Western Wilderness

Lake Dove and Cradle Mt, Lake St Claire National Park, Tas. Photo credit: Andrew McIntosh, Ocean Photography/Tourism Tasmania

Western Wilderness

A World Heritage Area of 1.38 million hectares. A wild, untamed land of staggering beauty. A place in which to lose yourself. They don’t call it the wilderness for nothing…

The climate is harsher here than it is in the eastern areas, and it has been known to snow in summer. Check the weather reports before you head to the region – you may need to wrap up.

Things to see in Tasmania’s Western Wilderness

Cradle Mountain/Lake St. Clair National Park
Australia’s not exactly short of natural wonders and incredible views, but this is up there with the very best of them. Part of the wider Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, with some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see.

The walks are wonderful. Best of all is the magnificent Overland Track. The walk begins at Cradle Mountain, another of the park’s highlights. For the next six days you’ll cover 65km of the finest mountain terrain in the world. It’s demanding, but it will also be one of the most exhilarating experiences you ever have. 8,000 walk the track each year. If you’d like to be one of them, find more details here.

Tasmania’s tallest peak is Mount Ossa (1617m if you’re keeping score) and it too is within the park.

Tours
Get a different perspective on the landscape (and rest your legs) with a Cradle Mountain tour. There are plenty to choose from and the scenery you’ll explore on each is never less than breathtaking. If the budget will stand it, the Cradle Mountain helicopter tours are magical.

Cradle Mountain Lodge
One of the best wilderness experiences in Australia is also one of its most popular (so you’ll need to book early). This hotel, on the edge of the park, is the perfect haven at the end of long day. It bills itself as ‘luxury in the wilderness’. As great escapes go, we think you’d be hard-pressed to find better.

Waratah
This small, peaceful town is the perfect accompaniment for your wilderness experience. Visit the lake, do some fishing, or simply stroll around the area and take in its serenity.

Corinna
It may be a little livelier than Waratah, but the wilderness lifestyle is still in the blood here. Numerous walks cater for all abilities, and the river cruises and canoeing are terrific.

Lovers Falls: Make a point of visiting the glorious Lovers Falls lookout, and as the water cascades 35m into the gorge below, watch the forest marching off towards the sea.
The Essential Corinna Experience: This day’s journey along the river culminates in the superb rock turrets of Pieman Heads. Essential? Possibly not, but it’s certainly impressive.

West Coast Wilderness Railway
Spare a thought for the labourers who cut this railway into the 35km of sheer cliff edges, steep gorges and wilderness between Strahan and Queenstown. And then just be thankful they did.

Strahan & the Gordon River Cruise
Strahan is one of the Western Wilderness’ ‘must see’ towns. It’s certainly a looker, and it’s also your departure point for the Gordon River Cruise (as well as the Western Wilderness Railway to Queenstown).

The cruise contrasts the picturesque Macquarie Harbour with the grim yet fascinating history of the former convict settlement on Sarah Island.

Rosebery
Rosebery is a mining town, with a zinc mine that’s still working today. It’s a pleasant place, and boasts Tasmania’s tallest waterfall and Australia’s steepest golf course.

Zeehan
Real Western Wilderness living looks and feels like this. The tiny town of Zeehan (population 728 as of 2011) boasts museums, fishing and surfing. But the reason people visit this Tasmanian attraction is because nowhere else feels quite like it.

Queenstown
Once one of the world’s mining capitals, Queenstown is full of character, albeit with a slightly unreal ‘movie set’ feel to it. The spectacular hills and mountains that surround the town are worth exploring, as are the mine tours.

The Tasmanian Central Highlands
Tour a landscape of lakes and mountains, and stop off at the towns of Tarraleah, Bronte Park and the popular Lake St. Clair.

Mole Creek
Wildlife parks, gardens, lookouts, fishing and some frankly brilliant bush walking.

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