and High Court stepped in and vetoed the proposal, saving the dense temperate rainforest and wild rivers that make up the park. Visitors can go canoeing and whitewater rafting, and there are many bush trails for experienced walkers. A 4-day walk to Frenchmans Cap takes in magnifi cent alpine scenery. The 40 min return walk to Donaghys Hill is easier and overlooks the Franklin and Collingwood rivers. Contact Parks & Wildlife Service on 1300 135 513. Gordon River cruises depart from Strahan. Cruises run up river to Heritage Landing, where there is a short walk to a 2000-year-old Huon pine; bookings on 1800 420 500 and (03) 6471 7174. 36 km SE.

Peoples Park: popular picnic spot in botanical gardens setting with a 45 min return walk to Hogarth Falls through marked rainforest; 2 km E. Ocean Beach: Tasmania’s longest beach (36 km) offers horseriding, beach fishing and the opportunity to see short-tailed shearwaters in their burrows Oct–Mar; 6 km W. Henty Sand Dunes: vast sand dunes with sandboards and toboggans for hire; 12 km N. Cape Sorell Lighthouse: 40 m high lighthouse built in 1899; 23 km SW. Sarah Island: ruins of convict station with tours available; check with visitor centre; 29 km SE. Scenic flights: bird's-eye views of Gordon River, Sir John Falls and Franklin River valley; bookings (03) 6461 7718. Strathgordon: the place to see Tasmania’s massive hydro-electricity industry at work. Along Gordon River Road are lakes Pedder and Gordon, the Gordon Dam and the underground Gordon Power Station. Bushwalkers can enter Southwest National Park via the Creepy Crawly Nature Trail; 90 km SE. South Coast Track: 6-to-9-day walk along the entirely uninhabited south coast for experienced trekkers. Starts at Cockle Creek and ends at Melaleuca, where you can continue walking north or take a prearranged flight out; 138 km SE.

Bronte System 96 km

Trout anglers probably already know that Tasmania’s Central Highland lakes are among the best in the world. Many offer fly- fishers an opportunity to sight-fish for tailing trout around the lake margins.... Find out more

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Little Pine Lagoon 106 km

Little Pine Lagoon is not much to look at, but is highly regarded by fly-fishers for its springtime tailing trout and summer dun hatches. Some anglers rate it Tasmania’s premier fly-fishing water. This small water... Find out more

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Great Lake 114 km

A year-round trout fishery, Great Lake is one of Tasmania’s best known waters and a thriving centre for holiday homes. Brown trout were first released here in 1870 and they still dominate the fishery with an... Find out more

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Arthurs Lake 129 km

Tasmanians claim that ‘even novices can catch trout in Arthurs Lake’. This probably explains why this waterway is Tasmania’s most popular trout fishery, hosting more anglers than any other water... Find out more

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Lake River 148 km

‘Tasmania is in drought, we simply don’t have enough water,’ said my guide Roger Butler as we departed Hobart for Lake River, which joins the Macquarie River south of Launceston. We reached our... Find out more

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Salmon Ponds 151 km

Most Australian trout anglers regard Tasmania as the nation’s premier trout destination. It’s like Tasmania was purpose-designed for trout, with hundreds of lakes and a cooler climate. Mother Nature... Find out more

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The Springs 184 km

Visitors to Hobart who are short on time can get a trout fix less than 20 mins’ drive from the CBD at an exclusive fishery called The Springs. It is a year-round fishery and is restricted to a maximum of two... Find out more

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Twin Lakes 209 km

I always thought the title of John Gierach’s entertaining book Where the Trout are all as Long as your Leg was a little farfetched, until I realised it related to a time when he was five years old. I am a little... Find out more

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The Overland Track 77 km

Deservedly the most well-known, multiday walking route in Australia, this 65- to 80-kilometre route through Cradle Mountain– Lake St Clair National Park is a classic (for national park information, see park entry... Find out more

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Tarkine Trails 84 km

Delve deeply into the temperate rainforest of the Tarkine Wilderness on a multi-day bushwalk with Tarkine Trails. Unashamedly made up of conservation activists, the company is keen to show you why the Tarkine area should... Find out more

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Trowunna Wildlife Park, Mole Creek 111 km

One of the most respected and long-running wildlife parks in Tasmania, Trowunna is involved in conservation, education and rehabilitation. There is a wide range of wildlife on display, including devils, reptiles, quolls... Find out more

