west coast
The wild, wild west coast of Tasmania! From gold rush vibes to World Heritage sites, this whirlwind visit didn't make us regret the massive drive in front of us!
Ok, this was when our plan had a detour. The original plan was to leave Cradle Mountain and shoot down to Queenstown so that we could ride the rails at the West Coast Wilderness Railway, then stay at Hamilton for the night. However, the West Coast Railway was shut due to maintenance which gutted the train enthusiasts in the family. We had a decision to make. Shoot straight through to Hobart from Cradle Mountain with a 4 hour drive, or swing past through the West Coast which was going to add another 2 hours to the trip. With no regrets, we chose the later as we punched the miles and whipped around the west coast! We didn't want to leave anything untouched.
So we decided put in a solid 10hrs to whirl around the west coast before staying at Hobart. We passed through Zeehan which gave us 'Don't Mess with the Zohan' vibes. And yes, our warriors sniffed out another train engine display. With a quick break, we were on route to Strahan for morning tea. This place was a quaint little fishing village with another yummy bakery. Here you can also find the end of the track for the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
So we decided put in a solid 10hrs to whirl around the west coast before staying at Hobart. We passed through Zeehan which gave us 'Don't Mess with the Zohan' vibes. And yes, our warriors sniffed out another train engine display. With a quick break, we were on route to Strahan for morning tea. This place was a quaint little fishing village with another yummy bakery. Here you can also find the end of the track for the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
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The drizzly weather made for a great opportunity for some cosy hot chocolates. The best parking for caravans is just off Esk Street, near Strahan Laundromat. It only costs a few dollars but is central to the township.
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Our adventure continued to Queenstown, a mining town, which felt like time stood still. Heritage buildings, rusty red rivers and the home of the West Coast Wilderness Railway. We had a squiz through the gift shop and looked at the engine and carriages parked up on the platform. Best place for parking is on Esplanade (type Footbridge over Queen River into Google Maps) where we had a roadside cook-up for lunch and then crossed the footbridge to visit the train museum. After lunch, we drove along the Lyell Highway which was a stretch of tight bends up the mountain but nothing tricky if you just take your time. There are plenty of passing bays along the way and a breathtaking lookout at the Queenstown Steel Road Sign. Not too far away is the Horsetail Falls walk along a spectacular boardwalk. It is a Grade 2 walk that takes 30mins return (1km), but be aware that the wind can be quite strong! We then drove through parts of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area including over Lake Burbury, saved an echidna at Derwent Bridge and then rolled into Hobart just as the sun was setting.
It was a mammoth day, but absolutely worth it! If you were looking for a night along the way, Hamilton had a low cost campground right on Clyde River which looked perfect! For us, we decided to stay at Hobart for a few nights to catch up on some washing and to check out some sights.
Peace + love,
Peace + love,