7 Day Tarkine Drive Itinerary for Nature Lovers in Tasmania
Day 1: Hobart to Lake St Clair
Distance: 180 kms
Travel time: ~2.5 hours
Collect your Apollo camper in Hobart and follow the River Derwent into the highlands. The drive eases you from city bustle to cool rainforest and mountain air, with ferny gullies, eucalypt forests and glassy hydro lakes hinting at the wilderness to come.
Where to stop between Hobart and Lake St Clair
Pause in the Derwent Valley to stock up on fresh produce, then turn into Mount Field National Park for the short, gentle boardwalk to Russell Falls. It is one of Tasmania’s most photogenic cascades, framed by towering tree ferns and mossy boulders. If time allows, wander the Tall Trees track to stand beneath soaring swamp gums and listen for wrens and robins in the understory. Continue past alpine moorland and dark-watered rivers to the shores of Lake St Clair.
Things to do in Lake St Clair
Lake St Clair, known to the Aboriginal Palawa people as ‘leeawuleena’, or Sleeping Water, is Australia’s deepest natural lake and the southern gateway to a World Heritage wilderness. Stretch your legs on easy lakeside trails like the Watersmeet or Playpus Bay walks, keep watch for a platypus at dawn and dusk, and tune your ears to the calls of black currawongs and crescent honeyeaters. Pack a picnic to enjoy on the pebbled shoreline as afternoon light turns the water to ink.
Where to stay in Lake St Clair
Settle into a powered site at Lake St Clair Tourist Park for a peaceful night with forest and water on your doorstep. Alternatively, Lake St Clair Lodge sits beside the visitor hub and offers dining and other facilities for guests, while powered campervan sites are provided at the nearby campground.
Day 2: Lake St Clair to Wynyard
Distance: 275 kms
Travel time: ~3 hours
Today’s route winds north through mountain country, crossing buttongrass plains and temperate rainforest to reach Tasmania’s northwest coast. It is a scenic shift from glacial lakes to farm-dotted headlands, ideal for a slower pace.
Where to stop between Lake St Clair and Wynyard
Roll through the old mining towns of the west and pause at Waratah to view the waterfall that tumbles right beside town. If you are keen for a leg-stretcher, look for signed picnic reserves and short rainforest walks along the highway corridors, where mossy creeks and myrtle forest create cool, bird-rich pockets for a mid-morning break. As you reach the coast, the air turns salty and the vistas open to long sandy beaches.
Things to do in Wynyard
Park up and enjoy this laid-back coastal town. Stroll the foreshore path along the Inglis River, scan the mudflats for herons and oystercatchers, and, in spring, drive up to Table Cape for blooming fields of Tulips and sweeping Bass Strait views. The nearby beaches are perfect for a sunset wander, beachcombing and a relaxed picnic dinner from local bakeries and farm stalls.
Where to stay in Wynyard
Choose a powered site at a local holiday park in Wynyard, set close to the river and beach for easy evening walks. You will be well positioned for tomorrow’s journey into the Tarkine.
Day 3: Wynyard to Arthur River (Tarkine Rainforest Section)
Distance: 135 kms
Travel time: ~2 hours
It is time for the heart of the trip: a day dedicated to the Tarkine’s rainforest. You will travel via Smithton to stock up before looping through mossy gullies, sinkholes and still, forested lakes, finishing at the tiny settlement of Arthur River.
Where to stop between Wynyard and Arthur River
Make Trowutta Arch your short rainforest stop for an extraordinary flooded dolomite sinkhole guarded by a natural arch. Continue to Milkshake Hills for a gentle forest loop through aromatic myrtle and sassafras. Lake Chisholm awaits nearby, where a drowned limestone sinkhole forms a tranquil lake that is often mirror-still with striking reflections. As the road traces the Arthur River, pull into Sumac Lookout for a sweeping view over an ocean of green, and pause at Kanunnah Bridge to admire the photogenic river rushing below. The main Tarkine Drive here is sealed and suitable for your 2WD campervan; skip any unmaintained gravel spurs, especially after rain.
Things to do in Arthur River
Arthur River sits at the mouth of Tasmania’s only major wild river that reaches the sea un-dammed. Take a late afternoon stroll to the oceanfront and feel the salt spray as the river meets the Southern Ocean, or find a sheltered spot upstream to try your luck with a line. Birdwatchers can look for sea eagles riding the wind and forest birds in the riverine scrub. If time permits, enquire locally about river cruises that glide deep into the wilderness for close-up views of ancient rainforest.
Where to stay in Arthur River
Arthur River Cabin Park offers powered sites close to both river and coast, placing you in perfect position for sunset at the ocean bluff and an early start on tomorrow’s coastal loop.
Day 4: Arthur River to Stanley (Tarkine Coast Section)
Distance: 85 kms
Travel time: ~1.5 hours
Swap rainforest greens for ocean blues on the Tarkine’s raw and beautiful coast. Today is about wind, waves and weather-carved rock platforms, with short walks and beach wanderings before ending in the historic fishing town of Stanley.
