What an amazing and unforgettable experience! Nestled in the north-west corner of Tasmania, the Tarkine wilderness is a place of great beauty and many contradictions as you move from tranquil rainforests, where the only sound is birdsong, to navigating wild rivers and tempestuous, wind-swept coastlines. The Tarkine is home to the largest cool temperate rainforest in Australia and is alive with some of the most breath-taking scenery imaginable.
The Tarkine Drive
The ancient forests of myrtle beech, leatherwood, sassafras, ferns and pine trees derive from Gondwanaland and Australia's shared history with other large continents. The pristine rivers are stained with tannin from the vast button grass plains and the landscape is dotted with ancient karst formations, leaving vast sinkholes that perfectly mirror their surrounds. We did the 'Tarkine Drive' from Stanley and had a magical time exploring the diverse landscapes on offer.
For 40,000 years the Tarkine has been home to the Tasmanian Aboriginal tarkiner people. The name Tarkine means belonging to, or of the tarkiner. The Aboriginal community know it as (‘tar-keen-nee’) and continue a strong cultural connection to this special place today.
Renowned Tasmanian landscape photographer, Olegas Truchanas has summed it up well by saying, "This vanishing world is beautiful beyond our dreams and contains in itself rewards and gratifications never found in artificial landscape, or man-made objects, so often regarded as exciting evidence of a new world in the making".
It is so important for all of us, as stewards of the planet, to ensure the protection of this unique wilderness.
Fancy a walk through the rainforest?
The Tarkine Coast
Jagged rocks, crashing waves, windswept beaches, log jams and death defying ocean currents - the Tarkine Coast is incredibly wild and beautiful. Our base at Arthur River provided us with some great opportunities to wander at will and admire the spectacular western coastline.
Arthur River - Cruise & Critters
The Tarkine is home to a range of unique and special birds and animals. We were fortunate to be able to witness magnificent sea-eagles and the sensational azure kingfisher on the hunt in their natural environment. Pademelons, wallabies and wombats were also in abundance.
Corinna & The Pieman River
Corinna is an historic mining town located at the southern end of the Tarkine. The Wilderness Lodge provided us with a comfortable base to relax, nourish the senses, and tune into nature. We spent our days wandering through the various forest paths around the lodge and listening to the myriad of birdsong. A cruise along the Pieman River on the historic boat, Arcadia, was accompanied by drenching rain, but that didn't spoil our fun. The primitive Pieman River has to be one of the most beautiful rivers in Australia with its dark, deep, tranquil waters, surrounded on both sides by lush, towering rainforest. The only way across to the other side is via the 'Fatman' Barge!
Join us for a quick cruise down the river...
wonderful experience 😍