Tasmania's westernmost community and the furthest settlement from Hobart, Marrawah is the most popular surfing spot in Tasmania's north. The small town services the surrounding rich dairy farming area. Beyond the town the farmlands undulate down to the sea at Green Point and West Point where the cold and inhospitable waters of the Southern Ocean crash against the lonely coastline.

Visitor Centre: Tarkine Forest Adventures, Bass Hwy, Smithton. Ph (03) 6456 7199

Where Is it?: 491 km north west of Hobart and 292 km north west of Launceston, 50 km south east of Smithton, via the Bass Highway.







Marrawah is the most popular surfing spot in Tasmania’s north. Marrawah is accessed from Tasnania's north west region. Marrawah's three beaches - Ann Bay, Mawson Bay and Green Point - have hundred-metre-long rides when the swell is westerly and the wind offshore. The record wave in this area was measured at almost 20 metres with wind and surf rolling in uninterrupted for almost 17,000 kilometres.

Marrawah is the venue for the National Wave Sailing Championships; a highly sought after title worth $22,000 and held over 5-days in February that combines wind and wave skills to attract competitors and visitors. The West Coast Surf Classic, an amateur surf carnival that has been going for the past 30 years, follows this event each March long weekend and attracts up to 1000 spectators and competitors.

Besides surfing, the major activities in the area include walks along the coastline, viewing the important Aboriginal carvings at Mt Cameron West and Sundown Point, and cruises along the beautiful reaches of the Arthur River.



The area's famed dairy industry can be inspected at the Lacrum Dairy at Mella (6 km). It is possible to watch the afternoon milking session and to taste some of the cheeses produced. Contact (03) 6452 2322 for more details. Visitor Centre: Tarkine Forest Adventures, Bass Hwy, Smithton. Ph (03) 6456 7199



The Apex Lookout (Massey Street) on Tier Hill, behind the town, gives a full panorama of the Duck River estuary and offshore islands.

Arthur River

16.4 km south via Arthur River Road
Situated at the mouth of the Arthur River, this tiny settlement is an ideal base for walking, horse riding, fishing, off road driving, cruising the river and picnics in this remote, beautiful area.

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Beyond Marrawah

Preminghana

Preminghana, formerly known as Mt. Cameron West, covers an area of 524 hectares and was declared an Indigenous Protected Area in 1999. Most noted for the splendid Tasmanian Aboriginal cave etchings, it is a unique destination for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people alike. The Preminghana artwork is the finest example of Tasmanian Aboriginal art, and one of the finest displays of hunter/gatherer art in the world. Preminghana is also a popular fishing and 4WD spot.

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Woolnorth

30.5 km west via West Montagu Road

Woolnorth (40 km) is located near the northwest extremity of Tasmania on Cape Grim. It is still owned by the Van Diemen's Land Company which acquired the land in 1825. It is the last Royal Charter Company in the world. Visitors can explore the 22,000 hectare property on full day and half day guided tours, taking in the old farm buildings, the wind farm and Cape Grim, where large turbines harness energy from the Roaring Forty winds.

Woolnorth Point

The name is taken from the property of the historic Van Diemen's Land Company of which it is a part. Woolnorth Point is the extreme tip of Cape Grim, the northwestern point of Tasmania. The Peerapper name for the cape is recorded as Kennaook. It is the location of the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station which is operated by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology in a joint programme with the CSIRO. Two small beaches occupy the western side of the point. A vehicle track crosses the point to reach the southern end of the beach. Both beaches are backed by generally dense scrub.

Cape Grim

What makes Cape Grim unique is its isolated geographic location. Being the extreme tip of the north-west corner of Tasmania, the next land mass directly west of Cape Grim is not Africa (it's too far south), but the southern tip of Argentina. As a result, Cape Grim is believed to have the cleanest air in the world. Cape Grim is home to Woolnorth, the dairy farm operated by one of Australia’s oldest companies, The Van Diemen’s Land Company (VDL). The property is still under Royal Charter. VDL was established by royal charter in 1825, encouraged by Tasmania’s ability to raise fine-wool sheep in the 20 years since its settlement.
Cape Grim and the Doughboys were the site of intraplate basaltic volcanism about 24 million years ago. Exceptionally well preserved examples of submarine pillow lavas, sills, lobate lavas, volcanic breccia and tuff are exposed in rock platforms and steep coastal cliffs. Please note there is no private access to this site. Please contact the Stanley Visitor Information Centre for tour options.

Suicide Bay

The mis-named Suicide Bay at Cape Grim was the scene of the events of 10 February 1828 in which a group of Aboriginal Tasmanians were ambushed and shot by four Van Diemen's Land Company (VDLC) workers, with the bodies of some of the victims then thrown from a 60-metre cliff. About 30 men are thought to have been killed in the attack, which was a reprisal action for an earlier Aboriginal raid on a flock of Van Diemen's Land Company sheep. The escalating spiral of violence was probably triggered by the abduction and rape of Aboriginal women in the area. The massacre was part of the "Black War", a period of violent conflict between British colonists and Aboriginal Australians in Tasmania from the mid-1820s to 1832.