Where to stop between Arthur River and Stanley
Start at the Edge of the World lookout, where 180-degree ocean views and driftwood-strewn beaches showcase the power of the Southern Ocean. Continue north to explore the rugged shoreline at Couta Rocks, with its tiny fishing shacks and wild, wave-battered reefs, and then amble along the sand at Nelson Bay, a sensitive shorebird area where oystercatchers patrol the tideline. Keep an eye out for coastal heathland birds and pause for a picnic behind the dunes. With the sea air in your lungs and salt on your skin, follow the coast east toward Stanley.
Things to do in Stanley
Stanley is all charm: heritage cottages, fishing boats in the harbour, and The Nut, an ancient volcanic plug that rises abruptly above town. Walk the steep track to the top for sweeping coastal panoramas and a chance to spot wallabies browsing at dusk. Wander the little beaches, browse local artisans, and enjoy a seafood dinner as the sky blushes over Bass Strait.
Where to stay in Stanley
Book a powered site at BIG4 Stanley Holiday Park. You will be footsteps from the beach and a short stroll to town, with a quiet base to relax after your coastal explorations.
Day 5: Stanley to Strahan
Distance: 250 kms
Travel time: ~3 hours
Trace the north coast east before heading inland through rugged mining country to the sheltered waters of Macquarie Harbour. This is a day of varied scenery, from rich farmland to rainforest-clad mountains, ending in the gateway to Tasmania’s wild west rivers.
Where to stop between Stanley and Strahan
As you roll past Wynyard and Burnie, coastal viewpoints and short beach stops beckon. If you are travelling in spring, fields of tulips near Table Cape create a riot of colour against the sea. Turning south, the highway passes through rainforest corridors and tumbling rivers. Look for signed picnic spots and short walks to break up the drive and listen for the rush of water and birdsong in the gullies.
Things to do in Strahan
Strahan sits where rainforest meets sand dunes. Stretch out on the foreshore boardwalk, stroll the easy track to Hogarth Falls or watch sunset turn Ocean Beach to gold. Nature lovers can also consider a Gordon River cruise for mirror-still reflections and ancient trees rising from the banks.
Where to stay in Strahan
Strahan Holiday Retreat offers spacious powered sites with easy access to town, walking trails and the beach. Strahan Beach Tourist Park is another handy option close to the waterfront.
Image: Tourism Tasmania
Day 6: Strahan to Lake St Clair
Distance: 140 kms
Travel time: ~2 hours
Head back into the mountains on one of Tasmania’s classic wilderness drives. Rivers slice through rainforest, dolerite peaks loom on the horizon, and roadside ferns form green tunnels as you return to the tranquility of Lake St Clair.
Where to stop between Strahan and Lake St Clair
Break the journey at signed rainforest walks along the highway. Nelson Falls is a favourite, a short, gentle track beside a crystal-clear creek to a broad, tiered cascade framed by moss and myrtle. Picnic in a sheltered glade and keep your camera handy for fungi, lichen and the intricate textures of the forest.
Things to do in Lake St Clair
Back at Sleeping Water, choose a different lakeside path from your first night, like the easy Discovery Walk or the Platypus Bay track. Scan the inky shallows for ripples at dusk, listen for frogs in the reeds, and watch wedge-tailed eagles circling high overhead on clear afternoons. If water levels and schedules align, a short boat transfer can open up additional shoreline walks.
Where to stay in Lake St Clair
Return to Lake St Clair Tourist Park for a second peaceful night among the trees, making for an easy final-day run back to Hobart.
Day 7: Lake St Clair to Hobart
Distance: 180 kms
Travel time: ~2.5 hours
Enjoy a slow morning by the lake before cruising back down the Derwent Valley. With a relaxed drive today, there is time for one last walk or riverside picnic before city life comes back into view.
Where to stop between Lake St Clair and Hobart
Roll south with optional pauses at mountain lookouts and lakeside pullouts near Derwent Bridge and Lake King William for final photographs of the high country. As you descend, farm stands and small-town bakeries tempt with coffee and fresh treats for an easy roadside lunch.
Things to do in Hobart
If time allows before returning your camper, take a gentle stroll along the Hobart waterfront or gather local provisions from a nearby market for a celebratory picnic. It is the perfect way to toast a week of wild rivers, ancient rainforest and roaring seas.
Where to stay in Hobart
You can return your Apollo camper to the Hobart branch within branch hours, or choose to spend an extra night in the city at a local holiday park to explore more of the capital at leisure.
Most days on this loop keep driving to about three hours or less, so you can soak up rainforest hush, ocean drama and alpine calm without rushing. You will cover the Tarkine Drive across two unhurried days, one through the deep green of the rainforest and one along the rugged coast, with time for hiking, birdwatching, picnics and quiet moments in between. When you are ready, you can easily book your Apollo camper online and pick it up from your closest Apollo branch before hitting the road.