The cruise from Corinna to the Pieman Heads in the Arcadia is memorable! The whole trip takes about 4 1/2 to 5 hours including one and a half hours walking from the jetty around Pieman Heads. The staff were friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the history, geology, flora and fauna. The boat slowed down to look at specific native trees or a waterfall or a geological feature. It was a most relaxing and exhilarating experience!
The Pieman River is one of the most wonderful (original) wilderness experiences that still exist in a relatively accessible area.. The river cruise on the Arcadia is a real joy to experience the slow cruise in an intimate atmosphere with the crew and your fellow travellers. You have the ability to get up 'close and personal' with the river and its many colours. A simply wonderful experience!
Corrina is a very long way from most places....a deliberate detour to enjoy the wonderful unspoiled natural beauty and while you are visiting Corrina you really might as well budget for the additional river cruise on the Arcadia 2 along the Pieman River ...after all what are the chances that you'll be visiting again?The tour takes about 4 hours along 20 km of river to the mouth where visitors disembark for a wander around the beautiful beaches and a bite of lunch before heading back the same way . If you're very lucky it will be very calm on the river and it'll be like a mirror reflecting the forests down to the waters edge...maybe you'll be incredibly lucky as we were and glide underneath a pair of resting sea eagles perched on a bare branch high over the water . Even without those things the trip would be worthwhile ...the boat captain gives a well informed commentary - allowing plenty of time for the wilderness to speak for itself and there's plenty to see. Take a jacket ( if not a coat, hat and mittens ) ...most of the little boat is open and the West Coast is a cool and damp place , even at the boats leisurely cruising speed the wind chill is - well, chilling! If you've visited Strahan and the rather posh river cruises there - this is NOT like those and if thats what you're expecting you'd likely be disappointed. The Arcadia cruise is 'quaint' ...a little old restored vessel , a very simple lunch of wraps, homemade cake and instant coffee- definitely no gourmet fare here but then this trip isn't about the food - the interest is all quite rightly outside the boat. I'd highly recommend it - don't forget your camera!!
There are very few real wilderness experiences available so this one is not to be missed. From the time we crossed the river on the "Fatman" barge and had excellent coffee on the restaurant verandah, we knew we were in for a treat. As the Arcadia II made her way to the treacherous heads of the Pieman River we were treated to a first hand experience of what grows in the temperate rainforest as well as many engaging tales of how the loggers of the past lived in this remote place harvesting the Huon Pine. The lunch provided is no gourmet delight, but more than adequate and in keeping with the experience. Morning tea is provided and many enjoyed a glass of wine or beer on the way back to Corinna.
We stayed at the Tarkine Hotel in Corinna (the only option) in a wonderful cabin. No TV, no phone, limited electricity (they use solar panels, supplemented by a generator). They have a really good (Scottish) chef at the moment, so the restaurant is first class. The cruise down the Pieman was a wonderful experience, and very well organised. The old Arcadia 2 (a 1939 huon pine 53 footer) is a wonderful boat. The walks around Corinna are plentiful, and fascinating. The road in is now mostly asphalt, and the short gravel sections are very good to drive on. We approached from Strahan, and left via Waratah - no problems at all. Unfortunately the Western Explorer road from Corinna to Arthur River is closed at the moment due to a landslip, and will be for some time. Best check if you intend to go this way. It is all a bit expensive. Still a place this isolated, run to this high standard, is never going to be cheap.
The cruise was amazing with a very knowledgable commentary from the skipper which really enhances the experience enabling us to identify and learn more about the wonderful native trees. There were many photo opportunities and we were able to leave the Arcadia and explore Pieman Heads. We stayed in an Eco Cabin and did several of the bushwalks. We want to return and visit the shipwreck.
The Arcadia II is a beautiful boat and the Pieman River Cruise was enjoyable. But read on to see why I think you should do the Sweetwater Cruise instead, or do both if you have the time.Early on, a lot of the Pieman River had a glassy surface with beautiful reflections of the trees bordering the river. The commentary by the captain was informative about the history of the area and the trees we were seeing, without being intrusive. There were stretches where no commentary was given and it allowed us to enjoy the view. We had 1.5 hours at the Pieman Heads to enjoy the boxed lunch provided. It was a simple but tasty lunch of a wrap, a muffin, an apple and a fruit box drink. We didn't realise it was easier to walk along the beach itself, so we walked through the sand dunes to reach the Heads and a place to sit. The cruise lasted 4.5 hours and cost $90.We also did a Sweetwater Cruise. The Arcadia II is beautiful, but the same can't be said for the vessel used for the Sweetwater. However, we loved the Sweetwater cruise more than the Pieman. It was great to be up close with the wreck of the SS Croydon. We travelled a stretch of the Pieman that duplicated our Arcadia II cruise before turning up the spectacular Donaldson River. We were told that a huge tree had blocked passage up a long portion of the river for several years, but that tree had disintegrated during winter so we were able to travel up to the first set of rapids. The Donaldson is smaller than the Pieman and the cruise feels more intimate as a result. Our cruise was for 2 hours and was well worth $50. While the boat can carry a maximum of 8 people, our group of three were the only passengers. If you can only do one cruise, do the Sweetwater! Or do both if you have the time but do the Pieman cruise first.
Just magical. The cruise on the Pieman River is far better than the Gordon River. Greater variety of vegetation. More peaceful - no phones or TV which means your holiday is totally undisturbed by those modern nuisances so sit back and just enjoy. More walks into the surrounding areas as well. On a rough day the Pieman River head would be wild. It was calm on our day, only 4 to 5 metre swells but they get really big at times. Next time we'd go back on a rough day to see it at its wildest. We should have spent 3 or 4 days there. Next time.
We were fortunate to pick a great day which accentuated the wilderness and wonderful reflections along the winding river out to the Pieman Heads. The friendly Arcadia II skipper and his 1st Mate were very knowledgeable on the area history, the wildlife and the environment. They went out of their way to ensure the safety and comfort of the travellers and to ensure a great experience was had by all.
If you love the theatre of the Gordon River Cruise you may find this a bit tame, but for my money we prefer the low-key, small group experience of travelling on this lovely Huon pine vessel, Arcadia II, in the Tarkine. Norm & Lorraine are a very down-to-earth & likeable couple who made us feel very welcome and happily shared their knowledge & love of the river and its interesting history, and the often cold & sometimes rainy day was relaxing and free of fuss & drama.I was fascinated and somewhat horrified at the amount of timber lying abandoned at the head of the river, exposed more than other times by the strong winds blowing off-shore - it made for a somewhat eerie scene on the beach.Just two of us transferred to the smaller Sweetwater after a coffee break in the Tarkine Hotel, and Norm took us up to Lovers Falls for a walk and then upriver and into the Savage River, over the wreck of the SS Croydon and close to a sea eagle perched high over the bank. Some late-afternoon drifting on the Donaldson River in search of the elusive platypus was unsuccessful but very beautiful & peaceful. A lovely day in a very special part of the world.