Arthur River to Zeehan via Corinna & the Pieman River Punt

The Western Explorer is a good gravel road when it is open. When I drove it I reckon my old Mini would have had no problems. It is currently closed Link - Photos. - This brochure paints it as I remember it.

Hi Dunc
We haven't been on that road for a couple of years now, but you would be able to drive it in a 2wd vehicle, but it's the same old story, just drive to the conditions.
Cheers
baz

Hi Duncan

We travel down that way quite often and it is a great trip - certainly no significant degree of difficulty for a nomal vehicle driven cautiously, though you need to take special care with your tyres as the road is quite windy and there are some largish/sharpish stones around. As mentioned in another reply, the road is currently closed between Arthur River and Corinna because of a landslip, and it probably won't be fixed till much later in the year - so check before you travel.

An alternative is to go via the lovely old mining town of Waratah and then past Savage River and Luina down to Corinna - then over the Pieman on the punt and on to Zeehan (check out the Spar tunnel, an old mining tunnel you can drive through) and Strahan (good tourist attractions including the railway and river cruise), then to Queenstown, etc. Unfortunately going in from Waratah because of the road closure would miss places like Arthur River, Temma, Coota Rocks etc, which are all well worth a visit - and there are some great camping spots along the way.

Overall, that Western region is a really interesting part of Tasmania, so make the time to enjoy it. If you are heading on from there down to Hobart, you MUST visit the Wall in the Wilderness near the southern end of Cradle Mt/Lake St Clair national park.

Enjoy your travels, but beware of lots of competition for accommodation while the kids are on holidays (till end of January). If you have any choice, I always recommend February/March for interstate visitors.