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Gunns Plains Cave 114 km

Located just south-west of Gunns Plains (some 23 kilometres south-west of Ulverstone), this is yet another great limestone cave. It has one of the largest shawl formations in the Southern Hemisphere, glow worms aplenty... Find out more

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Hiking the Penguin to Cradle walk 131 km

If you want to embark on a little-known, but highly varied Tasmanian bushwalk, try part or the entire 80-kilometre Penguin to Cradle walk. It starts at the coast, goes through a mix of rural areas, woodlands, canyons,... Find out more

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Creative Paper, Burnie 131 km

Make your own paper with recycled bits and pieces on a half-hour tour at this non-profit, community-based enterprise. They use all sorts of odds and ends to make their eco-friendly papers, including old jeans, fruit pulp... Find out more

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Giant crayfish research, near Ulverstone 131 km

Tasmania has the largest freshwater crayfish in the world, and they can grow up to a metre in length, with claws that could cut a person’s hand off. You can go out on a research trip with the world’s expert... Find out more

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Platypus Encounters, Latrobe 136 km

Three brothers almost single-handedly turned an old quarry site into one of the most reliable places in the world to see wild platypus. In fact, the guided tours have never failed to encounter a platypus in Warrawee... Find out more

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Tarkine Forest Adventures at Dismal Swamp 146 km

This is a strange mix of natural history, art installations, public relations for Forestry Tasmania and a wild and riotous 110-metre slide. The experience is set in the only known sinkhole in the world with a thriving... Find out more

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Tahune AirWalk 156 km

Located 29 kilometres from Geeveston, this unashamed public relations exercise for Forestry Tasmania starts on the serpentine drive out to the AirWalk, where signs clearly state when an area was last logged. There are... Find out more

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Tasmania Golf Club 194 km

The challenge a golf course presents can often be measured by the quality of player it produces. At Tasmania Golf Club, the name Goggin crops up regularly on the honour boards. Lindy Goggin, a three-time Australian... Find out more

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Royal Hobart Golf Club 195 km

Royal Hobart Golf Club has come a long way from humble beginnings. It started out at Sandy Bay, not far from where Wrest Point Casino stands today, in 1896. Known as the Newlands course, it was an incredible par- 89:... Find out more

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Barnbougle Dunes Links 217 km

Bridport used to be a sleepy fishing village on Tasmania’s north-east coast. That all changed in 2004. In December of that year Barnbougle Dunes Links opened for play on the eastern outskirts of town – and... Find out more

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Barnbougle Dunes Links (Lost Farm course) 219 km

When Barnbougle Dunes opened for play in 2004 it did have a few critics who suggested it was too far away from the golfing masses to be financially successful. How wrong they were. If a golf course is good enough,... Find out more

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Franklin Manor

On the outskirts of Strahan, this gorgeous boutique hotel’s distinguished restaurant offers big but familiar flavours, such as the baked pork fillet with a warm apple and mango pudding, Calvados brandy jus and Thai... Find out more

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Hamers Hotel

With a stylishly revamped interior, this unpretentious 1936 pub is one of those places where you feel instantly welcome. It’s often packed but you can always find a spot at the bar to swap stories with locals over... Find out more

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Risby Cove

In this relaxed and beautiful restaurant diners can enjoy much of what Strahan has to offer: fresh cold-water seafood from Tasmania’s wild west coast, a stunningly picturesque waterfront location and a building... Find out more

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Schwoch Seafoods

Tasmania is replete with great seafood eateries and this is one of the best. Owner Torsten Schwoch is a rock lobster and giant crab fisher, so he knows his seafood and his little cafe and takeaway has earned itself an... Find out more

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Purple Possum Wholefoods and Cafe 246 km

Purple Possum is in the great little town of St Marys, midway between St Helens and Bicheno. The cafe is wholly vegetarian, and you can take away a range of organic fruit and vegetables and locally grown supplies.... Find out more

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Two Metre Tall Company 149 km

Ashley Huntington actually is 2 metres tall – probably taller if you include his mop of curly hair – and his generous height is also the name for the craftbrewing enterprise he runs from the Derwent... Find out more

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Boag's (J.Boag & Son) 170 km

With several different owners over the past 100 years, J. Boag and Son typifies the sometimes turbulent history of Australian brewing and the minor miracle of surviving at all into the 21st century. Scotsman James Boag... Find out more

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Moo Brew 175 km

With its striking, glass and steel brewhouse perched high above the Derwent River, Moo Brew is probably the best-appointed microbrewery in the land. It’s also part of Moorilla Estate, situated on the outskirts of... Find out more

