Time magazine has named Tasmania’s remote Port Davey among its “World’s Greatest Places” for 2026, highlighting the extraordinary beauty and isolation of the island’s wild south-west.
Located deep within Southwest National Park, Port Davey was described by Time as one of the most remote and well-protected destinations on the planet. The publication praised the region’s dramatic headlands, deserted beaches and pristine waterways, noting that Tasmania itself remains one of the world’s last great wilderness frontiers.
In its feature, the magazine pointed travellers towards a new two-night Port Davey Highlights cruise run by On Board, a family-operated expedition company that provides access to this remarkable corner of the state. With no roads, towns or hotels reaching the area, the journey offers visitors the rare opportunity to experience one of the purest environments on Earth.
For bushwalkers, Port Davey represents one of Tasmania’s most remote and untamed hiking destinations. Set within the vast Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the landscape has been sculpted over millennia by relentless winds, heavy rainfall and the forces of the Southern Ocean.
Those who venture into the region quickly discover a world defined by raw natural beauty. Expansive button grass plains stretch towards rugged quartzite mountain ranges, while dark, tannin-stained rivers wind slowly through ancient forests.
Walking here can be demanding, with muddy tracks, exposed ridgelines and unpredictable weather reminding visitors that nature still dictates the pace.
Yet the rewards are immense. Along the coast, powerful swells from the Southern Ocean crash against empty beaches, and on clear days the sweeping views across the harbour and surrounding mountains feel almost completely untouched by modern life.