Plan your visit
multi-day tours in the tarkine
(Scroll down the page to plan your own adventure)
The folk at Tarkine Trails run guided and fully catered trips into the Tarkine Wilderness from October to May each year, with pick-up and drop-off from Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie. They offer 3 different multi-day walks: a 6 day rainforest hike in the north of the Tarkine, a 4 day 'nature experience' at their stunning Tiger Ridge basecamp in the south of the Tarkine rainforest, and a 6 day coastal hike from the Sandy Cape lighthouse to the Pieman River. These intimate tours can take up to 10 people and cater to a broad range of fitness levels. Tarkine Trails have spent years creating environmentally sensitive trails and facilities in the Tarkine Wilderness, and their trips offer a great way to see the Tarkine wilderness with expert and committed guides, while keeping your environmental impact to the minimum. The Tarkine Trails team are committed to the preservation of the Tarkine and are actively involved in the fight to save the Tasmanian Devil from extinction. Visit their website to find out more and book a hike!
Tasmanian Expeditions run a number of tours in the Tarkine covering a mixture of activities; day walks, river cruises and canoeing. Trips are up to 6 days, including meals, accommodation and the company of professional guides. Tasmanian Expeditions are committed to maintaining the integrity of the Tasmanian wilderness and ensure that their tours have minimal environmental impact. Check out their website to find out more about tour options.
photo Dan Broun
plan your own tarkine adventure
ACTIVITIES
If walking is your thing, The Bob Brown Foundation have published an amazing book entitled 'Tarkine Trails' - a walking guide to the Tarkine. This book covers short walks right through to week-long treks through its entire wilderness. We recommend purchasing this book if you're intending to explore the Tarkine.
You can buy 'Tarkine Trails' online for $37 via this link here.
Save the Tarkine have also put together a fantastic guide to short walks in the Tarkine, ranging from half hour strolls to day walks. Click here to download the guide. Notes are also available for a selection of easy to medium walks at Discover the Tarkine. This site also contains a number of useful suggestions for how to plan your time in the Tarkine. Check out some ideas by clicking here.
Due to the Tarkine's lack of protected status and the resulting lack of certainty for potential tourism developers, there are little to no walking and camping facilities in the Tarkine. Join the campaign and tell the Tasmanian Government that the Tarkine as a protected wilderness is worth more than the exploitation of its natural resources.
For keen mountain bikers the Tarkine is full of remote unsealed tracks to explore. The following map outlines one option from Waratah (read more here).
Activities for those with limited physical ability
We understand that not everyone can access the Tarkine on foot or by bike, so here's a list of activities for those that have limited physical ability.
The Tarkine Drive is a 93km fully sealed loop which passes through a variety of the Tarkine's landscapes and provides access to a number of walks. Give yourselves at least a day to take your time and soak in the glorious surrounds! Click here to download the Tarkine Drive map. Read about more drive options here.
Small cruise vessels operate on both the Arthur River at the norther edge and the Pieman River on the southern edge of the Tarkine. Float along the tannin-stained waters of these rivers edged by walls of rainforest and look out for platypus and sea-eagles. The Arcadia II and Sweetwater travel along the Pieman from Corinna (see below), and you can
Cruise the Arthur River with Arthur River Cruises or A R Reflections River Cruises.
And now for something completely different... Have you ever wanted to ride a giant slide through a forest canopy? Well now's your chance! Visit Tarkine Forest Adventures to find out more.
ACCOMMODATION
Nestled in the rainforest on the banks of the Pieman river, Corinna is an historic mining town that has been converted into an eco-tourism village. It is tiny, which is part of its great appeal, and offers a range of accommodation options from camping, to self-contained cottages, to the old pub. On your doorstep in Corinna are numerous walks, kayaking, and the opportunity to travel along the Pieman River to the coast on the historic Huon Pine vessel the Arcadia II. Click here to find out more and book your stay in Corinna.
Located on the northern edge of the Tarkine just 35 minutes from Burnie airport, the Tarkine Wilderness Lodge is perched on a clearing with 360 degree views of the surrounding forest. The lodge provides a great opportunity to see wildlife and explore the surrounding forest, with guided walks available. Delicious home-made food, fresh Tasmanian produce and wines are on offer, or, if they wish, guests can self-cater. Click here for more information and bookings.
A range of accommodation is also available in the towns surrounding the Tarkine. Follow this link to find out where to stay in Waratah, Tullah, Arthur River and Circular Head.
There are a number of campgrounds in the Tarkine. Serviced Sites include Manuka, Prickly Wattle and Peppermint Campgrounds which cost $13 a night or $50 for up to 7 nights. Unserviced sites are found at Tiger Flats, Nelson Bay, (the delightfully named) Stinking Beach, Greens Creek and Rebecca and will cost you $6 a night or $30 for up to 7 nights. Find out more on the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania website.
photo Dan Broun
Header photo by Geoff Dodd
