Sarah Anne Rocks and Couta Rocks a little further south provides 4WDrivers the chance of taking a side trip towards the coast when travelling north or south on the Temma Road. If you are travelling in a 4WD heading from Arthur River to Corinna, you may want to consider side trips such as this one and discover the life and hardships faced by some of Tasmania’s northwest coast fisheries.
Sarah Anne Rocks is set within the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area and is much loved by both residents of the Edge of the World and tourists alike. It’s coastal location and openness to the elements is all part of its charm. There are about half a dozen shacks here as well as a beautiful beach. There is a very scenic 2 kilometre coastal walk from Sarah Anne Rocks to Couta Rocks, and from Couta Rocks, a road continues a short distance along the coast toward Temma.
How to Use this Trek Note
- To download this information and the route file for offline use on a phone, tablet, headunit or laptop, go to the app store and purchase ExplorOz Traveller. This app enables offline navigation and mapping and will show where you are as you travel along the route. For more info see the ExplorOz Traveller webpage and the EOTopo webpage.
Environment
This stretch of coast is often dubbed the 'Roaring 40s', where prevailing gale-force winds blow persistently from the west, often pounding the coast and creating an almost lunar-type landscape of sand dunes and lichen-painted rocks. The area is also famed for its; rolling plains of buttongrass all the way down to the sea, little fishing
shacks, and cray boats either bobbing on the harbour or raised out of the water. This area is noted for the place where the sea can get rather rough to say the least. Before the weather turns foul, it is not uncommon to see local fishermen winching their boats out of the water on slips rather than risk them getting pounded on the moorings.
A network of formed spur roads provides access off the main road to
Sarah Anne Rocks and
Couta Rocks. These roads are generally all-weather gravel and suitable for conventional vehicles. The Parks and Wildlife Service have hardened many of the spur roads in the reserve, and where tracks have been hardened - erosion caused by braiding is minimal.
The coastline in this area is known to be among the most scenic and wild in Tasmania. Vegetation near the coast consists of heath and scrublands, whilst buttongrass dominates the poorly drained moorlands. Numerous
wildflowers and orchid species dot the coast and plains during specific times of the year. Regarding bird species along the coast, you may see the red-capped plover, fairy tern, pacific gull, ruddy turnstone, raptors, and pied and sooty oyster catchers.
History
In 1968 the small fishing villages of
Sarah Anne Rocks and
Couta Rocks only really grew into existence after a one lane
bridge was built across
Arthur River in 1968. Prior to that villagers and visitors alike were forced to punt.
TrekID: 169