Strahan is located on the West Coast of Tasmania, an area of magnificent ancient forests, rugged mountains, beaches pounded by the Southern Ocean, wild rivers and lakes and extraordinary wilderness areas.
Tasmania’s beautiful West Coast
Strahan sits on Macquarie Harbour, the gateway to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and Southwest National Park which are part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Voted “The Best Little Town in the World” by the Chicago Tribune, Strahan offers a range of activities and attractions to suit every visitor.
Strahan has been described as “Australia’s Most Interesting Town” for its convict, political and environmental history… and “incredibly, gobsmackingly – unfairly even – beautiful!”
From Strahan you can visit Queenstown, Zeehan, Rosebery and Tullah, all with their own historical and sightseeing interest.
If you are lucky, you might get to see the Aurora Australis!
Cruising and Sightseeing
• Cruise on Macquarie Harbour and marvel at the tea-coloured water, stained brown by the button grass fields through which the water has flowed on its way to the Harbour
• Travel by boat up the Gordon River to experience the beauty of true temperate rainforest wilderness and the rare Huon pine
• Take a journey to the past on the rebuilt West Coast Wilderness Railway – a unique experience of a historic rail journey through rugged temperate rainforest, crossing wild rivers and pausing at beautifully restored stations
• Sail to Hell’s Gates, the spectacular entrance to Macquarie Harbour
• Charter a boat or hire a bike
• Experience the extraordinary history of Sarah Island, the site of Tasmania’s first penal colony from 1822-1833
• Take one of the many scenic drives in the region
• Or, for something more energetic, take a rainforest walk and perhaps see a platypus
• Walk along the 40km long Ocean Beach and look out to sea – next landfall is South America!
• At Ocean Beach, from October to April, watch the shearwaters fly in from the sea at dusk
Around Strahan
• Shop for that special gift in one of Strahan’s galleries or gift shops – choose from a range of superb Huon Pine or other Tasmanian timber items made in Strahan, or many other quality Tasmanian craft items
• Plan a day’s activities at the Strahan Visitor Centre, book a boat cruise or visit the Huon Pine mill
• Enjoy good food and great Tasmanian wine in one of the local restaurants and cafes.
In addition to the many tourist facilities and shops, Strahan offers a range of services for visitors, including a well-stocked supermarket (with in-house deli that has ready-made meals, sub-newsagency), bottle shops, pharmacy, post office, hotels, ATM, service station and the Ochre Medical Centre.
Hogarth Falls on the walk starting at the top of People’s Park in Strahan.
Sarah Island Historic Site, Macquarie Harbour
Lake Mackintosh
Enjoy beautiful sunsets at Ocean Beach
Crayfish boats
Lake Burbury
Sunset, Macquarie Harbour
Take a trip on the West Coast Wilderness Railway through the King River Gorge
The Tarkine Wilderness Reserve, north of Strahan.
Detailed map of Strahan
