Activities in Strahan and the West Coast region
Cruising / Scenic Flights / Fishing / Jet Boat Ride / Wilderness Railway / Relax & Rejuvenate
Strahan is located on the West Coast of Tasmania and developed right on the edge of scenic Macquarie Harbour. It is a virtual wonderland of experiences, adventure or just plain lazing by the beautiful harbour and watching the activities - doesn't matter what your preference we have it all for you to enjoy!
That's why Strahan has become a "must visit" on all holiday planners for Tasmania.
Early morning mist on the Gordon River,
Strahan.
Cruising
Cruise the Gordon River with World Heritage Cruises
Harry Grining and his brother took their first paying passengers
into the Gordon River more than 100 years ago. Today five generations
on, the Grinings' continue their century-old family tradition, adding a
wealth of local knowledge to the mystery and serenity of this special
place.
This wilderness experience will take you along the Gordon River,
Macquarie Harbour, Hells Gates and Sarah Island.
The Heritage Morning Cruise
Departs: Strahan Wharf 9am, returns 2.45pm - (Daily)
Includes: Hells Gates; Salmon farms; guided Sarah Island stop-over;
Gordon River; Heritage Landing; Huon Pine sawmill. Full buffet lunch
included.
The Heritage Afternoon Cruise
Departs: Strahan Wharf 3pm, returns 8.30pm - (29th Dec to 31st March
only)
Includes: Hells Gates; Salmon farms; guided Sarah Island stop-over;
Gordon River; Heritage Landing. Full buffet dinner included.
For bookings phone 03-64717174 ( international 61 3 64717174 )
or free call 1800 611 796 within Australia
Email: worldheritagecruises or go to their website
at www.worldheritagecruises.com.au
Truly a "Must DO" activity, the experience of Sarah Island is just magic!
Scenic Flights
Scenic Helicopter flights by SeAir
Helicopter flights... Experience the thrill of a helicopter flight.
Seair flies daily (weather permitting) over the King River, landing in
the Teepookana forest, flying over the revitalised
Abt
Wilderness Railway, along Ocean Beach, Henty Sand Dunes, Hells Gates and
Macquarie Harbour.
See Strahan as it has never been seen before! Scenic flights...Fixed high wing aircraft flights operate daily (weather permitting) over Cradle Mountain, Lake St.Clair, Barn Bluff, Fury Gorge, Mt. Ossa and Eidon Peak.
Enjoy a flight along the Gordon and Franklin Rivers visiting
Frenchman's Cap, Sarah Island, Hells Gates and the South West
Wilderness. A great way to discover the West Coast. Now operating
seaplanes also.
Location: Strahan Wharf, The
Esplanade, Strahan Tas 7468
Ph: (03) 6471 7718 or (03) 6442 1220
Fax: (03) 6442 3208
Fishing
Strahan Marine Charters specialise in personalised cruises and charters on Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River.
Come for a cruise, book a charter, catch a fish or access a bushwalk.
We can take you to our favourite fishing spots, drop you at the start of
a bush walk or give you a head start on your kayaking adventure.
We’ll
take you bird watching for orange-bellied parrots at Birches Inlet,
visit a Macquarie Harbour fish farm or just enjoy the scenery on a
sightseeing cruise. We can cater for groups up to 11 people aboard our
safe and comfortable 10 metre cruiser “Sophia”.
Full facilities onboard include tea and coffee, cooking facilities, onboard toilet and under cover deck seating for your comfort. Catering provided on request. All fishing equipment supplied. The company is also available for corporate and commercial work.
Minimum number is two people, maximum is eleven.
For more information on any of the experiences visit their information
site;
Strahan Marine Charters offer, please contact the Strahan Activities
Centre on (03) 64 714300.
Penguin tours are now available.
Jet Boat
Join the WILD RIVERS JET for an exhilarating 50 minute trip from Strahan to the West Coast's incredible King River.
King River Experience: Departing the picturesque fishing port of Strahan, the Jet Boat travels across 5 kilometres of the majestic Macquarie Harbour, a vast expanse of water more than twice the size of Sydney Harbour.
Alongside
the river, the formation of the famous Abt Railway is visible for most
of Wild Rivers Jet's journey 8 kilometres upstream. Passengers may catch
a glimpse of a tourist train as it negotiates the demanding terrain.
Wild Rivers Jet passes under the imposing "Iron Bridge" at
Teepookana, once a bustling river port. Here we pause to reflect on the
history of this fascinating area before proceeding upstream to our
turning point, where we view a number of mature examples of the
remarkable Huon Pine tree. Other temperate rainforest species visible
from Wild Rivers Jet are Myrtle, Blackwood, Sassafras, Leatherwood,
Pandani and Giant Tree Ferns.
