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Tasmania (Western Region) |
| Corinna | |
| Corinna
is one of the most fascinating spots in Tasmania with spectacular
wilderness scenery and excellent trout fishing in the Pieman River.
Located 62km south-west of Waratah with the
small iron ore town of Savage River halfway between, it was first settled
in 1881 and was once a booming gold-mining town with a population of 2
500. The township was situated on both sides of the Pieman River and
connected by a barge service and spread over eight square kilometres.
The largest gold nugget ever found in Tasmania and weighing over 243 ounces was found at nearby Rocky River in 1883. Cruises are available from Corinna to Pieman Heads and there is good bushwalking in the area. |
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beautiful, unspoilt Pieman River, within the Pieman River State
Reserve, is reached from town on an unsealed road (C247) 26km south of
Savage River. It’s hard to believe that 2500 people once occupied
what’s now just a few shacks surrounded by dense bush.
Corinna even had its own port, despite the difficulties of getting through the narrow Pieman Heads from the coastline. The river here is too dangerous for swimming: it has an average drop of nearly 20m from the banks, and the water is very cold. The reserve used to be a logging area and it still holds one of the biggest stands of remaining Huon pine – saved because the water here was too deep to allow a dam to be built. You can take a cruise on the river, all the way to the west coast, with MV Arcadia II (daily 10.30am; 4hr; $30, including morning tea; tel 03/6446 1170). The boat was built in Hobart (from Huon pine) as a luxury pleasure cruiser, but during World War II saw active service off the Philippines and has since been put to other uses. From its deck you can see Huon pine, leatherwood and pandanus ferns among the temperate rainforest of the river’s north bank; the drier southern bank has mainly brown stringybark eucalypts. The trip allows you an hour and a half to wander on your own along the west coast; by the landing are several intriguing holiday shacks, ramshackle affairs with tin verandahs variously propped up by raw tree posts and an old bus. A wide sandy path leads to a beach between two outcrops of jagged orange sedimentary rock, where the dark blue sea is tinged by the tannin-stained river water. The affable brothers who run the cruise virtually run Corinna too. They open the kiosk daily whenever they have time, but bring food along if you intend to use the campsite (no showers) or the Getaway Resort, both also operated by the brothers. From the car park there’s a walking track leading to a huge 600-year-old manfern, one of only four of such antiquity known to exist in Tasmania. You can take a barge across the Pieman River from here (daily 9am–5pm; $10 car; $5 bike; tel 03/6446 1170) and continue on the C249 to Zeehan, and then on the B27 to Strahan. |
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