A Journey through Dramatically Shifting and Changing Landscapes
Your journey from Hobart to Strahan takes you through some of the most amazing country in Tasmania. Be prepared for the length of time it takes to travel the Lyell Highway and give yourself at least 5 hours to make the full trip (without any stops along the way).
Also keep in mind that mobile phone coverage drops out through the mountains, so if you need to confirm bookings or make a call, please do so before you reach New Norfolk (30 minutes out of Hobart) or when you reach Queenstown (50 minutes to Strahan).
Please Note: Only Telstra Mobilenet works on the West Coast.
Hamilton - 3.5 hours to Strahan
A quaint little town with bakery, antique shops and souvenirs. Glen Clyde House has licensed tea rooms, extensive craft gallery and open gardens.
Bronte Park Highland Village - 2.5 hours to Strahan
Just off the Lyell highway, in the heart of fishing country, Bronte Park offers accommodation and a restaurant. Excellent value. Great walks and fishing.
Lake St Clair and Derwent Bridge - halfway to Strahan
Lake St Clair National Park has an excellent visitor centre and cafe on the shores of the lake, and is a good place to stretch the legs on short or long walks.
There is a roadhouse providing petrol, snacks and drinks (great hamburgers). The Derwent Bridge Hotel also has a great bar and restaurant.
Visit 'The Wall', the history of the Central Highlands carved out of a wall of Huon Pine.
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
There are excellent walks along the Lyell Highway between Derwent Bridge and Queenstown:
Franklin River Nature Walk
a boardwalk to the Franklin and Surprise rivers in a loop. Toilet facilities.
Donaghy's Hill Lookout
a 40 minute return walk to a mountain saddle, offering 360 degree views of the Franklin River Valley.
Nelson Falls
a 15 minute return walk through the rainforest.
Queenstown - 50 minutes from Strahan
Be prepared for something completely different!
Predominantly a mining town which is developing a tourism industry with the redevelopment of the Abt Railway, Queenstown is the biggest town on the West Coast.
Lyell Tours offers 'above ground' and underground tours of the Mt Lyell Copper Mine.
West Coast Wilderness Railway offers morning and afternoon trips on the 'Rack and Pinion' railway along the Queen and King Rivers to Strahan.
There is an excellent walk or 4WDrive to the Bird River, Kelly Basin and the ghost town of Pillinger, at the Southern end of Macquarie Harbour.