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The Western Wilderness
WEST COAST of Tasmania is a beautiful rugged wilderness. A land of beautiful mountains, forests and lakes. It is accessed from the three towns of STRAHAN, ZEEHAN and QUEENSTOWN, which are relatively close to each other. However, this area is quite isolated from the rest of Tasmania.
Note that from Strahan you are 40 minutes from Zeehan and Queenstown. You are an hour from ROSEBERY. You are one hour from CORINNA.
You are 3 hours from BURNIE, CRADLE MOUNTAIN and DERWENT BRIDGE. You are 4 hours from DEVONPORT and 5 hours from HOBART.
View West Coast in a larger map
SIGHTS: There are spectacular cruises on the Franklin and Gordon rivers and a great beach at STRAHAN. From Strahan you can also access the SOUTH WEST National Park. QUEENSTOWN is a unique old mining town, while ROSEBERY is close to MONTEZUMA FALLS, which are the largest falls in Tasmania. From QUEENSTOWN you can take the WILDERNESS RAILWAY, which is a unique rail journey. CORINNA has a spectacular cruise down the Pieman River. The west coast is famous for its lakes and forests. To the east of Queenstown are the spectacular NELSON FALLS, while to the east of LAKE BURBURY are a series of spectacular mountains for the more intrepid bush walkers.
ROUTES: The best roads into the west coast are the A10 Murchison Highway from BURNIE via ROSEBERY or from NEW NORFOLK via DERWENT BRIDGE on the A10 Lyell Highway. (The A10 has two names in the different sections.) The B23 Highway via WARATAH and CORINNA is as good as the A10 Murchison, so it is just a question of where you want to go.
However, the C249 Western Explorer Road or Road to Nowhere from ARTHUR RIVER via Corinna is a definite 4WD vehicle track only. In addition you must ring (03) 6446 1170 to ensure that the punt across the Pieman River is operating.
