Strahan Village is a harbourside property on The Esplanade, Strahan, on the Tasmanian West Coast. It is managed by the RACT, and it works as a base for a region that most Australians still find remote.

This page covers the village itself, the dining and activities around it, and the practical side: how the roads run, how the weather behaves and why getting here has always been a bigger deal than the map suggests.

About Strahan Village

Strahan is a fishing village on the edge of Tasmania's World Heritage wilderness. It is also the home base of the West Coast Wilderness Railway and of Gordon River Cruises, and the town has been rated the best little town in the world by the Chicago Tribune.

The property offers a mix of accommodation and dining. Listed services include ensuite facilities, some fully equipped kitchens, daily room servicing, a Visitor Information Centre, live theatre and a gift shop. Every room has an iron, ironing board and hairdryer.

It also takes conferences, for up to 80 delegates. That is a modest number, and it suits a small town well.

Where to stay within the village

Three styles of room are described for the property.

  • Village Waterfront Cottages: individual spa cottages, executive spa suites and terrace accommodation, set right on the esplanade and rated 4 to 4 1/2 stars.
  • Hilltop Executive Harbour View rooms: hillside panoramas over Macquarie Harbour, with split accommodation and lounge areas in the upper-level rooms.
  • Village Waterfront Executive rooms: also on the waterfront.

For other options across the region, see our page on Tasmanian West Coast accommodation. There is also a separate entry for Strahan Village managed by RACT.

Eating and drinking nearby

Hamers Hotel

Hamers is an old hotel, rebuilt in 1936. It has a full bar with a range of tap beers, including Guinness, plus packaged drinks and a small bottle shop with many Tasmanian wines. The bistro serves steaks, seafood, chicken and pasta, along with daily seasonal specials.

View 42 Restaurant

View 42 is open seven days for breakfast and dinner. There is a lounge where you can have a drink and watch the sunset before dinner, which we reckon is the right way to start an evening here.

Fish Cafe on the Wharf

This is a licensed, casual spot for seafood, including fish and chips. It also sells Tasmanian ice cream and cakes.

Things to do around Strahan

Two experiences are called musts: a Gordon River Cruise on the Lady Jane Franklin II, and a trip on the West Coast Wilderness Railway. Beyond those, you can see the wilderness by plane, helicopter, seaplane or on foot.

Other options include a jet boat ride up the King River to the ghost town of Teepookana, fishing trips, white water rafting, sea kayaks, Ocean Beach 4WD tours and all-terrain vehicle tours. The staff at Strahan Visitors Centre can help you plan. For more ideas, browse West Coast activities, the local tours and the wider list of West Coast attractions.

Getting to Strahan by road

The Lyell Highway changes from the A10 to the B24 at Queenstown, then runs south and west to Strahan. The B27, called Henty Road, runs to Strahan from Zeehan through the south-west corner of the West Coast locality. The A10 itself runs from Queenstown north-west to Zeehan, where it becomes the Murchison Highway and continues through Rosebery.

Strahan also has the region's current airstrip. The airstrip at Queenstown is no longer a registered landing ground.

Weather and isolation on the West Coast

The West Coast is much cooler and wetter than the east. Frequent low pressure systems bring heavy rain, snow and ice, and some areas receive over 2,000 millimetres of rain a year. Winter temperatures at sea level hover around 10 °C, and morning frost is common when it is not raining. Summer is mild, with maximums averaging between 17 °C and 21 °C, though some days stay below 10 °C.

Pack for rain whatever the month. All transport to the region can be interrupted by severe weather, and winter ice and snow can block roads for days at a time.

The isolation is historical. Initially the only way in and out was by sea, and there were no serviceable roads to the east until the 1930s or to the north until the 1960s. The mouth of Macquarie Harbour at Hells Gates is still treacherous. Memorial plaques to recent lost sailors line the wall at the northern edge of the Strahan wharf.

For wider planning, the Tasmanian West Coast hub has more, and Discover Tasmania is the official state tourism site. Background on the region is also on Wikipedia: West Coast, Tasmania.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Strahan Village?

It is on The Esplanade, Strahan, on the Tasmanian West Coast, beside Macquarie Harbour.

Can you eat near the village?

Yes. Hamers Hotel, View 42 Restaurant and the Fish Cafe on the Wharf are all listed with the property.

How wet does the West Coast get?

Some areas receive over 2,000 millimetres of rain a year, and winter sea-level temperatures hover around 10 °C.