Australia's Natural State (PDF, 3.6 - Discover Tasmania

THE WESTERN WILDERNESS
Discover the wild heart of a World Heritage Area wilderness that is the envy of the world. It’s raw and
powerful and can speak to you in a number of ways.
Humility may steal upon you as the summit of Cradle Mountain emerges through a mist, or when Dove
Lake captures the mirror image of the peak on its surface. Ancient rainforests, waterfalls and chance
encounters with wildlife will arouse endless conversations with fellow travellers and friends.
The region’s hardy pioneers were inspired by the alpine surrounds but not so many visitors rough it as
they did. It’s more usual to enter this world via a luxurious lodge or from a comfortable cabin. And while
gourmet food or a hot tub can greet you at the end of a day’s hike, the real reward is a wilderness where
Mother Nature rules.
Away from the main trails, go with the flow while rafting the mystical Franklin River and its rapids and
ravines, or kayak the mighty Gordon River. Skim over rivers and forests on a seaplane flight from Strahan
and put down on a river deep in the road-less wilderness.
Some of the region’s great journeys, like the luxury cruises on Macquarie Harbour, can blend discovery
with wine and gourmet food. You can meet local characters on a steam powered railway journey through
the valleys and rainforest that shelter former mining towns. Tragedy and triumph have shaped this
terrain. Adventures still happen every day.
Gordon River cruise
14 discovertasmania.com