Into the Wild West: The Definitive 4-Day Tarkine Drive Itinerary
The Tarkine is one of those places that makes you wonder how it’s stayed so far off the radar. Tucked into Tasmania’s remote northwest, it’s home to the largest tract of temperate rainforest in Australia—a vast, ancient wilderness where myrtle and sassafras have been doing their thing for tens of thousands of years, long before anyone thought to build a road through it.
This 4-day Tarkine Drive itinerary takes you from the charming fishing village of Stanley deep into the heart of this primeval landscape, looping through old-growth forests, along wild coastlines, and past geological features that predate human history. Whether you’re towing a van or travelling light in a camper, the Tarkine route rewards those willing to slow down and go where the crowds don’t.
Total Distance: Approximately 230 km (full Tarkine loop from Stanley and back, not including day trips)
Best Time to Travel: November to April (for warmer and drier conditions)
Road Type: Sealed, well-maintained roads with some unsealed access roads
Connecting this trip: The Tarkine Drive pairs perfectly with a broader exploration of Tasmania’s top end. If you’re planning a longer journey (perhaps after arriving on the ferry from Geelong), check out our North Coast Tasmania Itinerary. Stanley is a natural starting or finishing point for both trips, making it easy to stitch them together into an extended adventure through Tassie’s northwest.
Tarkine Drive Map
To aid in your planning, we have carefully prepared a map of the route. Also on the map are the campground locations, points of interest and the starting points for walks. You can toggle the layers for easier viewing.
About the Tarkine
The takayna/Tarkine covers approximately 447,000 hectares of Tasmania’s northwest, bounded by the Arthur River to the north, the Pieman River to the south, the Murchison Highway to the east, and the Southern Ocean to the west. It contains the largest area of cool-temperate Gondwanan rainforest in Australia and the second largest in the world, with species that trace their lineage back to when Australia, South America, and Antarctica were still joined as the supercontinent Gondwana.
The region supports over 60 rare, threatened, and endangered species of flora and fauna, including Tasmanian devils, spotted-tailed quolls, giant freshwater crayfish, and platypus. Its wildlife tally includes 28 terrestrial mammals, 111 land and freshwater birds, 11 reptiles, 8 frogs, and 13 freshwater fish.
Beyond the rainforest, the Tarkine encompasses wild river systems, exposed mountain ranges, a vast basalt plateau that has retained its original vegetation, ancient sand dune systems, and globally unique magnesite and dolomite cave formations.
The area also holds immense cultural significance — the Australian Heritage Council has described it as “one of the world’s great archaeological regions” due to its extraordinary concentration of Aboriginal heritage sites, with the Tarkiner people having inhabited this land for tens of thousands of years.
Despite all of this, only around 10% of the Tarkine is formally protected as a national park, making it one of Australia’s most significant unprotected wilderness areas.
4-Day Itinerary at a Glance
Itinerary Stays
- Day 1: Stanley to Arthur River — Manuka Campground
- Day 2: Arthur River exploration — Manuka Campground (second night)
- Day 3: Arthur River to Julius River Camping Site
- Day 4: Tarkine Loop — Sumac Lookout, Lake Chisholm, Trowutta Arch, then completing the loop
Flexibility note: This itinerary is designed for 4 days but can easily be compressed to 3 by spending only one night at Arthur River and combining Days 1 and 2. Equally, if the rainforest has its hooks in you (and it will), an extra night at Julius River stretches it to 5 or 6 days without any rush. The Tarkine rewards time. We spent an extra night at Julius River to make it a five-day loop.
Day 1: Stanley to Arthur River
The Edge of Everything
The Run
Stanley → Arthur River 82km | 1.5 hours via the Bass Highway and Arthur River Road
On the Road
A relaxed start heading west from Stanley along the Bass Highway before turning south onto the Arthur River Road. The entire route is sealed and in good condition, winding through dairy country and coastal heath before the landscape starts to feel noticeably wilder. You’ll know you’re getting close when the farmland gives way to dense, low scrub and the air takes on that unmistakable tang of wild ocean.
