Corinna Wilderness Village and Accommodation Tasmania

Roughly 3 hours 30 minutes from Launceston (approx. 267km), 5 hours 20 minutes from Hobart (approx. 340 to 400km) and 2 hours 25 minutes from Devonport (approx. 170 to 192km). All three routes include the final unsealed stretch described above, so build in a buffer rather than cutting it fine for the barge's last crossing.

The Fatman Barge is the only cable-driven vehicular barge left in Tasmania, and it's the way most guests cross the Pieman River into Corinna. The crossing itself takes just 3 to 5 minutes over a river that's 130 metres wide and 20 metres deep at that point. It runs seven days a week, year-round, no booking required: you simply drive up and cross. Hours are 9am to 7pm during daylight saving and 9am to 5pm outside it.

Fares are $15 for a motorcycle, pedestrian or bicycle, $30 for a standard car, ute or 4WD, and $35 for an extended vehicle, caravan or trailer.

No, and it's entirely deliberate. There's no mobile phone reception and no Wi-Fi anywhere in the village. Rather than a gap in the experience, it's central to what a stay at Corinna is: a genuine chance to switch off, with reception, the Tarkine Hotel and on-site staff still very much part of daily life if you need anything.

Eighteen self-contained cottages, from the compact Roadman's Cottage and the Queen and Twin Eco Retreats through to the two-storey Mezzanine Eco Retreat, the Family Eco Retreat, and The Old Pub, a five-bedroom historic cottage sleeping up to eight. Every cottage has its own kitchenette, linen and toiletries, a private ensuite, gas heating and a private verandah.

The Arcadia II, the only Huon pine river cruiser still operating anywhere in the world, cruises the Pieman River, and the smaller Sweetwater Cruise reaches further up the Savage River. Kayaks and canoes are available for self-guided paddles, including the route to Lovers Falls. A handful of walks lead straight from the village, from the easy, pram-friendly Huon Pine Boardwalk through to the longer Whyte River Track and Mount Donaldson for more experienced walkers. Fishing, birdwatching and photography round out a stay, and none of it needs to be rushed.

Peak season runs from mid-September to mid-May, when the Tannin Restaurant, the cruises and kayaking are all running at full tilt. Winter, from mid-May to mid-September, is quieter and colder, with log fires in the cottages and a Stay 3, Pay 2 deal most years. Autumn brings the Tarkine's fungi season, usually through May and June. Rain is a fact of rainforest life at Corinna in any season, and honestly, it's part of what makes the place what it is rather than something to plan around avoiding.

Yes. The self-contained Family and Mezzanine Eco Retreats were built with families in mind, several of the walks and paddles are gentle enough for younger legs, and the lack of Wi-Fi tends to make for calmer days rather than harder ones once the initial adjustment wears off. Our family guide to Corinna goes into more detail on which cabins, walks and paddles suit which ages.