Having travelled the “inner half” of the West Coast Wilderness Railway while in Queenstown we had already pre-booked this half for Christmas Eve. This time the journey was a leisurely 4 hours in the afternoon from a 2.15pm start.
The first part of the journey takes you along the shoreline of Macquarie Harbour and into the mouth of the King River. From here the journey continues past the outer Strahan area and small old sidings like Lowana. Here are the two low loader wagons used to transport the Stephens Bros. trucks with beehives into the bush for Tasmania’s famous Leatherwood trees and the honey they produce. This was featured on an episode of TVs Outback Truckers. The trucks are unloaded at Lower Landing where the ramp sits at the rear of the station building.
The journey from here takes you along and then across the King River, via Teepookana where little is left except a clearing, then over the King River to a stop at Lower Landing. As on the other half refreshments and coffee are sold by the staff here and you can stroll around for about 20 minutes.
From Lower Landing the journey continues back across the King River and into the central point at Dubbil Barril where, once again, the loco is uncoupled, turned around by the crew and re coupled at the other end of the train.
On the return journey we were forunate to be in the rear car with a window to photograph the track behind as we travelled along. Passing back over the King River, another brief stop at Lower Landing and then back across the river via the girder Bridge and along the shoreline to Strahan.