There is fuel available at Arthur River; however, it is best to fill up in Stanley as it is cheaper.
The Stay
Manuka Campground — 2 nights
A cracking bush camp set among coastal scrub just south of the Arthur River township. Sites are spacious and well-separated, giving you that sense of solitude that commercial parks simply can’t match. Facilities are basic — pit toilets and not much else — so come fully self-sufficient with water and waste management, and with enough supplies for your stay. Non-potable water is available at this site.
During our stay, we stayed in the large open area and had the place to ourselves on both nights.
See our post about Manuka Campground for further information, including site photos, access details, and booking requirements.
The Highlight
After setting up camp, drive to the Edge of the World lookout at the mouth of the Arthur River. This is where the Roaring Forties slam into the Tasmanian coast after crossing an unbroken stretch of Southern Ocean all the way from South America. Stand on the platform with the wind howling around you and nothing but wild ocean ahead, and the name suddenly makes perfect sense.
There’s a sign here declaring it the edge of the world, and while it’s a touch dramatic, you’d be hard-pressed to argue the point when you’re standing there. It’s one of those spots where the sheer remoteness of Tasmania’s west coast hits you properly.
If you arrive with enough daylight, take a wander along the riverbank near the boat ramp. The Arthur River is a dark, tannin-stained waterway — perfectly clean, just coloured by the buttongrass and rainforest it flows through — and it’s a beautiful introduction to the Tarkine wilderness.
Day 2: Arthur River
River and Coast
The Run
No driving today — well, very little. This is your day to explore Arthur River and its surrounds on foot and by boat.
On the Road
Keep the rig parked. Everything worth doing today is accessible from the township or a short drive along the Arthur River Road.
The Stay
Manuka Campground — second night
Use the evening to prep your rig for tomorrow’s drive into the rainforest. Get any last-minute supplies and make sure everything is secured.
The Highlight
If you do one thing today, make it the Arthur River Cruise. The guided boat trip heads upstream through pristine temperate rainforest that’s only accessible by water. towering huon pines — some of them over 2,000 years old — line the banks, their limbs draped in moss and lichen. The cruise includes a stop for a guided forest walk and a cup of billy tea. It’s touristy by Tarkine standards, but it’s genuinely special and worth every dollar. Book ahead during peak season as spots fill quickly.
The coastline on either side of the river mouth is wild and beautiful. Head south along the beach at low tide for rock pools and the chance to spot sea eagles working the shoreline. Fishing is also excellent here — the river mouth is known for trout and the ocean beach produces good salmon runs in the cooler months.
Feel free to explore Nelson Bay and Couta Rocks to the south.
Day 3: Arthur River to Julius River
Into the Deep Rainforest
The Run
Arthur River → Julius River 58km | 1 hour via Temma, Rebecca, Blackwater and Sumac Roads, all on a smooth, recently sealed surface that makes this rainforest stretch a breeze.
On the Road
Today marks the transition from coast to deep rainforest, and the change is dramatic. Heading south from Arthur River, follow the sealed Temma Road. Just past Couta Rocks, you’ll turn east onto Rebecca Road, which eventually becomes Blackwater Road. When you reach the Kunnunnah Bridge turn-off, stay straight to jump onto Sumac Road.
Note on Navigation: The intersection at the bridge can feel a bit counter-intuitive—it’s designed to accommodate logging trucks. Just follow the signs for the ‘Tarkine Drive’ and you’ll stay on the bitumen.
The forest closes in around you as you drive. What starts as coastal scrub gradually transforms into towering myrtle rainforest, with man ferns forming a prehistoric understorey beneath the canopy. It’s like driving back in time. Pull over regularly — there are informal stops along the road where you can step into the forest and just listen. The silence is extraordinary.
