The Tarkine, named after the Tarkiner Aborigines who once lived here, is roughly bounded by the coast to the west, the Arthur River to the north, the Pieman River to the south and the Murchison Highway (A10) to the east. Not only does it contain the largest rainforest in Australia, but it is also said to include the greatest concentration of Aboriginal sites in the country.

Prior to additional land being protected under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement, the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area already protected more than 100,000 hectares (247,105 acres) of the Tarkine.

The Arthur River, in the wild and remote far north-west of Tasmania, flows through tall eucalypt forests and rainforests to the sea. On the border of the Tarkine is the town of Arthur River, which is the starting point for beach and forest explorations, wildlife viewing, bird-watching and cruises aboard the MV Reflections or the MV George Robinson. There are facilities for camping, picnics and barbecues.

South of Arthur River is the Western Explorer, an unsealed road that takes you to the tiny settlement of Corinna, on the Pieman River, just over 100 kilometres (62 miles) south. Here the Fat Man punt will carry your car across the water so you can continue your journey. Beforehand, you can take a river cruise to a wild beach strewn with huge logs washed up by a furious Southern Ocean.

On any of the river cruises in the Tarkine, you are likely to spot yellow-tailed black cockatoos, white-bellied sea eagles and superb blue wrens.

To get to Arthur River, take the A2 west from Smithton for 50 kilometres (31 miles) to the dramatic and wild surfing beaches of Marrawah, then continue south along the gravel C214.

Corinna is 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Zeehan on the gravel C249.