- September 13, 2026
An easy, family-friendly nature trail beside O"Neill"s Creek at Gowrie Park, with interpretive signage and good chances of spotting platypus,…
The Tarkine (takayna) in Tasmania’s far north-west is one of the largest tracts of cool temperate rainforest left in the world — a maze of myrtle, sassafras, and tree ferns cut through by rivers, sinkholes, and a wild, empty coastline. The Tarkine Drive loop out of Smithton links a string of short, well-formed walks that let you experience the rainforest without committing to a multi-day trip, and the Arthur River side of the region adds a dramatic coastal detour where the Arthur meets the Southern Ocean at the aptly named Edge of the World. Here are six of the best short walks in the area, plus where to pitch a tent nearby.
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A flat, easy walk through dense rainforest to a natural limestone arch overlooking a green-tinged sinkhole pool. It’s one of the most photographed spots on the Tarkine Drive and a good option for families, though note it’s the one walk on this list where dogs aren’t permitted.
Distance: 1.1km return • Time: 30 minutes • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Not permitted (state reserve)
Nearest campground: Julius River Forest Camping Area (free, caravan/campervan friendly, no tent sites)
A short interpretive loop right at the camping area, winding among ferns, mosses, fungi, and old myrtle to a small limestone sinkhole. It’s an easy, well-boardwalked introduction to the rainforest and a good stretch-the-legs option if you’re already staying overnight here.
Distance: 850m loop • Time: 20 minutes • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted on leash (forest reserve — check signage on arrival)
Nearest campground: Julius River Forest Camping Area — the walk starts at the trailhead
A gentle track through old-growth myrtle forest to a much larger flooded sinkhole than Trowutta’s, ringed by tall rainforest and often mirror-still. A nice pairing with the Julius River walk if you have an hour or so up your sleeve.
Distance: 2km return • Time: 45 minutes • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted on leash (forest reserve — check signage on arrival)
Nearest campground: Julius River Forest Camping Area
The most active of the Tarkine Drive walks, climbing steadily through forest to an open lookout with views across the surrounding rainforest canopy. A worthwhile leg-stretch if you want something with a bit more elevation than the sinkhole walks.
Distance: 2.1km return • Time: 45–60 minutes • Difficulty: Moderate (some incline) • Dogs: Permitted on leash (forest reserve — check signage on arrival)
Nearest campground: Julius River Forest Camping Area
A roadside stop rather than a proper walk, but worth the two minutes it takes — a short path leads to a viewing platform over the Arthur River valley and rainforest canopy below. Good for a quick break on the way through.
Distance: 100m return • Time: 5 minutes • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted
Nearest campground: Julius River Forest Camping Area (about 10km east)
A short walk from the Arthur River township to a rocky headland where the Arthur River meets the Southern Ocean — famously described as having nothing but ocean between here and Argentina. Wild, windswept, and a completely different landscape to the rainforest walks further inland. Great at sunset.
Distance: 600m return • Time: 10 minutes • Difficulty: Easy • Dogs: Permitted under control
Nearest campground: Manuka Campground, Arthur River (Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania, water and toilets on site)
Good news for the wallet: none of these walks require a Tasmanian National Parks Pass. The Tarkine Drive stops sit within forest reserves and a state reserve rather than a national park, and the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area around Arthur River also has no general entry fee — you’d only need a Recreational Driver Pass if heading onto the area’s off-road 4WD tracks. Camping fees do apply within the conservation area itself. Dogs are welcome at most stops on leash, with Trowutta Arch the one clear exception — check reserve signage as you go, since forest reserve rules can change. The Julius River campground is unpowered, has no water or toilets on site (facilities are at the nearby picnic area, 600m away) and closes over winter, so it suits self-contained camper/caravan setups better than tents. Weather in the Tarkine turns quickly – this is genuine rainforest and gets some of the highest rainfall in the state, so pack a raincoat and decent footwear even on a sunny morning. At Arthur River and along the coast, the Southern Ocean wind can be fierce and there’s no phone reception in many spots, so let someone know your plans and take extra layers.
An easy, family-friendly nature trail beside O"Neill"s Creek at Gowrie Park, with interpretive signage and good chances of spotting platypus,…
A half-day alpine circuit from Cynthia Bay climbing through rainforest and moorland to Shadow Lake beneath Mount Hugel.
Combine a scenic ferry ride with a rainforest walk back to Cynthia Bay along the shore of Lake St Clair.