The Stay
Julius River Camping Site — 1 night (or more)
Nestled in the heart of the Tarkine rainforest, Julius River is one of Tasmania’s finest bush camps. The campground sits beneath a canopy of myrtle beech and sassafras, not far from Julius River. Sites are shaded, spacious, and beautifully quiet. There are no facilities here, so you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient — bring all your water and supplies. There are toilets and picnic tables at the nearby day-use area (650m).
This is a place that rewards an extra night if your schedule allows it. Waking up in the middle of an ancient rainforest.
See our post about Julius River Camping Site for further information, including site photos and access details.
The Highlight
The drive itself is the highlight today. The Tarkine route through this section passes through some of the most significant temperate rainforest left on the planet. This isn’t a manicured national park experience — it’s raw, wild, and ancient.
Along the way, stop at the Sumac Lookout. A short walk from the car park brings you to an elevated platform with sweeping views over the Tarkine rainforest canopy stretching to the horizon. On a clear day, the unbroken expanse of green rolling away beneath you is a powerful reminder of just how vast this wilderness is. It’s the kind of view that puts the scale of the Tarkine into perspective — and makes you grateful that places like this still exist.
Once you’ve set up camp at Julius River, walk the short Julius River Rainforest Walk. This easy loop track takes around 20 minutes and winds through classic Tarkine rainforest — towering myrtles, massive tree ferns, and a forest floor carpeted in moss. The canopy is so dense that even on a bright day, the light barely makes it through. It’s a gentle introduction to the rainforest that surrounds you on all sides.
Keep an eye out for platypus in the Julius River at dawn and dusk. They’re present here and, if you’re patient and quiet, you’ve got a genuine chance of a sighting.
We stayed at the campground a second night and visited Rapid River, the Sinkhole and Lake Chishlom on the extra day. This gave us time to soak in the scenery.
Day 4: The Tarkine Loop — Rapid River, Lake Chisholm, and Trowutta Arch
Completing the Circuit
The Run
Julius River → Tarkine Loop → Stanley 89km | 1.5–2 hours (including stops) via the C218, B22 and Bass Highway
On the Road
Your final day completes the Tarkine loop, heading east and then north through the remaining highlights before rejoining the Bass Highway. Other than access roads, the roads are sealed. Unsealed roads are manageable for standard vehicles and vans.
This is a day of short drives between stops rather than one long haul, so you’ll spend more time out of the vehicle than in it — exactly as it should be.
The Stay
You’ll complete the loop and return to Stanley, or continue on to your next destination. If you’re connecting this trip with our North Coast Tasmania Itinerary, Stanley is your launching point for heading east along the coast.
The Highlight
Today packs in four of the Tarkine’s standout attractions, all within easy reach of each other.
Start with Rapid River. This beautiful stretch of tannin-dark water cuts through dense rainforest and is one of the Tarkine’s quieter gems. A short walk from the road brings you down to the river, where the water runs clear and cold over a rocky bed beneath overhanging myrtles. It’s an atmospheric spot — peaceful, shaded, and a world away from anywhere. If you’re carrying a fishing rod, this is wild trout country.
From there, head to the Sinkhole. This dramatic geological feature is a collapsed limestone cave that drops sharply into a fern-filled depression surrounded by rainforest. The viewing area is right beside the road. It’s the kind of place that stops you in your tracks — unexpected, slightly eerie, and completely fascinating.
Rob’s Tip: If you’ve got flexibility in your schedule, staying an extra night at Julius River allows you to explore both Rapid River and the Sinkhole at a relaxed pace while keeping your caravan parked up at camp. No need to pack up and hitch — just take the tow vehicle out for a morning’s exploration and return to your setup. It makes for a far more enjoyable day without the faff of breaking camp first thing.
Next up is Lake Chisholm. This remarkable sinkhole lake sits in a depression formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave. A well-maintained boardwalk leads down through the rainforest to the lake’s edge, where the still, dark water reflects the surrounding canopy like a mirror. It is an easy walk down and then back up from the lake. Take your time and enjoy the tree ferns and mosses that line the track. It’s an atmospheric spot that feels genuinely hidden, even though it’s well-signposted.