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Cascade Brewery 181 km

It’s impossible not to wax lyrical about the Cascade Brewery. It is the oldest working brewery in the country, one of the quaintest-looking industrial buildings and it’s located in the most picturesque of... Find out more

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Macquarie Heads camping area 11 km

Strahan is a must-see destination in Tasmania, and the starting point for cruises along the iconic Gordon River. This grassed shady camping area is 15 km west of town, along Ocean Beach Rd, then left along a rough... Find out more

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Queenstown Cabin And Tourist Park 19 km

This cabin park in Queenstown’s south has a full list of facilities and is a good central site from which to explore the region’s mining history and startling natural features. There is everything you might... Find out more

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Darwin Dam camping area 25 km

This remote camping area at the southern tip of Lake Burbury is located deep within the forest, 25 km south of Queenstown, along the unsealed Mount Jukes Rd. There is free camping beside the dam and in clearings bedside... Find out more

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Thureau Hills camping area 27 km

This remote spot on the edge of pretty Lake Burbury is used by campervans, motorhomes and caravans but there are no facilities so you need to bring your own everything. The lake offers fishing and boating, with a... Find out more

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Lake Burbury camping area 29 km

This vast scenic lake is the west coast’s aquatic playground, with watersports and excellent seasonal trout fishing (licences are required). Lake levels vary in some years, reducing boat access. Grassy picnic and... Find out more

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Lake Tahune hut 44 km

This hut 9 km from Lake Vera is heated with methylated spirit. It’s best to bring your own, as supplies are limited. No camping is allowed at nearby Frenchmans Cap.... Find out more

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Lake Vera 48 km

This coal-heated walk-in hut is 16 km from the trailhead.... Find out more

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Collingwood River campsite 50 km

This small camping area with no facilities is in the ferny rainforest on the eastern side of the Lyell Hwy A10, where it crosses the Collingwood River, 40 km west of Derwent Bridge. This is where seasoned adventurers set... Find out more

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Loddon River 52 km

This camping site is on the first leg of the track to Frenchmans Cap. No facilities.... Find out more

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Philps Creek 52 km

This walk-in bush campsite between the Frenchmans Cap trailhead and Lake Vera has no facilities. ... Find out more

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Discovery Holiday Parks – Strahan 1 km

Explore the impressive western coastal region from this resort-style park, only 1.5 km west of the centre of Strahan. It has good facilities and we stay here when we visit the town. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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Queenstown Cabin and Tourist Park 19 km

This is a good basic park with a range of facilities. It is the only park in the immediate area. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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Treasure Island Caravan Park 30 km

This park is in a lovely rural setting with lots of trees. Facilities will suit travellers passing through. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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Rosebery Cabin and Tourist Park 45 km

This is a small park with basic facilities, but good for an overnight stop or longer stay. Cash only is accepted.... Find out more

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Lake St Clair Lodge 70 km

This park, on the southern shores of Lake St Clair, is 5 km from Derwent Bridge. It has basic national park-style amenities and is located next to the interpretive centre within the park boundary. A national park permit... Find out more

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Discovery Holiday Parks – Cradle Mountain 81 km

Set in bushland just outside the World Heritage-listed Tasmanian wilderness area, this quality park has good facilities including a large recreation building with open fireplaces. It is a popular camping site for walkers... Find out more

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Wayatinah Lakeside Caravan Park 101 km

This is a neat lakeside park with basic facilities at a budget price and suitable for a night or two. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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Wings Wildlife Park 115 km

Staying here is a different experience. There is trout fishing, bushwalking, kayaking, golf, and more. The park has good facilities including powered sites, but we would opt for the unpowered riverfront camping area. The... Find out more

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Deloraine Apex Caravan Park 130 km

With good facilities, this park is about a oneand- a-half hour drive to Cradle Mountain and about half that to Great Lake. There are good bushwalks in the area. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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Penguin Beachside Holiday Resort 131 km

This beachfront park at the western end of town has undergone a makeover. The waterfront sites have been refurbished and the park restaurant should soon be back. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out more

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Aloft Boutique 
Accommodation

After the long and winding drive to Strahan, this delightful apartment complex is a great spot to plan your next day’s travel. Settle in to the cosy loft with its sundeck views or spread yourself out in a... Find out more

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Gordon Gateway

Catching the sun for most of the day and with unobscured views over Macquarie Harbour, these award-winning self-contained units and chalets are just a ten-minute walk around the shoreline from Strahan’s wharfside hub... Find out more

