Strahan

Strahan is the kind of town where little more is required than to slow down and soak up the atmosphere. It’s the coming together of natural beauty and historic charm that makes this seaside pocket the captivating town that it is. Think of cosy cafés with log fires, low flying clouds amid a vast wilderness and historic buildings lining the foreshore, and you’re halfway there to capturing the essence of what makes Strahan the popular tourist destination that it is.

While the focus of this page is free things to see and do, most people come to Strahan to hop on a tour. You see, Strahan sits on the frontier of the epic South West Wilderness — a remote and inaccessible region of South West Tasmania. Defined by its unspoilt scenery, rugged peaks and wild rivers, parts of this wilderness are more than 50 kilometres from the nearest road.

Likewise, there aren’t many walking tracks and trails, with access to the area most easily achieved via air, rail or sea. Of the many tours, the Gordon River Cruise proves highly popular, with the Gordon River penetrating deep into the vast wilderness of Tassie’s south-west.

Also high on the tourist bucket-list is the West Coast Wilderness Railway, a steam train tour which operates on the old Mount Lyell mining line. If this is of interest, the Rack and Gorge Tour departs from the nearby town of Queenstown. This section of rail utilises a rack and pinion system to haul the steam train through some epic scenery. For an additional cost, you can do the full experience departing from Strahan, which also proves to be very popular.

If seeing the west coast of Tasmania is on your to-do list, Strahan is a must, as a lap of Tasmania and a stopover into Strahan go almost hand-in-hand. Whether you choose to hop on a tour or simply enjoy the beauty of the town, we’ve scoured this lesser-visited region to uncover an awesome lineup of free attractions. Blessed with natural beauty, the ruggedly spectacular sights both in and around Strahan are a sure-fire crowd pleaser with some astounding attractions to be uncovered.

Situated only minutes from town, the flat and easy walk to Hogarth Falls is enjoyed by most who make their way this far south. While there are many dramatic falls in Tassie, it’s the overall experience of the pleasant walk into Hogarth Falls that make it so memorable.

Strahan is not short of rainfall and as such an incredibly lush understorey of plants is assured along this walk. Here ferns, moss, and heavily-wooded forest come together beautifully with a series of boardwalks running alongside the aptly-named Botanical Creek for much of its length.

The walk begins from The Peoples Park which, weather permitting, makes for a nice picnic spot. The falls themselves can range from a steady flow to a raging overflow, depending on recent rainfall with a visit to the falls enhanced with the rain if you are willing to sport wet weather gear. Overall, this is a delightful walk and an easy addition to the historic sights within the town.

In true form to the ruggedly spectacular nature of this neck of the woods, Montezuma Falls is a monumental feast for the senses. With a drop of 104 metres, Montezuma is the highest waterfall in Tasmania. If that wasn’t enough, a gigantic suspension bridge crosses Avon Creek from high above, providing visitors with jaw-dropping views of these enormous falls.

If lofty suspension bridges aren’t your thing, you can bypass this and head straight to the base of the falls. Looking up at the sheer enormity of the cliff face is quite a thrill, with a torrent of water more often than not cascading down from above.

From Strahan, it takes just over an hour to reach the beginning of the trail — after which you’ll have a three-hour return walk to complete. To be sure, the better part of half a day will be consumed if making your start from Strahan, but with so much natural beauty to be discovered it’s oh, so worth it.

Montezuma Falls draws its name from the Montezuma Silver Mining Company, which worked the surrounding area in the late 18th Century. Today, the track follows the disbanded narrow gauge railway utilised by the company. As such, the grade of the entire trail is gentle and wide yet while lengthy overall is a leisurely walk.

Along the journey, tree ferns abound with various types of blackwood, sassafras and myrtle. The sound of running water can also be heard for most of the walk enhancing the sensation of the experience. By the time you get to the falls, the lengthy walk will all be long forgotten as you take in one of Tasmania’s best-kept secrets. To be sure, if you have the legs for it, this one is worth every step.

Note: It rains here often, which actually adds to the experience. The colours are so much greener, the hills can be shrouded in mist and the smell of the woods is enthralling. If rain is forecast (and even if it isn’t), bring wet weather gear and enjoy this magnificent spectacle of nature.

If you’re planning a lap of Tasmania, there’s every chance that you’ll be driving through the old mining town of Queenstown. The mountain region surrounding Queenstown is highly scenic, with Iron Blow Lookout one of the best vantage points in the area. The raised viewing platform at the lookout affords panoramic views of Mount Lyell, the Owen Spur and Linda Valley as well as an abandoned open-cut mine.

You can make a day trip of visiting Queenstown and Iron Blow Lookout from Strahan or stop by the lookout as you complete your lap of Tassie. Should you have a caravan in tow, you’ll be pleased to know that the road is sealed. The parking bay at Iron Blow Lookout is also wide enough to make a U-turn, so you can drive into the signposted turnoff confidant you’ll get out again.

Many of the hillsides surrounding Queenstown have been quarried for gold and copper — exposing the mineral-rich soil that proved so lucrative in the town’s heyday. For the passing traveller, the best way to describe it would be surreal. Feeling more like a visit to Mars rather than Tasmania, the colours of the exposed earth are a cause for awe and is only bettered by the warmth of a rising or setting sun.

Travelling east, the seasonal Horsetail Falls will also make itself apparent on the scenic drive up to Iron Blow Lookout. There’s a well-signposted walking track to these falls not far from the turnoff to Iron Blow Lookout. With recent rain, this waterfall is captivatingly beautiful and a great addition.