Strahan Village is a stay in Strahan, a small town and former port on the west coast of Tasmania. This page covers the town around it: the harbour, the cruises, the history and the weather, so you can judge whether the location suits your trip.
Check current prices and times with the operator before you book.
Where Strahan Village sits in Strahan
Strahan Harbour and Risby Cove form part of the north-east end of Long Bay, on the northern end of Macquarie Harbour. At the 2021 census the town had a population of 634, so it is compact and easy to get around. The Esplanade runs along the waterfront.
The town is now a significant tourism locality for the region. It is considered a gateway to the south-west wilderness, because boats, planes and helicopters use Strahan as their base when heading into that country. Strahan is also the nearest inhabited locality to Cape Sorell. The Wikipedia entry for Strahan, Tasmania gives further background on the town.
For the wider picture, see our Strahan destination guide and the listings under Strahan accommodation.
A short history of the port
Strahan began as a port of access for the mining settlements nearby, and was known as Long Bay or Regatta Point. In 1881 it was renamed after the colony's new Governor, Sir George Cumine Strahan, and the town was officially proclaimed in 1892.
Timber mattered here too. The town was vital to the industry around Macquarie Harbour, and the Huon pine industry used stands around the harbour and up the King, Franklin and Gordon rivers. For much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it was also a regular port for passengers and cargo. The Strahan Marine Board dealt with port and harbour matters until the end of the twentieth century, when it was absorbed into the Hobart Marine Board.
A small fishing fleet still works from Strahan, braving west coast conditions and Hell's Gates.
Things to do near Strahan Village
Gordon River cruises
Strahan is the base for boat trips to Sarah Island, the penal settlement with a reputation as the harshest in the Australian colonies, and to the lower Gordon River. Three cruises are listed on this site, and each runs for about six hours.
- Morning World Heritage Cruise on the Gordon River from Strahan, from $160. It runs aboard the Harbour Master catamaran, past Hells Gates and aquaculture operations, to Sarah Island, then two hours on the Gordon River with a rainforest boardwalk walk. Lunch is included.
- Afternoon Gordon River Dinner Cruise, from $160. The same vessel and route in the evening, with a local guide on Sarah Island and dinner of Tasmanian fare.
- Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan, from $155. It uses the Spirit of the Wild, with electric motors for a quiet glide up the river, and a chef prepares lunch aboard.
If you only have time for one, we would lean towards a morning departure, since the Spirit of the Wild tour notes that being first on the water gives the best chance of glassy reflections.
Theatre, rails and wilderness
The Round Earth Theatre Company is based in Strahan and runs explanatory tours of Sarah Island. Its daily play, The Ship That Never Was, has passed 5000 performances and is Australia's longest running play.
Regatta Point is the terminus of the currently operating West Coast Wilderness Railway, and was once connected to the former Mount Lyell line. The town is also an access point to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area since 1982. More ideas are on our Strahan attractions page, and the state's official site, Discover Tasmania, is useful for wider planning.
Getting to Strahan
Strahan Airport is the only all weather commercial airport in Western Tasmania. By road, the distances from the Strahan area are below.
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Cradle Mountain | 148 km | about 132 minutes |
| Launceston | 272 km | about 214 minutes |
| Hobart | 290 km | about 235 minutes |
| Huon Valley | 310 km | about 273 minutes |
| Bruny Island | 366 km | about 335 minutes |
| Tasman Peninsula | 377 km | about 305 minutes |
| Port Arthur | 382 km | about 310 minutes |
| East Coast Tasmania | 414 km | about 329 minutes |
Cradle Mountain is the closest at under two and a half hours, which makes the two an easy pairing.
Strahan weather by month
Strahan has an oceanic climate with cool to mild, damp summers and cool to cold, very rainy winters. Low pressure systems off the Southern Ocean often bring heavy rain and gusty winds. Temperatures vary little between seasons, and hot weather is rare. Snow at sea level is uncommon, though it falls often on the low hills a few kilometres inland.
| Month | Max (C) | Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.9 | 8.3 | 95.4 | 13.3 | 25.2 |
| February | 18.5 | 8.6 | 83.3 | 12.2 | 23.5 |
| March | 16.7 | 7.7 | 116.7 | 15.4 | 24.3 |
| April | 13.5 | 6.0 | 130.7 | 17.2 | 22.9 |
| May | 10.8 | 5.0 | 172.4 | 20.5 | 20.5 |
| June | 8.9 | 3.7 | 168.7 | 20.3 | 20.9 |
| July | 8.3 | 3.2 | 198.4 | 23.2 | 22.2 |
| August | 8.7 | 3.1 | 218.7 | 23.5 | 22.4 |
| September | 10.2 | 3.6 | 181.4 | 21.6 | 22.0 |
| October | 12.4 | 4.5 | 156.0 | 19.6 | 24.1 |
| November | 14.6 | 5.8 | 120.5 | 17.1 | 23.5 |
| December | 16.0 | 7.1 | 119.4 | 16.3 | 24.2 |
February is the warmest and driest month on these figures, at 18.5 degrees and 83 mm. August is the wettest, at about 219 mm over 23 rain days. The record high is 38.6 degrees (14 February 1982) and the record low is -3.0 degrees (30 June 1983).
Other places to stay in Strahan
If you want a different style of stay, BIG4 Strahan Holiday Retreat is a caravan park in Strahan with powered sites and cabins.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Strahan Village?
It is in Strahan, on Tasmania's west coast, at the northern end of Macquarie Harbour.
How far is Strahan from Hobart?
It is 290 km by road, about 235 minutes. From Launceston it is 272 km, about 214 minutes.
What is the weather like in Strahan?
Expect a damp, mild climate. Winters are cold and very rainy, with July and August the wettest months, and summer highs sit around 18 degrees. Pack for rain at any time of year.
