Western Tasmania is the western part of Tasmania, encompassing both West Coast and Northwest Tasmania. For the purposes of this article, this article also includes the Central Highlands.
One of the joys of west and north Tasmania is to take the time to drive the secondary roads of the region and appreciate the natural beauty you will find. Take a map! The road system has evolved from the tracks of the earliest European settlers and is correspondingly haphazard. This region of the state contains rich red-brown soil which the locals claim will grow babies if you plant them in it. As a result, the roadsides abound with crops, pasture, dairy and beef cattle, sheep, and small family farms. The region also contains significant holdings of state and private forest. The road system is such that excursions can be planned in loops which don't necessarily involve re-tracing one's wheel tracks at the end of the day.
West Coast Tasmania is often associated with the Southwest, as the term 'Tasmanian Wilderness' is used in promoting areas in the west coast, as much as where the term was first coined - for the South West, when it became recognised as a World Heritage region.
West Coast Tasmania is a very attractive tourist region as it has historic mine sites, historic mining towns, and railways (rebuilt), as well as places to stay. It wasn't so easy to get into as recently as the 1950s when it was easier to travel in by ship or railway, than by the roads that now exist. The isolated nature of the region, being cut off from the southern and northern parts of Tasmania by mountains and wild country, has perpetuated a range of myths about the tough west coasters (The Queenstown Football Oval is a prime example - it is not grassed, but is gravel surfaced) and the wild former convict locations like Sarah Island and Macquarie Harbour. The mouth or entry of Macquarie Harbour is aptly named 'Hells Gates', and the west coast coastline is liberally supplied with wrecks, record waves, and other elements of what long uninhabited coasts have.
The main towns of Queenstown, its former main port - Strahan, Zeehan, and Rosebery are the main historic towns that have colourful histories, as well as modern tourist facilities. They are connected by twisty, dangerous roads (various reasons for different roads) and are not close to each other, so that the communities in the past have had separate communities with rivalries and differences, either sporting or otherwise. Also the region has ghost towns, and vanished towns, lost to the fates of former mining towns or companies no longer operating.
Strahan, formerly just a link in the railway system of fifty years ago, is now a hub - places to stay, a variety of places to drink and eat in the tourist season, and a place to take trips on a rebuilt railway, and boat trips across Macquarie Harbour, and more than one road out to other places to visit.
Zeehan, almost but not a ghost town, is an excellent example of a one main street town that hasn't lost all of its old civic buildings to ruin or fire. The museum and remnants of the past are well presented and well worth visiting.
The HEC or Hydro, as it was known, the dam builder that was planning the Franklin Dam, is much downsized these days, but its legacy is a fine set of roads into parts of the west coast that were formerly hard to get into. The short cut road off the Zeehan Highway that goes along the west side of the West Coast Range up to Tullah, thereby bypassing Zeehan and Renison, is a road with very picturesque scenery and mountains to view. The highway south of Queenstown, up and around the northern side of Mount Jukes to near the former ghost town of Crotty, offers great views over Lake Burbery and towards Frenchmans Cap. There are also good Hydro roads west of Tullah and Rosebery that go towards the mouth of Pieman River on the coast.
The only way to reach the West Coast is by road.
The tonnage of the boat, and its draught have to be taken into account the conditions of Macquarie heads, otherwise known as Hells Gates, and any local knowledge would be of benefit when encountering the entrance into the harbour. Almost all the rest of the west coast is unsuitable for dropping anchor.
Rex Airlines flies four times a day in and out of Wynyard (Burnie Airport), usually for around $160 per person, each way. Qantas also flies five times a day in and out of Devonport for around $160 per person, each way.
The Spirit of Tasmania is the ferry service that operates from Devonport. It sails daily from Devonport and Melbourne in the evening and in the morning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Vehicles and other cargo such as trailers are able to be taken aboard (although it can be very expensive). Fares are typically around $100 per person each way and around $400 for a vehicle each way.
The best way to see this region is by car. There's a maze of side roads off the main highway so be sure to take a good map with you.
The main population centres are serviced by local bus networks provided by:
Two major companies which provide services around the state are:
The main highlight in the southern parts of the west is visiting the several national parks that are a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness, a world heritage area that comprises most of the region. Each park is known for something different. Parks like Walls of Jerusalem National Park is mostly known for its rocks looking like the Walls of Jerusalem in Israel while others like Mole Creek Karst National Park are known for its caves. Tasmania's most well known park; Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park is also in the region which is a must for those visiting the region.
Apart from the national parks, the west coast is also known for its human history too. The old mining towns, and the recent hydro town of Tullah are the have become main focus points of the internal regions of the west coast.
Tasmania – the state of fishing, often has lots of fishing spots. Meanwhile, due to the large amount of lakes in the region, lake fishing is one of the primary industries here, and a popular activity tourists do as well.
On top of these, there are also plenty of walks available in all of the region's national parks. There are many walks available unlisted here and if you wish to undertake any of these you should seek the appropriate guidebooks and maps. Tasmania's weather can be unforgiving so you must be prepared for all types of weather. It is possible to join walks by the North West Walking Club.
The region also hosts many events as well. Some of them include:
The region has many beaches, particularly in the northwest (as the west's coasts are unforgiving). These are the most visited:
Due to the fishing activities in Tasmania, seafood is the most common food that you'll get here in Tassie, including Western Tasmania. This includes raw oysters as well, so don't go ordering a 100 oysters for a group of four, thinking it'll be like your ordinary oyster.
Most towns have at least a pub or two selling the Aussie classics. Unlike in New South Wales, often pubs here don't have non-alcoholic drinks due to the lack of demand here. They're also a tad more expensive here, as supplies have to come from the mainland.
Outside the cities and towns, this area is home to charming rural inns and B&Bs, including:
Some of the roads, particularly in the west coast are narrow and in the right seasons frequently slippery from rain, ice and fallen scree from hillsides. Take extra care when driving, especially if you're used to driving on the right side of the road.