In the heart of Tasmania's South West lies one of the most spectacular waterways in Australia - Port Davey and the Bathurst Harbour. Surrounded by spiky granite mountains, open button grass plains and fringed by white sandy beaches, the Southwest National Park World Heritage Area is recognised as part of the international network of biosphere reserves. These reserves protect samples of the world's major ecosystems and are important both for their conservation value and for scientific research

Within the park, the Bathurst Harbour - Port Davey region is an excellent example of a drowned river valley. Beneath the waters of Bathurst Channel lives a range of fascinating marine species, dominated by such animals as corals, bryozoans, tubeworms and sponges. Many of these species including sea fans and sea whips, are normally found in much deeper water. They occur in this channel as a result of low-light conditions caused by the tannin-stained waters. The area around Bathurst Harbour - Port Davey is the sole breeding grounds of the highly endangered orange-bellied parrot