As well as breath-taking scenery and fascinating history, passengers aboard Wild Rivers Jet are treated to the thrill of High Performance Jet Boating, including a number of adrenalin-pumping high speed spins.
Depending upon demand, passengers travel aboard either a 6 metre boat
capable of carrying up to 10 passengers (+ driver) or a 5 metre boat
with a capacity of 5 passengers (+ driver).
Boats cruise at a spirited pace of around 30 knots with speeds exceeding
an eye-watering 40 knots at times.
Teepookana Plateau Connection: Take
an exhilarating Jet Boat ride from Strahan for a breathtaking
perspective of Macquarie Harbour and then see the steep, rain forested
gorges of the King River, with spectacular cuttings and bridges of the
Abt Railway formation.
Disembark at Lower Landing, about 8 km upstream, for a short trip aboard
a 4WD vehicle, ascending from the valley floor to the Teepookana
Plateau.
On an elevated walkway you will meander through a stand of mature Huon
Pines, some of which are approaching 2000 years of age. Evidence shows
this area has been a habitat for Huon Pines since the last Ice Age,
12000 years ago. The walkway leads to a lofty viewing tower, affording
stunning 360 degree views of surrounding forests and mountain ranges
with Macquarie Harbour and a distant Southern Ocean visible on clear
days.
A pathway continues through the forest, passing alongside a wide variety
of temperate rainforest species, to a Piners' Hut, where an insight can
be gained into the lives of the Piners.
The Huon Piners were a tough breed of timber getters from days gone by,
who eked out a living in this harsh but magnificent environment. The old
Piners are gone, and the Huon Pine forests are now well protected.
However, to supply the valuable wood-craft industry, a small volume of
dead or fallen Huon Pine is being salvaged from these forests by
Forestry Tasmania. Each salvage area is carefully rehabilitated to
ensure Huon Pine will thrive in this area for thousands of years to
come.
The track circles back to our 4WD vehicle and you take the short trip
back downhill to the Jet Boat for some more excitement as we return to
Strahan.
Wild Rivers Jet Office, The Esplanade, Strahan 7468
Postal address: PO Box 193, Strahan Tasmania, 7468
Ph: 61 3 64 717396, fax 61 3 64 717314
Website:
Jet
Boating in Strahan, Tasmania.
West Coast Wilderness Railway
Take a trip back in time to where men laboured through mud, rain and treacherous landscapes to forge a link between the mining town of Queenstown and the port of Strahan.
Through the boom years of west coast mining, steam locomotives hauled
a fortune in pure copper from Queenstown's Mt Lyell mine, through the
rugged King River gorge and down to the Macquarie Harbour port of
Strahan. From 1896 to 1963, steam billowed through the rainforest as the
German designed Abt West Coast rack railway dragged the train, cog by
cog, up the steep 1:16 slope to Rinadeena.
Now, after 40 years, the West Coast Wilderness Railway is running again. You're able to travel through one of the world's last pristine wilderness areas crossing 40 bridges, wild rivers, and climb over 200 metres on a fascinating 35-kilometre journey from Queenstown to/or from Strahan.
You'll also have the opportunity to visit an old gold mining settlement, explore the mine by candlelight and pan for gold in the river.
Please Note: This is a one-way journey from Queenstown or
Strahan returning via coach to point of departure.
The West Coast Wilderness Railway runs all year round apart from
Christmas Day. Phone 61 3 64717300 for bookings and information.
Relax at Ormiston House
 |
Have you taken any time out of a busy life, stop and smell the
roses?
Maybe we can help!
At Ormiston House you can put your feet up and read a book. In winter we will have the fires going in the Port o' Call and Dining Room so a cuppa or a glass of port will be just the ticket.
Especially if we add a slice of home made raspberry butter cake or a scrumptious muffin!
Catching up on some local history is easy at Ormiston House. You can
visit our history room that also has a 'guest office' with internet
access, phone and fax.
If that wasn't all at Ormiston House you can laze away any sun filled day on Ormiston Houses' widow's walk and from the turret on top of the house, watch the world go by with a perfect view of Macquarie Harbour.
Other relaxing pastimes include Ocean Beach, Hogarth Falls, Macquarie Heads and Tut's Whittle Wonders.
If you love relaxing and taking pictures, then we have a photographic landscape just waiting for you.
The peace and calm of Mill Bay, Strahan -
just another aspect of the delights of the West Coast of Tasmania!
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© 2010 Ormiston House. All Rights Reserved. Last updated
19/01/2011.