discover the west coast
a place like no other
There is absolutely no shortage of local attractions and activities at Strahan and the west coast of Tasmania – this is a place of discovery, exploration and adventure.

Gordon River Cruise
Cruise deep into the UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area aboard Spirit of the Wild. Journey in Whipser Mode through temperate rainforest, witness breathtaking reflections and learn of the west's rugged past.

The Pillinger Explorer
Aboard the MV Sophia discover the fascinating history and ruins of Pillinger, once a thriving town, but condemned to failure three years after settlement. A small-group tour, complete with gourmet lunch.

West Coast Wilderness Railway
All aboard for a half-day steam train journey across the rack and pinion track, through old growth forest and the King River Gorge. Sit back in comfort and enjoy the guide’s stories of the railway and its history.

The Ship That Never Was
Join in the fun at Australia's longest continuously play. Enjoy the hilarious and drama-filled true story from 1834 of 10 convict shipwrights who make an escape from Sarah Island. Bookings essential.

Wilderness Walks
Across the west coast there are walks and adventures to suit every ability. Venture through rainforests, admire waterfalls and spot special flora and fauna. One of our local favourites is Hogarth Falls.

Henty Dunes
For adrenaline seekers, sand tabogganing at Henty Dunes is a must. Contact our friends at Gordon River Cruises on (03) 6471 4300 or email info@gordonrivercruises.com.au to hire a taboggan.

Tastings
Finish your day exploring the wild west coast with a whisky or wine tasting at View 42° Restaurant & Bar, overlooking Macquarie Harbour. We serve a wide range of Tasmanian drops perfect for relaxing evenings.

Bike Hire
Take on the Strahan foreshore on two wheels. Bike hire is available from Strahan Village reception. Feel free to pop in and see us, give us a call us on (03) 6471 4200 or email reservations@strahanvillage.com.au.

Surrounds
Discover the culture, heritage and wilderness across the west coast. Chat with our staff about the best local secrets to discover and check our News and What's On sections for information on the latest attractions and events.
Our blog



Home to UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness, mining history and quirky towns, the west coast is jam-packed with family friendly adventures. For the road-trippers joining us from northern Tasmania, we’ve put together the ultimate list of kid-approved pitstops, sure to replace the dreaded ‘are we there yet?’ with ‘where to next?!’.

We know it can be a fair drive heading out west, especially with the little ones in the back. But the Lyell Highway is packed with kid-friendly pitstops that’ll make your journey across to Strahan one to remember.

With Tasmanian school holidays coming up soon, we asked two of our local experts about their tips for enjoying the west coast with the kids. Jenni Klippert is our Front Office Manager and Leanne Hays is the Retail Manager at the award-winning Gordon River Cruises.

As one of Tasmania’s favourite experiences prepares for recommencement, we caught up with Ashley from the West Coast Wilderness Railway to hear about the upside of downtime and any changes to the railway experience to look out for in September 2020.

After spending a few months cooped up indoors, there’s no better excuse to get out and explore the Tassie wilderness. Tasmania’s west coast is a truly remarkable place, filled with natural beauty and opportunity for adventure around every corner. We sat down with a couple of our team members to unpack the ideal west coast itinerary for a long weekend away in winter.

At Strahan Village we are excited to be back welcoming Tasmanians for a west coast getaway. We recently had a chat with general manager, Todd Roberts to learn about recent updates across the business to help deliver an unforgettable guest experience whilst adhering to coronavirus safety regulations.

Tasmania’s wild west coast is a place like no other. Rich in natural and human history, it is the gateway to Tasmania’s UNESCO Wilderness World Heritage Area. Despite its remote location, the ancient forests, harsh terrain and historical towns are easily accessible through a scenic drive or flight.



From Jocelyn Garcia, chef at Strahan Village
Makes 3-4 serves

The forests, coastal heath, scrub and grassy plains of Tasmania’s west coast are a perfect habitat for many of the state’s marsupial species. Among the most frequently encountered of these are our pademelons, possums and wombats.

One of the west coast’s most endearing residents is the little penguin. This utterly charming little bird (also known as the fairy penguin) is the world’s smallest penguin, growing to a length of around 40 cm and weighing just one kilo when fully grown.

