The Tarkine/takayna is a huge area of temperate rainforest, sand dunes and coastal heathland with strong links to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.
Situated in Tasmania’s North West, the Tarkine/takayna Forest Reserve is roughly bounded by the West Coast, the Arthur River to the north, the Pieman River to the south and the Murchison Highway to the east. The area contains a wildly diverse landscape – including Australia’s largest patch of temperate rainforest – and a world of natural treasures including mountain ranges, wild river and cave systems, buttongrass moorlands, and a rugged coastline with long sandy beaches, grassy woodland and coastal heath.
The plant and animal life here is as rich and varied as the many habitats that support them. Local residents include the platypus, echidna, wombat, bandicoot, possum and glider – not to mention the famous Tasmanian Devil and the state’s other predators, the Spotted-tailed Quoll and Eastern Quoll.
The Tarkine/takayna also hosts over a hundred bird species, including several rare and endemic birds like the threatened Orange-bellied Parrot.
The Tarkine/takayna Reserve joins the 100,000 hectare Arthur Pieman Conservation Area, itself containing a wealth of natural wonders and Aboriginal sites of great archaeological significance. Evidence of the lives of past Aboriginal communities can be seen in the many shell middens, hut depression sites, artefacts and rock engravings – and today’s Tasmanian Aborigines still have powerful connections to this place.
Information taken from internet site - http://tasmaniasnorthwest.com.au
The Tarkine/takayna is under threat from logging and mining and the destruction of aboriginal culture and artefacts, The Bob Brown Foundation is running an extensive campaign to protect this stunning part of our state from such things. For now 3 years it has been running an annual artist immersion campaign where artists from every genre come together to draw, photograph, write poetry, sing, play and write music etc. Also as part of this campaign the Foundation is running exhibitions and film festivals all over the country to showcase this amazing place. The Foundation has also produced 2 books “Tarkine Trails” & “takayna - county, culture, spirit” All this is in the hope that the Federal Government will give this stunning area World Heritage Status.
In 2016 and 2017 I was privileged to spend four days each time immersed in the amazing place called Tarkine/takayna. I based myself on the coastline in the area between the head of the Pieman River to Interview River. I have also spent many wonderful days exploring the upper Tarkine/takayna Coastline between Bluff Point and Temma which is more accessible to the general public by vehicle and short day walks.
We are truly lucky to live in such a unique place. The Tarkine/takayna Coastline is one of the most amazing places I have spent time in. It is prehistoric and it is as if time has stood still. From the Indian ocean with its huge waves crashing over the amazing rock formations that line the coast to the stunning dunes which are slowly swallowing the forests behind them. All are truly beautiful.
When standing on top of Rupert Point and looking out into the oceans off the West Coast you feel tiny and it truly makes you feel part of the land. I am draw back to this part of our State over and over again to photograph and capture its raw beauty.
This section of the coast is so remote and hard to get to, over the time I have spent there generally we did not see another soul for the entire four days. Where do you go in the world these days where such a thing can happen - Tasmania…..
http://www.bobbrown.org.au/the_tarkine
