Tasmania - Absolute Serenity in the Tasmanian Wilderness

 If you are looking for a complete get away in a beautiful and serene location you can't go past Corinna Wilderness Village, Tasmania. Originally a mining village, with a rich history, the lodge is located on the edge of the beautiful Pieman River and nestled into the ancient Tarkine rain forest. Accommodation is in spacious cottages spread over a large area. The cottages have no internet, no television and no phone, it is bliss, I could happily spend several days there just chilling.

My Cottage at Corinna Wilderness Village

Pieman River in the Tarkine rain forest

 We were to have just one night  but we made the most of it. Once settled into our cottages we went for a walk along the river's edge, very pretty, the only sounds, bird song, leaves rustling in the trees and the gentle slapping of waves along the pathway. Our guide pointed out various plants and the famous Huon Pines, some of them over a thousand years old. The trees on the opposite side of the river glowed golden in the setting sun. It was good to be in such a peaceful place so far from the troubles of the world.

Dinner was a convivial affair for our group in the the lodge restaurant, The Tarkine Hotel, and then back in my cottage I lit the gas fire, read my book and relished the silence.

Next morning was a simple breakfast, a short walk, and then we were off again, catching the barge to cross the Pieman River, a brief but scenic trip.

Driving onto the barge, Pieman River

An hour later found us in the mining town of Zeehan. It appeared to have been very grand once judging by some of the buildings in the main street but now looked faded and it was cold and filled with smoke from a nearby controlled burn off. Nevertheless I still enjoyed this insight into a small Tasmanian mining town and it was a pleasure to see the excitement of one of our group visiting the town where her mother had lived many years ago.

Grand buildings, main street Zeehan

Mining equipment and smoke, Zeehan

There was time for a quick coffee from cheerful women in a coffee cart before driving towards Cable Mountain, passing a large zinc and tin mine in the small town of Rosebery on the way. At the modern, spacious, Cradle Mountain Visitors centre we paused to eat the packed lunch provided by the Corinna Wilderness Village. We were planning to spend the afternoon exploring this magnificent area.  

Cradle Mountain is worthy of its status as one of the most treasured and iconic places in Tasmania.  It deserves its own blog post so will be the subject of my next one.