People Do Live in Tasmania's Rainforests

Yes, Tasmania's temperate rainforests are not uninhabited wilderness. While vast tracts are protected in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, several small towns and communities exist within or on the margins of these forests.

Key Settlements

• Queenstown (~2,000 people) – Largest town in the western rainforest zone; historic copper mining center; gateway to the West Coast Wilderness Railway and Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers NP.
• Strahan (~700) – Coastal port on Macquarie Harbour; tourism hub for Gordon River cruises and Sarah Island convict site.
• Rosebery, Zeehan, Tullah – Smaller mining towns in the mineral-rich western mountains.
• Maydena – Gateway to Southwest NP and Junee Cave; growing mountain-bike tourism.

Who Lives There?

• Miners & support workers (historically copper, zinc, lead; currently some operations continue).
• Forestry workers (in state forests outside reserves; controversial, declining).
• Tourism operators & guides (rafting, hiking, cruises, 4WD tours).
• Farmers (in cleared valleys, mainly beef/dairy).
• Artists, remote workers, lifestyle migrants drawn to the isolation and beauty.
• Indigenous Palawa people – Continuous connection to Country; involved in cultural burning, land management, tourism.

Life here means adapting to high rainfall (2,000–3,000 mm/year), isolation, and conservation regulations. It's a unique blend of rugged industry, deep ecology, and quiet community.