Tucked away in the west coast of Tasmania is the sleepy harbour town of Strahan (pronounced Strawn). It sits on the northern edge of McQuarie Harbour and is surrounded by world heritage-listed wilderness.
The nearest city, if one can call it that, is Queenstown. To get to Strahan you will first need to reach Queenstown, and then drive, take a taxi, or ride the thrice-daily bus to Strahan.
Actually, driving to Strahan is part of the fun. It is quite a long drive (4-5 hours) from either of the two main airports in Tasmania – Hobart and Launceston. We drove from Hobart, stopping at many interesting places en route, and the drive took up the whole day.
The entire route is on the Lyell Highway (A10). It runs through some pretty landscapes, and passes several lakes, such as Bradys lake, London lake and Lake St Clair. Then comes the beautiful Nelson Falls, slightly off the road but easily accessible via an enchanting boardwalk.
Next, you will cross the Burbury lake via a bridge, and reach the Iron Blow Lookout at Gormanston, an old mining town that competed with Queenstown, lost out, and faded into oblivion. The Lookout is unique, because you will not be looking at scenery as you would at the usual type of lookouts. Instead, you will be looking straight down into a very deep pit filled with very deep green water – quite extraordinary.
The Horseshoe Falls are very close by, but to reach them you will have to walk along a somewhat rickety looking catwalk – too scary for us.
Next comes, the ‘99 bends’ road to Queenstown – the name sounds intimidating but it is not that difficult. There are some steep, winding and narrow sections to traverse while you descend into Queenstown. Actually, there are only 44 bends, but 99 sounds nicer, you know.
The last stretch, the 41 Km (25 mile) stretch to Strahan is not endearing. There is not much to see and not much traffic – we were glad when it was over.
A bit about Strahan
Back in the gold rush days in the late 19th century, the Macquarie harbour at Strahan used to be the gateway to the mining and timber operations in western Tasmania. A railway service used to run from the harbour up to Queenstown.
Now that the mining boom is history, Strahan is focused on tourism. It is the entry point to the wilderness area in the south-west of Tasmania, notably the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
There are many types of accommodation here – small hotels, B&Bs and Airbnbs. The esplanade area has shops and cafes. It is a pleasant place to hang out and enjoy the views of the river and boats.
Gordon River Cruise
This town’s biggest attraction is the Gordon River cruise, which sails from the Strahan waterfront at the esplanade.
These cruises are owned and operated by a local family – the Grining brothers (Troy and Guy). Their family has been operating boats from Strahan for four generations, since the late 1800s.
The cruise operates the purpose built ‘Spirit of the Wild’, a very spacious modern boat which cruises quietly using electric motors. There is an upper and a lower deck and two classes for better seating and views. A delicious lunch is included, prepared with Tasmanian produce.
The cruise takes off from Macquarie harbour at Strahan into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. It passes through Hells Gate, a narrow entrance into the Southern Ocean, and up to Sarah Island. There is a live commentary about the history and vegetation in the area. The cruise stops here and there including the Sarah Island.
Hogarth Falls
Just a short walk from the town center of Strahan, near Peoples Park, will take you to Hogarth falls. Parking is adequate and there are BBQ spots and toilets. The trail head starts at the end of the driveway.
The track takes you first through grassed areas and then into a fairly thick forest full of ferns and fungi. There are many points along the walk where you may like to stop and admire the Botanical creek and pristine rainforest all around. There are a lot of information signboards about the type of ferns and other vegetation around. Some places have thick canopies to go under.
In this part of Tasmania, it rains every day. Consequently, the soil gets muddy, and you have to be careful. The path is wide and muddy in the beginning, and then changes into a boardwalk with grass and wires to prevent slipping.
An unusual feature of this place is the brown colour of the stream water. Apparently, the tannin in the water makes it so. The water probably picks up tannin from the vegetation as it flows into the stream from deep within the forest. It is nice to see the contrast of colors against the green of the ferns.
As you approach the falls, you will hear the sound of rushing water. Just before reaching the falls there is a staircase leading to a narrow rocky platform with an excellent view, coupled with spray from the cascading falls.
The whole hike is just about 3 kms return and it can take about an hour or so if you take it slow, and stop here and there to read the signboards and take pictures.
Strahan Historic Foreshore Walk
This is a picturesque and relaxing walk along the water’s edge, starting from West Strahan beach and passing through the Esplanade by the riverside, where the boats are moored. The route loops around the galleries and there are historic information pillars and mileage markers all along the way.
The walk takes about 40 minutes and finishes at Regatta Point Station, the rail terminus at the Macquarie Harbour. It is a beautiful location, and we had a cup of coffee at the Tracks on Point – a conveniently located café at the station – watching the sun go down and enjoying the calm river views.
West Coast Wilderness Railway
You can go on a unique railway journey starting at Regatta Point and ending at Queenstown. The route passes through ancient rainforest, and you will hear commentaries about the history and heritage of the region. It is an ancient railway – 120 years old!
The train stops at remote wilderness stations to enable interested passengers to do fun stuff, such as honey tasting or panning for gold, or just enjoy the rainforest and take photographs.
There are two carriage types to choose from. Heritage carriages provide good seating and snacks while the Wilderness carriages offer full meals and a welcome glass of Tasmanian sparkling wine onboard.
