Arthur Pieman

Had previously wondered who this Arthur Pieman fellow was to have a big conservation area named after him, but discovered it is the boundaries of the Arthur and Pieman Rivers that give this area its name – which also goes by the name of Tarkine. The coastal area came as a little bit of a surprise, having built up a mental picture of 100% ancient rainforest! But once we’d got our heads around the button-grass plains, the ‘wild-West-Coast’ was doing it for us.



We stayed at the settlement of Arthur River for a little while, which was also close to Marrawah, Tasmania’s most famous surf break, and where Tim and I broke the surfing drought. Tim’s shoulder has not been OK for surfing until recently, and I’m such a beginner that I’m not confident enough to go out on my own. But now that we’ve made a start, and are heading up the east coast, it will be on – surfing safari here we come!


We also got the tinnie into the Arthur River and explored the heavily forested river – this is where the Tarkine rainforest is hiding out, in the wet spots, funnily enough! It was very beautiful.



We then drove down the Western Explorer Road, which was apparently very controversial when first constructed. Which makes sense, as it doesn’t seem to really go anywhere – but just opens up the area for possible mining and logging? The road takes you to Corinna, on the Pieman River, which is a tiny little village, a ferry crossing and a lovely old boat made of Huon Pine that runs cruises on the river.

We also got the tinnie in to explore the Pieman, and it was seriously, jaw-droppingly beautiful with steeply sloped cliffs and rainforest.