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Tarkine Wilderness

East of Marrawah via Basss Highway

The Tarkine Wilderness is Tasmania's largest unprotected wilderness area. It is hugely diverse extending from thundering west coast beaches, through giant sand dunes, across rolling button grass plains, to towering eucalypt forests. It hosts the only wilderness landscape dominated by rainforest in Australia. Its rainforests form the largest continuous tract of rainforest in Australia, they being the largest temperate rainforests in Australia.

There is a rich pioneer/exploring history of the Tarkine region, which was regarded as one of Tasmania's toughest and most impenetrable regions. Prospecting and Mining was one of the biggest drawcards to the region for early settlers, with tin mining set up at Balfour, Gold at Corinna, and Tin at Waratah also. Prospectors often searched the rivers in years between 1850 and 1950 quite unsuccessfully.

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Trowutta Arch and Caves

56 km east via Bass Highway and Trowutta Road

The Tarkine region of North West Tasmania contains a number of unique cave systems. There are a series of extraordinary magnesite karst systems, including unique cave and pinnacle formations at Lyons River and the Arthur River-Victory Springs area, including warm springs. These cave systems are not only unique in themselves, but are also home to extraordinary cave dwelling creatures, such as the bizarretroglodyte (cave dwelling spider) and other fascinating creatures.

Trowutta Caves are located south of Smithton, beyond the beautiful Allendale Gardens, Trowutta and Milkshake Hills. The Trowutta Arch track begins soon after the Trowutta Caves State Reserve is reached. A short 10 minute easy well defined walk leads to the park s most interesting geological feature - the Trowutta Arch. The reserve protects an area of sinkholes covered in temperate rainforest full of myrtles, sassafrass, blackwoods, massive manferns and a variety of other ferns.

Lake Chisholm

64 km south east via Bass Highway and Leensons Road

A hidden gem, Lake Chisholm is a flooded limestone sinkhole, one of the many sinkholes in the area, but one of only two filled with water. A gentle half hour return walk meanders through a majestic old myrtle forest to the tranquil waters of the lake. This can be a fantastic photo opportunity, especially in the early morning, so remember to bring your camera.

Milkshakes Hills Forest Reserve

Milkshakes is a magical picnic spot. Picnic facilities are nestled among the eucalypt and rainforest trees. There are two walks, a basic 10 minute nature walk through the forest which is relatively flat, or you can climb to the top of one of the Milkshake Hills (45 minutes return). Shelters, picnic area and barbecues are available at the car park. A signposted track leads to the lookout on the Milkshakes Hills; a worthwhile climb.

The Milkshakes Forest Reserve free campsite is located app. 26 kilometres to the north of the Julius River campground, some 6 kilomtres south of the Tayatea Bridge. Turn off, follow the well signposted area for just over 3.5 kilometres where you will find this very appealing free camping ground. Make sure you walk through the rainforests on the tracks provided. Please note, this site is not ideally suited for tent-based camping; recommended for campervans, campers, motorhomes and caravans. For further information please contactForesty Tasmania - 03 6452 4900.

How to get there: Travel south from Smithton on the B22 to Edith Creek through excellent, fertile, dairy country. Take the C218 to Kanunnah Bridge over the Arthur River. Travel east via Julius River and the Rapid River Road and follow the signage to the Milkshakes Forest Reserve. Total distance is 80km.

Julius River Forest Reserve

56 km south east via Bass Highway and Leensons Road

This site has recently been upgraded and has excellent picnic facilities. A half hour return walk winds through the cool temperate rainforest. Interpretive signs provide an insight into the nature of this forest.

Julius River Rainforest Walk: From Milkshakes Hills, continue on to the 30 minute Julius River Rainforest Walk, situated in a beautiful reserve, set in sinkhole country. There are two easy walks into the mossy, myrtle forests, found throughout the Tarkine. BBQ facilities, picnic shelter and a toilet are provided.

South Arthur Forest Drive

The South Arthur Forest Drive is a safe and easy way to have a taste of the Tarkine region of Tasmania s north west with a minimum of fuss and without having to do the whole 4-wheel drive thing. The drive begins at Smithton and is an easy 130 km round trip. A mix of sealed and gravel roads give access to a number forest reserves on the way. To begin, take the turnoff which indicates South Arthur Forest Drive from the road between Stanley to Smithton. The following features are visited on the South Arthur Forest Drive.


Dodds Creek Falls

Dodds Creek Falls are in the Wes Beckett Reserve, 61 kms south of Smithton. The walk is short and the 1.2 kms return track is barely definable in has steep rocky sections and is sometimes close to the edge of the ravine. The falls are small, but pretty and the walk takes 30 - 35 minutes. It is not suitable for small children. Wes Beckett Reserve is 61 kms south of Smithton. After turning left at Kanunnah Bridge onto Sumac Road, drive 16 km before branching left onto Mount Bertha Road. There are five more signed intersections in the final 10 km. Take a left turn at each one.