📷 Gary Houston, CC0The North West and the Tarkine
Four days along the Bass Highway from the Devonport ferry port to Stanley and the Edge of the World, then through the Tarkine's gravel Western Explorer Road to Strahan.
- Distance
- 356 km (221 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 53 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- States
- Tasmania
- Updated
- April 25, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 356 km (221 mi) with 9 stops, from Devonport to Strahan. About 3 h 53 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Tasmania · More road trips from Devonport
Route description
Day one: from Devonport follow the Bass Highway west to Penguin, about 40 km, for the giant penguin statue, then Burnie, about 20 km further. Continue to Wynyard, around 25 km on, and drive up Table Cape for the lookout over the farmland and Bass Strait. Stanley is about 90 km beyond Wynyard, so plan to sleep there.
Day two: in Stanley, take the chairlift or the steep track up The Nut, then explore the historic main street. In the afternoon drive about 100 km via Smithton to Arthur River and the Edge of the World, on the wild west coast. Fill the tank in Smithton or Stanley, as services are scarce beyond.
Day three: the Western Explorer Road runs about 110 km from Arthur River to Corinna through the Tarkine's rainforest and button-grass plains. It is gravel, remote and slow, and some rental agreements forbid it, so check first. At Corinna a small vehicle barge crosses the Pieman River. Carry water, food and spare fuel.
Day four: from Corinna, continue about 100 km via Zeehan to Strahan, with some unsealed sections, and allow around two hours. Strahan is a good place to rest after the gravel and to book a Gordon River cruise. The Tarkine is wet and cool in winter and can be muddy; late spring to early autumn is the safer window.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Devonport
Tasmania - 229 km
Big Penguin, Penguin
OdditiesBurnie, TasmaniaA giant statue of a penguin stands on the main street of the small seaside town of Penguin, named for the little penguins that nest along this coast. A quick photo stop right beside the Bass Highway.
- 319 km
Burnie
Tasmania - 422 km
Table Cape Lookout
ViewsBurnie, TasmaniaA flat-topped volcanic headland above Wynyard, with farmland in a patchwork of colours below and Bass Strait beyond. The tulip fields flower in spring. A narrow road climbs to the lookout and lighthouse.
- 551 km
Stanley
Tasmania - 61 km
The Nut, Stanley
ViewsStanley, TasmaniaA 143 m volcanic plug rising straight from the sea beside the village of Stanley. A steep track or a chairlift reaches the flat top, where a loop walk gives views over Bass Strait. It is often very windy.
- 772 km
Edge of the World, Arthur River
ViewsStanley, TasmaniaA wild, driftwood-strewn headland at the mouth of the Arthur River on Tasmania's west coast, facing the Southern Ocean with no land between here and South America. Wind and cold are likely even in summer.
- 892 km
Corinna Wilderness Experience
StaysStrahan, TasmaniaA small settlement on the Pieman River in the Tarkine, with cabins, river cruises and the vehicle barge on the gravel Western Explorer Road. Remote: plan fuel, food and a flexible schedule.
- 970 km
Strahan
Tasmania
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Devonport → Table Cape Lookout · 69 km · 0 h 45 minOn the way: Big Penguin, Penguin, Burnie.
- Day 2: Table Cape Lookout → Edge of the World, Arthur River · 124 km · 1 h 21 minOn the way: Stanley, The Nut, Stanley.
- Day 3: Edge of the World, Arthur River → Corinna Wilderness Experience · 92 km · 1 h 00 min
- Day 4: Corinna Wilderness Experience → Strahan · 70 km · 0 h 46 min
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually November–March. Still fine, with some compromises, in April–May and October. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is The North West and the Tarkine?
4-day road trip of about 356 km (221 mi) with 9 stops, from Devonport to Strahan. About 3 h 53 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for The North West and the Tarkine?
We suggest 4 days: about 3 h 53 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does The North West and the Tarkine start and end?
It starts in Devonport and ends in Strahan.
Which states does The North West and the Tarkine pass through?
Tasmania.
When is the best time for The North West and the Tarkine?
The most pleasant months are usually November–March. Still fine, with some compromises, in April–May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
