The Tarkine rainforest is a major highlight of the broader Tarkine region. takayna/Tarkine is an area of vast ancient landscapes, with great views from the Waratah-Corinna, and Corinna-Arthur River roads. These drives rival those of the World Heritage Area near Lake St Clair or the Anthony Road out of Roseberry in terms of the views and experience of a truly timeless and unique landscape. Of course, if you’re willing to get a little dirty, and most likely, rained upon (they don’t call it rainforest for nothing!) then there are a lot of spectacular walks to immerse yourself in.

Philosopher’s Falls is one of the best rainforest/waterfall short walks in the Tarkine (or maybe in all of Tasmania). There are now two walking tracks, although the original one would now be very much unofficial, and unlikely promoted anymore.

The current track starts from a gravel car park, and as unlikely as it sounds to anyone who has done the original track, the falls are now accessible by a mostly flat 30-odd minute walk. The view above is the one from the riverside at the end of the original walk. For some reason the road was gated and locked when I visited but the walk to the start of the track is barely 15 mins, and it really is a rewarding walk.

Philosopher Falls is in the headwaters of the mighty Arthur River which flows north, and then west, where it meets the sea at the town of Arthur River. The Tarkine Drive including Wes Beckett Falls and the Sumac Lookout is in this area too. Dip Falls is further north, closeish to Smithton & Stanley.

Tarkine Driving Times

Burnie~Waratah: 50 minutes

Waratah~Corinna: 75-90 minutes

Waratah~Cradle Mountain: 45 minutes

Burnie~Arthur River: 2 hours

Arthur River~Corinna: 2.5 hours

For more info on visiting the Tarkine visit “Discover the Tarkine“.