Exploring the Tarkine Rainforest in Tasmania’s Wild West
- delphinegargula
- Apr 18, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 9, 2023
Getting to the Tarkine
Often ignored by tourists, the Tarkine region boasts beautiful wild landscapes and is home to heaps of wildlife. It was high on our bucket list for this trip and we did not regret making the detour! It is a great addition to any Tasmania itinerary which can be done as a detour from Cradle Mountain to Strahan, or as a day trip from Stanley or Smithton.
Stanley & its “Nut”
Stanley is a charming seaside town that sits on a small peninsula East of Smithton. It is most known for the “Nut” and its not-so-common-in-Australia chairlift.
Stanley’s chairlift
The Nut itself is a volcanic formation that sits 143m asl and is mostly fat at the top. It is now a state reserve and is home to many pademelons and other animals. It has a few gorgeous walks on its top including the circuit track, with many viewpoints that are definitely worth the walk. Plus the chairlift up there is a great experience both for adults and kids!
The Circuit Track up on The Nut
If you prefer to walk up (or down), be warned – it is very steep! The path zig zags underneath the chairlift and it takes about 15-20min to walk up. The very brave ones might even try to run it.
The very steep path up (or down) the Nut
On the way to The Nut it is worth doing a detour by Highfield house and even stopping at the stunning Godfreys Beach for a quick dip if time and weather allow. You can even visit Highfield house, an impressive Georgian home that is now managed by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service.
Highfield Convict Barracks
The Tarkine drive
The first stop if you are coming from the North is Trowutta Arch, an impressive cenote-like rock cavity filled with unusually green water.
Trowutta Arch
It’s a stunning short walk (15min) to get to Trowutta Arch and the newly created walkway winds beautifully through the rainforest. Try to spot a few of the many fungi along the way.
The walkway to Trowutta Arch
You then arrive into a rock cavity, the arch, that opens up onto the Trowutta sinkhole with its very unique green water.
Trowutta Arch
While we were admiring Trowutta Arch we met this lovely local lady who mentioned she used to come here as a kid with her friends. They would get to the arch via a secret path at the back and jump in the water, before the water turned into this murky green. Today I would definitely not recommend swimming in it, and the algae-coated water is far from inviting.
Insider tip: When at the Arch make sure you also explore the right part. Just watch your step as the ground can be quite soft or slippery in some areas.
Trowutta Arch, from the right
Lake Chisholm
From Trowutta Arch we drove back to Tayatea rd, stopping for a quick look at the Tayatea Bridge, and then headed to Lake Chisholm. We skipped Milkshake Hills but made sure we stopped at the Sinkhole which is next to the road and very easy to access.
The sinkhole
We were very lucky to spot a Tasmanian devil on the road in the middle of the afternoon. No photo taken unfortunately as he ran back into the bush as soon as he saw us. But keep your eyes wide open as you drive and you might be lucky!
Once at Lake Chisholm, there is a gorgeous 30min loop that takes you to the lake via the most luscious rainforest. This is an absolute must-do in the Tarkine region.
Lake Chisholm
Julius River
Another 10min drive from Lake Chisholm you will find the Julius River picnic area (and toilets!) where you can either do the Rainforest Walk or the Sinkhole Walk. We chose the Rainforest Walk and did not regret it. It’s an easy walk through a beautiful and well-maintained boardwalk that then takes into the deeper rainforest. There you will find plenty of healthy luscious manferns and native trees, with heaps of birds and wildlife to spot.
Julius River Rainforest Walk
The walk itself takes about 30min and if you do have enough time I’d probably recommend doing both walks, maybe with a picnic in between!
From Julius River make sure you stop at Sumac lookout for an expansive view over the Tarkine rainforest.
Sumac Lookout
THE NITTY GRITTY
Estimated time: at least a half day to do the main attractions – and a full day if you are not short on time and want to do a few more walks
What to bring: your camera and maybe a picnic. A rain jacket could also be a smart move – the weather can change very quickly in the rainforest.
Insider Tip: it is worth watching the exceptional Patagonia film takayna to understand what is happening with logging in the Tarkine Region
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