Strahan is the major harbour town on Tasmania's west coast, and the place to go if you want to explore the wild and beautiful World Heritage Area.

It has a permanent population of about 900 and sits on the northern edge of the vast Macquarie Harbour.

From Strahan you can take a cruise across the harbour's 50 kilometre (31 mile) length and along the wide Gordon River. The West Coast Wilderness Railway takes you across a mountain range to Queenstown. Or board a seaplane to search out some of the remaining 1,000-year-old Huon pine and myrtle trees. Another way to explore the area is by four-wheel-drive or jet boat the King River.

You can kayak the rivers and waterways, walk the long expanse of Ocean Beach, slide down a sand dune, or explore the forests by all-terrain vehicle.

Huon pine is probably the prime reason the area was opened up, and in the local craft shops you can see elegant artefacts made from this resilient, aromatic, buttery-yellow timber.

In 1815, Captain James Kelly was the first European to navigate the 200-metre opening to Macquarie Harbour, which convicts later dubbed Hells Gates. Between 1822 and 1833, Sarah Island operated as a convict station with the dubious reputation of being the worst convict prison in Australia. Strahan was founded in 1877.

Be prepared with all-weather gear because Strahan is all about wild weather.

Strahan is about a 4.5-hour drive from Hobart along the Lyell Highway (A 10) and a three-hour drive from Devonport.