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Ormiston House

A hundred years ago Strahan’s fortunes were in mining, fishing and felling ancient Huon pines, desired for their fragrant workable timber. The grandeur of Ormiston House reflects those prosperous times, and today... Find out more

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Risby Cove

Macquarie Harbour’s dark tannin-stained water comes from ancient rainforest soils, a process that has been happening for millennia, long before anyone was here to admire the perfect reflections it creates. The dusk... Find out more

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Wheelhouse Luxury Apartments

This pair of glass-fronted luxury apartments hangs above Macquarie Harbour, affording cliff-top views of the harbour out to Hells Gates and the occasional storm front roaring in from the south-west. Inside, the feeling... Find out more

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Waldheim Cabins 76 km

You can steal a march on everyone else in the morning by staying in historic cabins at a beautiful spot within Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, operated by the Parks and Wildlife Service. The cabins are... Find out more

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Cradle Mountain Lodge 79 km

Live in the lap of luxury – old style – with a warm and welcoming central lodge, surrounded by individual cabins. Like nearly any large lodge, it does not have a perfect environmental record, but this... Find out more

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Mountain Valley, Loongana 98 km

Mountain Valley is off the beaten tourist track, situated around 64 kilometres south-west of Devonport (due south of Burnie). Visitors here stay in rustic cabins with open fireplaces on a private and remote 60-hectare... Find out more

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Curringa Farm 129 km

Near Hamilton, about an hour’s drive west of Hobart, this eco-accredited 300-hectare property gives visitors a taste of sustainable farming practices.Give a couple of day’s notice and you can tour the farm,... Find out more

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Peppermint Ridge Retreat, Woodbridge 191 km

Even without the stunning views over the D’Entrecasteaux Channel from 6-metre-high windows, the pademelons that hop around, or the free-range eggs and organic vegetable garden that guests are allowed to raid in... Find out more

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Rainbow Retreat 249 km

The owners of this 30-hectare nature reserve at St Marys are wildlife carers who rehabilitate then release wildlife on the property, so there are plenty of their old friends wandering around, including wombats,... Find out more

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Lake Burbury Rest Area 27 km

T/O 15 km E of Queenstown (R) or 70 km W of Derwent Bridge (L) Small area located at the boat ramp 4 kilometres south of the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S42 08.35 E145 39.10... Find out more

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Lake Burbury Camp Area 29 km

20 km E of Queenstown (L) or 65 km W of Derwent Bridge (R) Large open grassed campground located 1 kilometre west of the highway near the lake. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S42 05.789 E145 40.454... Find out more

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Rosebery Park Area 45 km

South side of town Large parking adjacent to the highway on the banks of the river at Stitt Park. Good facilities. GPS: S41 46.968 E145 32.403  ... Find out more

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Tullah Park Area 52 km

Off the main street into town (opposite shopping centre) Large parking area on the shores of Lake Rosebery. Limited shade. GPS: S41 44.172 E145 36.947  ... Find out more

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Franklin River Park Area 58 km

60 km SE of Queenstown (R) or 25 km NW of Derwent Bridge (L) Very small area adjacent to the highway. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S42 12.931 E146 01.214... Find out more

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Tullabardine Dam Rest Area 59 km

T/O 105 km S of Somerset (L) or 1 km N of Tullah (R) Large area 6 kilometres east of the highway at the dam. GPS: S41 41.127 E145 39.388... Find out more

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Fossey River Rest Area 82 km

67 km S of Somerset (L) or 39 km N of Tullah (R) Large area just off the highway surrounded by forest. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 27.048 E145 37.263... Find out more

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Nive River Rest Area 95 km

44 km SE of Derwent Bridge (R) or 5 km N of Tarraleah (L) Small area adjacent to the highway on the riverbank. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S42 17.921 E146 27.511... Find out more

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Bronte Lagoon Rest Area 97 km

28 km SE of Derwent Bridge (R) or 21 km N of Tarraleah (L) Small area adjacent to the highway on the shores of the lagoon. GPS: S42 10.777 E146 30.033... Find out more

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Bradys Lake Camp Area 97 km

36 km SE of Derwent Bridge (L) or 13 km N of Tarraleah (R) Small open grassy area located 1 kilometre off the highway on the shores of the lake. No facilities or shade. GPS: S42 13.920 E146 29.820... Find out more

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Hellyer Gorge Rest Area 100 km

40 km S of Somerset (L) or 66 km N of Tullah (R) Pleasant area adjacent to the highway surrounded by forest. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S41 16.409 E145 36.908 ... Find out more

