Macquarie Harbour

• Summary
• Weather for Macquarie Harbour

Macquarie Harbour is the only large natural harbor on the west coast of Tasmania. It is the jewel of Tasmania's West Coast and a protected UNESCO World Heritage Area. The harbour is protected by two lighthouses and shielded from the Southern Ocean by Cape Sorell and Wellington Heads.

In the far south west corner is the former penal colony, Sarah Island. Convicts sent to work here called the entrance to the harbor Hell's Gates. The sheer volume of water that the the King and Gordon Rivers pour into Macquarie Harbour create hazardous tidal currents and hence the name 'Hell's Gates'.

The small port of Strahan is also located on the shores of Macquarie Harbour. Another port was developed on the south east section called Pillinger. This was abandoned and most of the town has been reclaimed by forest. There are some substantial and fascinating relics that can be explored on bush walks in the area.

The best way to discover the Mcquarie Harbour is to take a cruise. Highlights of any journey include views of the crags of Frenchmans Cap, an evening walk on Sarah Island, exploration of the historic ghost-port of Pillinger or a walk to the Birchs Inlet sanctuary to view the orange-bellied parrot, one of the rarest birds on Earth.