One of Tasmania’s most intriguing native animals is the Tasmanian devil.

Tasmania’s west coast is home to a dazzling number of birds, and the protected forests of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park provide shelter for some of our rarest species.

Strahan is located on the edge of Macquarie Harbour—a vast waterway that opens into the wild Southern Ocean through the narrow opening at Macquarie Heads—Hell’s Gates.

The west coast of Tasmania is home to two of Australia’s most intriguing animals—the platypus and the echidna.

In spite of the island’s generally cool climate, Tasmania is home to a number of reptile species, ranging from small, jewel coloured skinks, to frogs and three species of snake. Tasmanian reptiles are active mainly during the warm summer months.

The discovery of Huon pine in the Gordon River led directly to the decision to establish Van Diemen’s Land’s first penal station on remote Sarah Island.

The rainforests of Tasmania’s remote west are not your typical, movie-set forests—all steaming jungle, hanging vines and coiling pythons. These protected rainforests are cool, dark and damp—peaceful havens where the trunks of rare trees are cloaked in velvety green mosses and lichens.


If you want to get a sense of just how wild, beautiful and remote Tasmania’s west coast really is, take some time to visit Ocean Beach.

Macquarie Harbour is Australia’s second largest natural harbour, after Port Phillip Bay in Victoria. This vast waterway is six times the size of Sydney Harbour and measures 35 kilometres in length and nine kilometres across. While most parts of Macquarie Harbour are relatively shallow, it is up to 50 metres deep in some places.




One of the best ways to discover Strahan is to take a walk along the town’s foreshore track. This hour long walk follows the path of the old Government Railway line that once ran between Strahan and Zeehan. Along the way, you’ll pass a number of historic buildings that each tell a fragment of the story of Strahan’s past.

We couldn't be more excited to welcome the TODAY Show to Strahan for tomorrow's live broadcast. It's a huge event for our beautiful part of Tasmania and our community is ready to turn it on for the team from TODAY. Even the weather looks set to behave for the big day!

When you are traveling to Tasmania’s west coast, regardless of where you are driving from, the journey is part of the attraction.


Day Five: Cradle Mountain Hotel to Devonport

Day Four: Freycinet Lodge to Cradle Mountain Hotel

Day Three: Strahan Village to Freycinet Lodge

Day Two: Devonport to Strahan Village

Day One: Melbourne to Hobart on the Spirit of Tasmania

With fewer than a thousand permanent residents, visitors to quaint Strahan often wonder how they will find enough things to do. In fact, most find that they haven’t allowed enough time to enjoy all the attractions of the region. Whether you wish to appreciate the Strahan region’s natural beauty or cultural heritage, here are the top ten activities to fit into your itinerary.

In such a vibrant little seaside town, it's not hard to find things to do in Strahan. Whether it's rest and relaxation one's after? Or perhaps it's a bit of adventure and exploration? Or maybe it's a thirst for knowledge and history? The best thing to do sometimes, is ask the locals where to go!

When looking for itinary ideas for Tasmania a local’s perspective is always recommended. One of the incredible things about living in such a small state is that travelling to its hotspots can all be done by car!

When waking up in Strahan, one will be greeted by the blissful sound of complete and utter silence. But don’t waste time in bed! Each moment here is precious and provides a completely unique perspective of the beauty Strahan has to offer.

Tasmania is renowned for its world-class fresh local produce and Strahan restaurants feature the best of what’s on offer! When looking for places to eat in Strahan, then a short 5-minute trek up hill is View 42° Restaurant. Nothing good in life comes easy, right? Rest assured a few minutes uphill is well worth the view and food awaiting.

Strahan has many tales to tell from its 140-year history. In its heyday, this isolated town attracted a variety of characters as its logging and mining industries developed. The historic Strahan cemetery stands as testimony to Strahan’s colourful past.

There is no better way to appreciate Mother Nature than spending a day rafting on Tasmania’s iconic rivers. King River Rafting offers tours on the Derwent River near Hobart and King River near Queenstown. They can also organise custom tours for groups if you have a particular request.



