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Queenstown to Strahan, West Coast, Tasmania
Photo: Jimmyjrg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Drives Tasmania, Australia Launceston, the North and the West Coast

Queenstown to Strahan

Strahan Road, Zeehan Highway, B24 · Queenstown → Strahan

Twisty25 mi45 min2,100 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,300 ftOne way
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The drive

This is the 40.1 km (24.9 mi) road from Queenstown, the old copper-mining town, to Strahan on Macquarie Harbour. It takes about 45 minutes. From Queenstown the road climbs to Howards Plains, where it meets the Zeehan Highway, then follows a ridge between the Tully and Henty River catchments and drops toward the King River gorge, running near the old railway line in places.

It opened in the late 1930s and replaced the Mount Lyell railway, the towns' main link from the 1890s to the 1960s. That railway survives as the West Coast Wilderness Railway, which ends at Regatta Point in Strahan. The road has three twisty stretches, at the start, in the middle and near Strahan, and the State Growth safety upgrade added passing lanes, stopping bays and realignments.

Strahan is a former port of 634 people, a gateway to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and the base for cruises to Sarah Island and the lower Gordon River. The drive ends on the road into town, before the waterfront.

Along the way

  1. Queenstown (Penghana Road)
  2. Strahan (Reid Street)
Elevation
2,100 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,300 ft
QueenstownStrahan
Curves
Mostly moderate, with three twisty stretches
QueenstownStrahan
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The road is signed as the Lyell Highway (B24) for this stretch, and also appears as Strahan Road.
  • Wet weather on the West Coast can bring slips and brief closures, so check road conditions.
  • Wildlife is on Tasmanian roads at dusk and at night.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Tasmania Police: community alerts and road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long does the drive from Queenstown to Strahan take?

The road from Queenstown to Strahan is 24.9 miles (40.1 km) and takes about 45 minutes.

Is the Queenstown to Strahan road twisty?

It is moderately twisty, with three winding stretches through forested hills. A safety upgrade added passing lanes and stopping bays.

What road connects Queenstown and Strahan?

The Lyell Highway (B24) links Queenstown and Strahan. It replaced the Mount Lyell railway, which is now the West Coast Wilderness Railway.

What is Strahan known for?

Strahan is a former port on Macquarie Harbour and a gateway to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, with boat trips to Sarah Island and the lower Gordon River.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

All 15 drives in Tasmania, Australia ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Queenstown to Strahan, from Queenstown to Strahan