Your final stop is the Trowutta Arch, another limestone formation and one of the Tarkine’s geological gems. A short, easy walk through the rainforest leads to this natural arch, formed by centuries of water eroding the soft limestone. The arch sits in a mossy, fern-filled gully that feels almost Jurassic. It’s a fitting final stop on the Tarkine Drive — a reminder that this landscape has been shaped over unimaginable timescales.
From Trowutta, sealed roads take you north back to the Bass Highway and on to Stanley, completing the Tarkine loop.
Planning Tips for the Tarkine Drive
Self-Sufficiency: This cannot be overstated. The Tarkine has no shops (after Arthur Rive), no fuel, and extremely limited services once you leave Arthur River. Carry all food, water (minimum 40 litres of drinking water), and fuel you’ll need for the duration. Fill up in Stanley or Smithton before heading out.
Mobile Reception: Virtually non-existent throughout the Tarkine. Download offline maps before you leave and let someone know your planned route and expected return date. A UHF radio or satellite communicator is worth carrying for peace of mind.
Road Conditions: Sealed all the way. After heavy rain, some access roads to attractions may become slippery or boggy. Check conditions with the Tasmanian Road Conditions service before heading out, particularly in the wetter months.
Logging Trucks: The Western Explorer Road is shared with forestry traffic. Drive with your headlights on, stay left on corners, and give trucks plenty of room. They’re big, they’re heavy, and they have right of way on the narrow sections.
Weather: Tasmania’s west coast is one of the wettest places in Australia. Pack wet-weather gear regardless of the forecast, and carry a tarp for cooking under if it sets in. That said, the rainforest is arguably at its most magical in the rain — everything glistens, the moss turns electric green, and the forest comes alive with the sound of water.
Wildlife: Tassie devils, quolls, wombats, and pademelons are all active in the Tarkine, particularly around dusk. Drive slowly in the late afternoon and keep an eye on the road edges.
Leave No Trace: The Tarkine is a wilderness area of global significance. Pack out everything you bring in, stick to established tracks and campsites, and resist the temptation to collect souvenirs from the forest. Take only photos, leave only tyre tracks.
Shortening or Extending the Trip
The beauty of the Tarkine Drive is its flexibility. If time is tight, you can compress the itinerary to 3 days by spending only one night at Arthur River — arrive, explore the Edge of the World and do the river cruise on Day 1, then push on to Julius River on Day 2 and complete the loop on Day 3. You’ll miss a bit of the slow-travel magic, but you’ll still hit all the major sights.
If you’ve got time to spare, the Tarkine rewards it generously. An extra night at Julius River gives you time to explore the surrounding forest trails at leisure, try your luck spotting platypus, or simply sit by the river and let the forest work its quiet magic. You could also add a night at one of the basic camps along the Western Explorer Road for a deeper wilderness experience.
Wrapping Up
The Tarkine Drive isn’t the kind of trip that makes it onto most tourist itineraries, and perhaps that’s part of its charm. There are no gift shops, no interpretive centres with mood lighting, and no Instagram influencers posing at every lookout. What there is, is one of the last great temperate rainforests on Earth, a wild coastline that feels like the end of the world (because it very nearly is), and the kind of deep, ancient quiet that you simply can’t find in too many places anymore.
The Tarkine loop takes you through country that’s been growing, evolving, and weathering storms since long before humans set foot on this island. Driving through it — slowly, respectfully, with your windows down and the forest pressing in on all sides — is one of Tasmania’s most underrated experiences.
Take your time. Stay an extra night. Watch for platypus at dawn. And when you finally emerge from the forest and rejoin the highway, don’t be surprised if the rest of the world feels just a little bit louder than you remember.
Safe travels, and we’ll see you out there.