If you feel that you have overindulged on Tasmania’s gastronomic delights and are seeking a little active fun, the Henty Sand Dunes near Strahan will definitely give you a workout. Considered to be the most magnificent sand dunes in Tasmania, this “locals’ secret” is signposted on the Zeehan-Strahan road.


The West Coast is home to some of the most magnificent scenery in Tasmania and has an incredibly rich history to match. Strahan is the perfect base to explore this; whether you are visiting for a few nights, or have a little more time on your hands; there are wonders and wanders to suit all.

When planning your tour of Tasmania, include the rugged West Coast with its windswept beaches, cold climate rainforests and fascinating history. The small town of Strahan is an ideal base allowing you to enjoy the sense of isolation that comes with staying in one of the world’s most far-flung places.


The Huon Pine is only found in Tasmania. Some Huon Pines are over 3000 years old, an incredible feat as this slow-growing tree only increases in girth by two millimeters every year. The waterproof, bug resistant wood was attractive to early European settlers. The story of Huon Pine captures the hardships and ingenuity of these pioneers.




Home to UNESCO World Heritage Wilderness, mining history and quirky towns, the west coast is jam-packed with family friendly adventures. For the road-trippers joining us from northern Tasmania, we’ve put together the ultimate list of kid-approved pitstops, sure to replace the dreaded ‘are we there yet?’ with ‘where to next?!’.

We know it can be a fair drive heading out west, especially with the little ones in the back. But the Lyell Highway is packed with kid-friendly pitstops that’ll make your journey across to Strahan one to remember.

With Tasmanian school holidays coming up soon, we asked two of our local experts about their tips for enjoying the west coast with the kids. Jenni Klippert is our Front Office Manager and Leanne Hays is the Retail Manager at the award-winning Gordon River Cruises.

As one of Tasmania’s favourite experiences prepares for recommencement, we caught up with Ashley from the West Coast Wilderness Railway to hear about the upside of downtime and any changes to the railway experience to look out for in September 2020.

After spending a few months cooped up indoors, there’s no better excuse to get out and explore the Tassie wilderness. Tasmania’s west coast is a truly remarkable place, filled with natural beauty and opportunity for adventure around every corner. We sat down with a couple of our team members to unpack the ideal west coast itinerary for a long weekend away in winter.

At Strahan Village we are excited to be back welcoming Tasmanians for a west coast getaway. We recently had a chat with general manager, Todd Roberts to learn about recent updates across the business to help deliver an unforgettable guest experience whilst adhering to coronavirus safety regulations.

Tasmania’s wild west coast is a place like no other. Rich in natural and human history, it is the gateway to Tasmania’s UNESCO Wilderness World Heritage Area. Despite its remote location, the ancient forests, harsh terrain and historical towns are easily accessible through a scenic drive or flight.



From Jocelyn Garcia, chef at Strahan Village
Makes 3-4 serves

The forests, coastal heath, scrub and grassy plains of Tasmania’s west coast are a perfect habitat for many of the state’s marsupial species. Among the most frequently encountered of these are our pademelons, possums and wombats.

One of the west coast’s most endearing residents is the little penguin. This utterly charming little bird (also known as the fairy penguin) is the world’s smallest penguin, growing to a length of around 40 cm and weighing just one kilo when fully grown.

One of Tasmania’s most intriguing native animals is the Tasmanian devil.

Tasmania’s west coast is home to a dazzling number of birds, and the protected forests of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park provide shelter for some of our rarest species.

Strahan is located on the edge of Macquarie Harbour—a vast waterway that opens into the wild Southern Ocean through the narrow opening at Macquarie Heads—Hell’s Gates.

The west coast of Tasmania is home to two of Australia’s most intriguing animals—the platypus and the echidna.

In spite of the island’s generally cool climate, Tasmania is home to a number of reptile species, ranging from small, jewel coloured skinks, to frogs and three species of snake. Tasmanian reptiles are active mainly during the warm summer months.

The discovery of Huon pine in the Gordon River led directly to the decision to establish Van Diemen’s Land’s first penal station on remote Sarah Island.

The rainforests of Tasmania’s remote west are not your typical, movie-set forests—all steaming jungle, hanging vines and coiling pythons. These protected rainforests are cool, dark and damp—peaceful havens where the trunks of rare trees are cloaked in velvety green mosses and lichens.


