If you take the drive in the summer months and start early morning, you can cover both the coastal and the forest areas. 

As the area is so remote, you can only stay in two towns if you chose not to do wild camping; Smithton or Arthur Seat. I personally prefer starting the drive from Smithton and doing the drive anticlockwise because I can arrive for the sunset to the coast. Although I have done the drive three times already, I could not get clear skies for sunset yet.

If you decide to start from Smithton, make sure you stock up the day before both for fuel and food/water. Tasmania itself is rather isolated and this area is even more remote. Shops and fuel stations even restaurants outside the northern cities and Hobart usually close early (7-ish) so it can be a bit shocking first for those who got used to European or American working hours. Once I almost ran out of petrol in the highlands because of this - but thats another story.

So getting back to Tarkine:

The whole loop itself is only a 130km drive but the drive is fully packed with walks, lookouts, sites and picnic areas. 

If you have got more time, I would even suggest to spend two days in the area. Its beautiful especially if you visit during winter or after heavy rains when the rainforests and the waterfalls are totally pumped with life.

The road itself is a sealed road, easy to drive, but those who are not experienced driving on the left side of the road I would suggest taking it slower.

Take road B22 south from Smithton, pass the typical small tassie town on Edith Creek and get off onto the road of C218. The area is well marked.

These are the stops I think worth to see if you spend only a day in the area:

Stop No 1

Trowutta Arch - It’s located 30km-s (30min drive) away from Smithton. This walk is an easy half an hour walk through the rainforest, its even possible with a wheelchair on most of the track.

Stop No 2

The Sinkhole - if you carry on driving after your morning walk, after approximately another 30km-s drive you arrive to the sinkhole. This flooded sinkhole with its dark waters is perfect fro reflection photos. 

Stop No 3

Wes Becket Falls - this falls is one of the most spectacular falls in the Tarkine and its about 10 minute drive from the sinkhole. The walk itself is steep and hard one hour one but goes through the rainforests. 

Stop No 4

Dempster Plains - from your drive back from the Wes Becket Falls make sure you do a small detour to the Dempster Plains - this area unfortunately was impacted by the bushfires back in 2016 but I think ist still worth to have a look. I am really in love with the Tasmanian vegetation you can tell!

Stop No 5

Sumac Lookout is about 15km-s further up on the road, giving a breathtaking view over the Arthur River and the surrounding cool rainforest. Its a quick, couple of seconds walk to the summit. 

Stop No 6

Balfour Track; After ten minutes more drive you can stop and take a walk in the Balfour Track. This is a three hour track and originally was used by the locals to get to the small town on Balfour. The track goes through the rainforests, and if you are an avid amateur photographer - like I am - you gonna love this walk. Its full of with fungi, moss covered trees and its your last chance to see the rainforests in the area before getting to the coast!

Stop No 7

Couta Rocks is about another 30 minutes drive from Balfour Track. Its a very small local town, the road going to the rocks is an non-graveled one but it’s doable witha  2W drive car- although rental car companies do not let you taking your 2W drive car on non graveled roads. I am not giving suggestions, I am just saying if you drive carefully you should be fine. Otherwise you can skip this little town and stop at the Edge of the World where the road and parking facilities are more sophisticated.

Stop No 8

Edge of the World is another 15km (15 minutes) drive up from Couta Rocks. This beach is in Arthur RIver, which is the end of this tarkine drive. This town has got accommodation, restaurant faciitiies (I would rather say facility as only one restaurant) but I really love these remote small tassie town vibes and I love staying in these places. Even when my ferry back to Melbourne was  leaving at 9 am I stayed in a small town an hour drive away from Devonport just to get more of the feel of this rural lifestyle. Exhalating view of the Tasmanian coast  

How to get to the start of the Tarkine Drive

Take and effortless 60 km drive from Stanley and an easy 38 km drive from Smithton. 

Stanley is about one hour west from Devonport, where the ferry from Melbourne disembarks.