The live commentary tells you stories about the hardships endured during the railway’s construction.
Altogether, Strahan is a totally unique experience!
After three days in Strahan, we drove towards the North western part of Tasmania for more adventures.
Related Posts
Pleasant Days in Burnie – Tasmania
Burnie is a pretty seaside town on the north coast of Tasmania, 2 hours (147 km) from Launceston and an hour (49 km) from Devonport. Once just a historical port city, it has blossomed into a vibrant city featuring waterfalls, bushwalks, gardens and art galleries. The...
North West Tasmania – A Unique Experience
Northwest Tasmania is pretty much as far out as it gets. Perhaps that is why it has preserved the characteristic rugged beauty of its coastlines, tranquil rivers, ancient rainforests and mysterious caves. Moreover, unique wildlife and unspoilt natural scenery abound...
The Best Sights in the Tasman Peninsula
Pristine beaches, soaring sea cliffs, unique rock formations and lush green forests, plus a historic world heritage listed prison site – that is Tasman Peninsula. Located at the south eastern end of Tasmania, Tasman Peninsula is just a 90-minute drive from Hobart....
I always wanted to visit Tasmania and see the Tasmanian Devil! The nature looks absolutely stunning and your photos make me want to jump on the plane asap haha. Great work! Thanks for sharing!!
The walks in Strahan, and access to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, look like they would make for a great adventure.
I’d certainly like to hike to the Hogarth Falls. That sounds so wow. Even the train is a must ride. I would love to hear that live commentary in the Wilderness carriage. I really hope to see Tasmania someday. The beauty is unsurpassable. Despite the bends, I think the drive from Queenstown sounds awesome.
We only went to Tasmania for the first time in early 2023. It is such a beautiful place we will certainly be visiting again. Your photos are stunning.
wow, this truly does sound like a unique experience. Total bucket list experience!
Wow this area looks beautiful! I love all the waterfalls and the harbour. Any time I can be near water, I am happy!
Tasmania is a place I hope to visit one day. It looks stunning! That green watered crater looks like it’s straight out of movie.
Tasmania has been on my wish list for a long time. But this is the first time I read about the town of Strahan. For a history buff like me the sights connected with the mining industry would be very interesting. I would also love to go on a trip on the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
I haven’t been to Strahan for a very long time and I think I need to visit again. Such beautiful scenery. Would enjoy doing the walks and the Gordon River cruise.
Would love to visit the sleepy harbour town of Strahan in Tasmania. The hikes, walks, and rail views look so lovely.
The rail views and waterfall look so stunning, I would love to visit Strahan in Tasmania.
I love old railways! The one in Regatta Point looks like a real gem. What an interesting part of the world! thanks for sharing
I haven’t seen much on Tasmania, and never heard of Strahan! This is so fascinating!
It’s funny that I am currently watching a series where the action is set in Tasmania, and I stumble upon your blog post about a town here. Strahan looks wonderful, a proper in the middle of nowhere town, which I really like. The boat ride through the harbour looks great, especially that is has commentary about what you are seeing as well. I would definitely do the hike to the waterfall as well, it seems so peaceful.
You are sure making sure I add Tasmania to our plans when we finally get back to Australia. Strahan looks like a great spot to enjoy the world-heritage wilderness. And the trip to reach there sounds amazing. I know it would take us a long time with stops. We certainly would don’t miss the Hogarth Falls. We would be prepared for muddy paths but hope we miss on the rain. Walks on the harbour and checking out the West Coast Wilderness Railway will certainly give us a very different perspective. Good to plan 3 days for this stop in Tasmania.
Strahan looks like a sleepy town with surprises of activities! The narrated river cruise looks wonderful with a stop at the small Sarah Island. The walk around town seems nice and how odd it is to see the brown water. I thought it was from the mud because of daily rain. The Iron Blow Lookout reminded me of the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry in Vermont. I wonder if you stopped there on your New England road trip.
I love long drives and the sights along the way. Strahan might be a great place for a relaxing trip. The drive itself, with stops at beautiful spots like Nelson Falls and Iron Blow Lookout, makes the journey part of the adventure. I’m excited about looking straight down into the deep pit at Iron Blow Lookout. The Gordon River Cruise and the historic foreshow walk seem like a must-do activities. I’d love to visit Strahab someday and experience its peaceful beauty firsthand.
Wow! This place is beautiful and charming. A River Cruise sounds really nice. I did not realize that there is so much to see and do here. I would love to experience the 120-year-old railway. How amazing that they were able to maintain it up to this day.
Wow! I had no idea that Tasmania had any sort of gold rush. So interesting! Strahan also seems like a lovely place to visit with its gorgeous landscape and history. The waterfalls are also stunning — how nice that you got to see so many of them. I haven’t been to Tasmania yet, but I really hope to someday!
Ah – Tasmania , it seems like such a faraway place with interesting things to see and do. My eyes perked up when reading about Hogarth Falls. Hearing the falls before seeing it, will get me all excited. The Iron blow Lookout as well is of interest for me. The Gordon river cruise sounds like something I would wish to do as well. Overall the drive to Strahan is something to look forward to . Very nice blog post for an idea of a trip to see this part of Tasmania.
I love waterfalls….. and lighthouses! What an interesting place. The river cruise would definitely be for me.