If you want to get a sense of just how wild, beautiful and remote Tasmania’s west coast really is, take some time to visit Ocean Beach.

Macquarie Harbour is Australia’s second largest natural harbour, after Port Phillip Bay in Victoria. This vast waterway is six times the size of Sydney Harbour and measures 35 kilometres in length and nine kilometres across. While most parts of Macquarie Harbour are relatively shallow, it is up to 50 metres deep in some places.




One of the best ways to discover Strahan is to take a walk along the town’s foreshore track. This hour long walk follows the path of the old Government Railway line that once ran between Strahan and Zeehan. Along the way, you’ll pass a number of historic buildings that each tell a fragment of the story of Strahan’s past.

We couldn't be more excited to welcome the TODAY Show to Strahan for tomorrow's live broadcast. It's a huge event for our beautiful part of Tasmania and our community is ready to turn it on for the team from TODAY. Even the weather looks set to behave for the big day!

When you are traveling to Tasmania’s west coast, regardless of where you are driving from, the journey is part of the attraction.


Day Five: Cradle Mountain Hotel to Devonport

Day Four: Freycinet Lodge to Cradle Mountain Hotel

Day Three: Strahan Village to Freycinet Lodge

Day Two: Devonport to Strahan Village

Day One: Melbourne to Hobart on the Spirit of Tasmania

With fewer than a thousand permanent residents, visitors to quaint Strahan often wonder how they will find enough things to do. In fact, most find that they haven’t allowed enough time to enjoy all the attractions of the region. Whether you wish to appreciate the Strahan region’s natural beauty or cultural heritage, here are the top ten activities to fit into your itinerary.

In such a vibrant little seaside town, it's not hard to find things to do in Strahan. Whether it's rest and relaxation one's after? Or perhaps it's a bit of adventure and exploration? Or maybe it's a thirst for knowledge and history? The best thing to do sometimes, is ask the locals where to go!

When looking for itinary ideas for Tasmania a local’s perspective is always recommended. One of the incredible things about living in such a small state is that travelling to its hotspots can all be done by car!

When waking up in Strahan, one will be greeted by the blissful sound of complete and utter silence. But don’t waste time in bed! Each moment here is precious and provides a completely unique perspective of the beauty Strahan has to offer.

Tasmania is renowned for its world-class fresh local produce and Strahan restaurants feature the best of what’s on offer! When looking for places to eat in Strahan, then a short 5-minute trek up hill is View 42° Restaurant. Nothing good in life comes easy, right? Rest assured a few minutes uphill is well worth the view and food awaiting.

Strahan has many tales to tell from its 140-year history. In its heyday, this isolated town attracted a variety of characters as its logging and mining industries developed. The historic Strahan cemetery stands as testimony to Strahan’s colourful past.

There is no better way to appreciate Mother Nature than spending a day rafting on Tasmania’s iconic rivers. King River Rafting offers tours on the Derwent River near Hobart and King River near Queenstown. They can also organise custom tours for groups if you have a particular request.



If you feel that you have overindulged on Tasmania’s gastronomic delights and are seeking a little active fun, the Henty Sand Dunes near Strahan will definitely give you a workout. Considered to be the most magnificent sand dunes in Tasmania, this “locals’ secret” is signposted on the Zeehan-Strahan road.


The West Coast is home to some of the most magnificent scenery in Tasmania and has an incredibly rich history to match. Strahan is the perfect base to explore this; whether you are visiting for a few nights, or have a little more time on your hands; there are wonders and wanders to suit all.

When planning your tour of Tasmania, include the rugged West Coast with its windswept beaches, cold climate rainforests and fascinating history. The small town of Strahan is an ideal base allowing you to enjoy the sense of isolation that comes with staying in one of the world’s most far-flung places.


The Huon Pine is only found in Tasmania. Some Huon Pines are over 3000 years old, an incredible feat as this slow-growing tree only increases in girth by two millimeters every year. The waterproof, bug resistant wood was attractive to early European settlers. The story of Huon Pine captures the hardships and ingenuity of these pioneers.


