Strahan Part 1

We arrived at Strahan in the middle of the afternoon and noted the large number of RV's in town. We had been warned of this probability so did not expect to locate a camp site in town. Fortunately the travellers' grapevine had alerted us to other possibilities, Macquarie Heads being one of them and the one we chose. Only half the 20 odd km distance is sealed, the remainder is gravel and very dusty. The road is also used by timber trucks, therefore it is not in the best condition. The camp park is very good when you get there, it is all grassy and camp spaces are nestled into tree enclosed spaces. The toilet is the 'long drop' variety but clean and not too odorous. Not to bad for $6 per night. It is about 1 km out to the heads known as 'Devils Gates'. The convicts shipped to this port in the early days named it that because it is the entrance to the convict settlement and is 'hell on earth'. As it happened we camped next to a couple from near Bacchus Marsh, in more detail we learned that they own the 200 acres in the middle of the Brisbane Ranges. The following morning we left early for the drive back into town and hopefully get a site in a van park. At the first attempt we were greeted by a 'no vacancy' sign and at the only other park we got one of the last three sites. These were all taken by about 11 AM. After that there was a continual procession of vans pulling up out front to be told "sorry no vacancies". We had time to walk into town and make some bookings for the Gordon River Cruise and the West Coast Wilderness Rail trip to Queenstown. We will write of these two events in separate blogs to follow.

This is a typical camp site at Macquarie Heads. It is so tranquil here, we could have stayed longer, if we had the time.

This is the view the camp caretaker has from his cottage, looking back towards Strahan Harbour.

One of the cruise boats heading back into the harbour past one of the 'Devils Gates' lighthouses.

As you can see, driving is permitted on the beach here. Beach fishing is very popular right around here.

Flights in seaplanes over the Gordon River is one of the tourist attractions at Strahan.

Strahan is a typical seaside village that is very tourist orientated but in a very laid back manner. 

Roadside dining directly opposite the harbour is well patronised.

These three cottages are all part of a seaside accommodation complex, each of the cottages is of a different design and construction.

This is the hub of Strahan and the harbour from the balcony of a hill top restaurant.

From the same vantage point looking towards the entrance to Strahan Harbour and red roofed building is the railway station of the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

An easy 20 minute walk from the centre of Strahan is the Hogarth Falls.

I always have to get a shot of some different type of fungus. These golden toadstools were beautiful.

The old Post, Telegraph and Customs Offices, still used as a Post Office today.

Beside the port area, there is an huon pine sawmill still working. The only huon pine harvested these days is timber that has already been cut long ago, as you can tell by the bleached appearance of the log. The value of this log is more than I would care to pay.

This huon pine log is claimed to be over 500 years old and would cost a pretty penny!

The 'set' for a play called "The Ship that Never Was" This incredibly hilarious production has been running every day for the past several years and is Australia's longest running play. Most of the audience was conscripted into the action as well. I was given the task of pumping the bilge as the ship began to sink, not successfully I might add.