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Murchison Highway: Zeehan to Ridgley, Tarkine, Tasmania
Photo: Bluedawe · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

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

Murchison Highway: Zeehan to Ridgley

Murchison Highway, A10, B18 · Zeehan → Ridgley

Sweeping74 mi1 hr 50 min6,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,300 ftOne way
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The drive

The Murchison Highway (A10) runs north-east from Zeehan across the West Coast Range to Ridgley, through the edge of the Tarkine and past very few towns. It is 119.9 km (74.5 mi) and takes about 1 hr 50 min, mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch early on.

Zeehan was Tasmania's "Silver City": silver and lead were found in 1882, and by the early 1900s it was the state's third-largest town. Today 702 people live there. Further along, Tullah (population 202) sits on the shore of Lake Rosebery. It began in 1900 as a silver-lead mining settlement called Mount Farrell, and grew in the 1970s to house workers building the Pieman hydro scheme.

The highway opened on 13 December 1963. Before it, the west coast was reached only by the Emu Bay Railway or by ship. The drive ends at the Ridgley junction, where the Ridgley Highway leads on to Burnie.

Along the way

  1. Zeehan (Murchison Highway)
  2. Tullah
  3. Ridgley (Murchison Highway)
Elevation
6,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,300 ft
ZeehanRidgley
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
ZeehanRidgley
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Fuel and services are few, so start with a full tank in Zeehan.
  • The highway is susceptible to ice and snow in winter, and the section between Zeehan and Rosebery is hazardous in cold, wet weather.
  • Roadworks can cause single-lane running, so check for current works.
  • 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 Murchison Highway from Zeehan to Ridgley take?

The Murchison Highway from Zeehan to Ridgley is 74.5 miles (119.9 km) and takes about 1 hr 50 min.

Is there fuel on the Murchison Highway?

Towns are few on the Murchison Highway between Zeehan and Ridgley, so fuel up in Zeehan before you start.

Does the Murchison Highway close in winter?

The Murchison Highway has no seasonal closure, but it is susceptible to ice and snow in winter. Check Tasmania Police road conditions before you go.

Where does the Murchison Highway go?

The Murchison Highway (A10) connects Zeehan on the west coast with Tasmania's north coast. This drive covers it from Zeehan through Tullah to Ridgley, where the Ridgley Highway leads to Burnie.

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 Murchison Highway: Zeehan to Ridgley, from Zeehan to Ridgley