Our town: Strahan
Nestled in the sheltered waters of Macquarie Harbour, the town was originally established as a port, first for the mining operators and later, when those settlements became little more than ghost towns, for the booming fishing industry.
The astonishing harbour is one of the world's greatest anchorages, being three times larger than Sydney Harbour! That's just one of the reasons it has blossomed as a "must see" tourist destination.
Today, Strahan offers world-class wilderness experiences as the gateway to the endlessly stunning Southwest Wilderness and World Heritage areas. The wilderness abounds with flora and fauna and smells of a primeval forest.
Within the harbour lies Sarah Island, on which the first penal settlement in Tasmania was established in 1822.
You're probably more interested in the fact that some fabulous lobsters can be had from there, probably caught by a fisherman with freed convict ancestors.
What's on in Strahan?
Boat cruises to the famous Gordon River, scenic flights into the Southwest Wilderness, four-wheel drive tours, or bushwalking/horse-riding trails all offer you plenty to do and see while staying at Strahan.
The luxurious world heritage cruises depart daily and among the highlights is disembarking to wander through a virgin rainforest.
If you choose to go surf fishing at the spectacular Ocean Beach, it is worth contemplating that the waves have arrived uninterrupted from South America. At the Ocean road you are further south than Cape Town in South Africa.
If you prefer to ride the rails, the historic, fully-restored Wilderness Railway is worth the thrill of tight curves and spectacular bridges that climb through rugged, steep gorges.
The train locomotives are believed to be the oldest working engines in the world!