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Little Pine Lagoon Camp Area 108 km

T/O at Miena via Marlborough Highway Small camping area located 12 kilometres south-west of Miena. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S42 00.005 E146 36.661... Find out more

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Ouse Rest Area 120 km

East side of town Large grassed area adjacent to the highway at Grace Nicholson Apex Park. Limited shade and facilities. GPS: S42 29.125 E146 42.859... Find out more

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Bethune Camp Area 123 km

T/O 7 km SE of Ouse (R) or 7 km NW of Hamilton (L) Large grassed area 2.3 kilometres south-west of the highway via Dawson Road. NOTE: Self-contained vehicles only. GPS: S42 32.135 E146 43.837... Find out more

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Pumphouse Bay Camp Area 127 km

T/O 13 km SE of Miena (L) or 43 km NW of Bothwell (R) Large open area on edge of the lake 6 kilometres north of the highway via Poatina Road. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S41 59.977 E146 51.076... Find out more

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Blackburn Creek Rest Area 130 km

29 km SE of Miena (R) or 27 km NW of Bothwell (L) Large open area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S42 10.356 E146 54.285... Find out more

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Somerset Park Area 130 km

Middle of town Small parking area at the junction with Murchison Highway on the banks of Cam River. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 02.487 E145 50.329... Find out more

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Jonah Bay Camp Area 132 km

T/O 13 km SE of Miena (L) or 43 km NW of Bothwell (R) Large area in a natural bush setting on edge of the lake 10 kilometres north of the highway via Poatina Road and Gunns Marsh Road. NOTE: Access road part... Find out more

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Hamilton Rest Area 132 km

Middle of town Large grassed area just off the highway on the banks of the Clyde River. Good facilities including laundry (key from council offices with deposit). Limited shade. GPS: S42 33.571 E146 49.859... Find out more

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Prickly Wattles Camp Area 133 km

19 km S of Marrawah Large camp area just off the road in a natural bush setting 2 kilometres south of Arthur River township. NOTE: Access road part unsealed. GPS: S41 03.572 E144 40.758  ... Find out more

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Lagoon of Islands Rest Area 133 km

T/O 20 SE of Miena (L) or 36 km NW of Bothwell (R) Large area located 4 kilometres east of the highway (turn off at Steppes) on the shores of the lake. NOTE: Access road unsealed. GPS: S42 06.677 E146 56.163... Find out more

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Wynyard Park Area 134 km

East side of town Small parking area on the foreshore. Good facilities. GPS: S40 59.408 E145 44.545... Find out more

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Peppermint Camp Area 134 km

17 km S of Marrawah at Arthur River Open camp area just off the road into town on the north side of Arthur River township. Good facilities. Limited shade. GPS: S41 02.923 E144 40.063  ... Find out more

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Parramatta Creek Rest Area 135 km

26 km NW of Deloraine (L) or 17 km SE of Latrobe (R) Pleasant area just off the highway among some large trees on the bank of the creek. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S41 19.830 E146 31.826 ... Find out more

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Sisters Beach Rest Area 139 km

T/O 13 km NW of Wynyard (R) or 54 km SE of Smithton (L) Small shady area on the foreshore 8 kilometres north of the highway. Very good facilities and shade. GPS: S40 55.007 E145 33.714... Find out more

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Pub with no Beer Rest Area 144 km

3 km SE of Bothwell (R) or 18 km NW of Midland Hwy (L) Large open area adjacent to the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S42 23.293 E147 02.645 ... Find out more

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Brickmakers Beach 144 km

40 km W of Wynyard (R) or 27 km E of Smithton (L) Large grassed area adjacent to the highway on the foreshore. Limited shade. GPS: S40 51.121 E145 21.905... Find out more

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Pegs Beach Camp Area 144 km

42 km W of Wynyard (R) or 25 km E of Smithton (L) Large open grassy campground adjacent to the highway on the foreshore. Limited shade. GPS: S40 51.111 E145 21.153... Find out more

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Gretna Park Area 145 km

Middle of town Small area adjacent to the highway next to the sports oval and fire station. Good facilities and shade. GPS: S42 40.711 E146 56.161 ... Find out more

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Black River Camp Area 146 km

T/O 44 km W of Wynyard (R) or 23 km E of Smithton (L) Very large area with numerous secluded campsites located 1 to 5 kilometres off the highway in the scrub near the river. Limited facilities and shade. NOTE: Access... Find out more

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