WORDS & PICS JULIE IHLE
Tarkine Wilderness, Tas
A new road has opened up the Tarkine to tourism, making it Tassie’s
latest go-to wilderness spot.
T
he Tarkine is an extremely
important wilderness area and,
while it may not have the hype of
nearby Cradle Mountain, it offers
intrepid travellers the opportunity to
experience near-pristine wilderness,
expansive temperate rainforest, aweinspiring views and now, thanks to
the newly tarmacked road, it is
accessible to everyone.
The Tarkine is a huge area,
encompassing the Tarkine Drive, Arthur
River on the west coast and Corinna at
the southern end. The best way to see it
is by car and my recommendation is that
you choose one of these three locales
to base yourself for a few days, to give
you easy access to the Tarkine’s tourist
drives and walks.
Tarkine Drive is the newly sealed road
with around 12 tourist stop-offs, taking
in sinkholes, lookouts, waterfall walks
and rainforest rambles, with barbecue
and picnic facilities at some of the stops.
The cute historic hamlet of Stanley (of
The Nut fame) makes a good base for
exploring this area; it’s only a 45-minute
drive from there to the start of the
Tarkine Drive.
The coastal stretch of the Tarkine
is speckled with tiny communities,
their makeshift shacks braced against
the constant wind. Apart from the
windswept beaches, there is not much
out this way – and that’s just the way
they like it. Arthur River, the area’s main
settlement, is home to The Edge of the
World Lookout, which is definitely worth
braving the elements to visit.
The wild heart of the Tarkine is
Corinna. Surrounded by old-growth
forest and untamed mountains, it is
accessible via a two-and-a-half-hour
wilderness drive from Arthur River. It’s a
shorter drive from Waratah, but visitors
need to cross the Pieman River via the
wonderfully-named Fatman Barge.
This part of the Tarkine is
predominantly rainforest and there
are numerous walks to explore. The
standout is Mount Donaldson – it’s
a two-hour uphill trudge, but once
you’re at the top, you are rewarded with
wraparound valley views.
FASTFACTS
GETTING THERE
The Tarkine is located in north-west
Tasmania, a 2.5-hour drive or 230km from
Launceston.
ACTIVITIES
Rainforest walks, kayaking on the Pieman
River, scenic drives, off-grid serenity.
STAY
Corinna Wilderness Experience: www.
corinna.com.au
Stanley Cabin and Tourist Park: www.
stanleycabinpark.com.au
Arthur River Cabin Park: www.
arthurrivercabinpark.com
MORE INFORMATION
www.discoverthetarkine.com.au
ADVENTURES
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