Trip To Tasmania day 11 Tarkine Wilderness Area, Western Explorer road 17th March 2011

Left Strachan early and filled up the car at Zeehan, alot of these towns are just about empty of population and the servos require a pre paid with your credit card or eftpos, make sure you have a pin number because if you have to sign your card well there's no one there to do it hence no fuel. First view for the day just north of Zeehan

 Heading into the Tarkine wilderness area on the Western Explorer road, be prepared for remote travel.

 Sign says it all: A warning is that this area is very remote so travel accordingly, you will be on gravel for about 6 hours and it may shred your tyres if you have stock road rubber, take water and food, after Corinna you will get nothing until Arthur River. The driving can be strenuous for a novice, i knew after the trip i had been on my toes all day, i was absolutely drained. Western Explorer road, West Coast Tasmania

Waiting on the Fatman Barge to cross the Pieman River at Corinna:

$20 was the most expensive ferry trip we made pro rata to the journey offered, then again if you want to cross a river in the middle of the wilderness you are going to pay for it. Waiting on The Fatman Barge so we can cross to Corinna from the south: Western Explorer road, West Coast Tasmania.

 Crossing the Pieman River on the Fatman Barge:

The beautiful old Acadia II takes you for tours on the Pieman River, maybe next time

 The Fatman waiting for cars: Corinna Western Explorer road

 Country humour or how to catch the Fatman Barge:

 Its been a long time since you can get fuel in Corinna

 Last beer here at Corinna but i wouldnt advise having one if your going to be on the dirt all day

Lots of old huts in Corinna

We kept getting told we couldnt take the Western Explorer road as the bridge was out at Savage River. The Skipper of the Fatman made a call ahead for me after some prompting to ask if there was any chance they could let me through, i was told that once we got to Savage River Bridge if we waited 20 to 30 minutes the guys would let me through, must thanks the guys for the effort in getting us across the new bridge which they were still laying timber on: Western Explorer road, West Coast Tasmania.

 Savage River from the new bridge, some tough bushies working out in that envionment

Once out into the Wilderness you sometimes get these small sections of tar road, seems nobody wants to join them up: Western Explorer road, West Coast Tasmania.

The road winds all day and is mainly gravel, it had its moments with 2 big car drifts and a near loss whilst driving well within the roads limits. Western Explorer road, West Coast Tasmania.

Whats down this track? as Caz my wife says, why do i have always got to look over the fence? answer is simple, to see whats there. I am always saying i wonder whats down this track or over that hill and i always take a peek, not much on this occasion so we stopped for a break:

Views on the Western Explorer road, West Coast Tasmania.

You can tell your getting toward the end of the road and the signs start:

Over 100klms of dirt since we filled up in Zeehan:

End of the dirt at The Edge of The World: Western Explorer road, West Coast Tasmania.

Crossing the bridge into Arthur River, North West Coast Tasmania

Arthur River, North West Coast Tasmania, theres some good camps around this area for $13 a night, we will be back into this area to explore more next trip.

Passing view of Stanley, we are heading to Wynyard to base ourselves for 3 nights and a return trip to Stanly and surrounds in 2 days time North West Tasmania.

Last picture for the day. We will be 3 nights at Leisure Ville Holiday Centre in Wynyard, it has a spa and a pool, great place to unferal and relax.This view is across to the Port Latta Wharf and ore refinery. North West Coast Tasmania.

 Video from the Western Explorer road