Destinations > Tough Interview

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Tassie's west coast calls out to serious Overlanders,
with the Interview River capping off an
action packed expedition.

Most visitors to Temma see it as the end of the road; the last outpost of humanity before the Southern Ocean drowns your senses in a boiling cauldron of white caps and biting winds. Most visitors absorb the wild, unspoiled outlook and imagine how close they have come to the very foundations of the rugged West Coast. It is awe inspiring country, and to this point relatively accessible, but then most visitors don't get as far as the Interview River.

Those adventurous few souls who continue southward to the Interview will grapple with sand dunes, slippery mats of washed up kelp and tannin stained tidal rivers. Even quicksand patches can trap the unwary, as the coastal jaunt evolves into a serious expedition.

The Interview places high demands on its visitors, but rewards the effort with a priceless experience. The drive is one of this county's finest off road treks, with superb rocky headlands punctuating long stretches of pure white sand. Waterways originating in the mountainous hinterland wash across pristine beaches, as brackish lagoons are breached at high tide.

The Interview River itself spills no more water than other rivers on the journey, but its northern banks mark the end of vehicle travel. A special permit is required to get to this point, while from a practical point of view, considerable beach driving experience should be considered mandatory for those who wish to undertake the journey. Capable 4WDs are also essential, and it would be unwise to travel with less than three vehicles in convoy, as recovery operations are all but certain.

The Interview River is bounded within the Arthur - Pieman Conservation Area (a 101,936 hectare reserve roughly delineated by the Arthur and Pieman Rivers) in Tasmania's north west corner. Only a couple of small settlements mark the gateway to this piece of wilderness, with Marrawah located at the bitumen's end, and Arthur River some 14 kilometres to the south of that.

Marrawah offers your last chance to buy fuel and top up on supplies, or perhaps drop into the state's western most tavern for some local angling advice. It's also worth paying heed to the locals' advice on vehicle access on the beach.

Rock fishing together with intrepid surfing are popular activities at nearby Green and West Points. While Green Point offers some shelter, the more exposed West Point sees some huge waves and a perpetual fresh breeze. Only the most stoic of surfers will brave the pounding conditions here - a location close to the 41st parallel of latitude and subject to the notorious roaring forties winds.

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