Behind every journey into Tasmania’s remote Southwest are people who know how to read its landscapes, weather and wildlife – and few know this extraordinary wilderness quite like Peter Marmion. A guide, naturalist, photographer, conservationist and storyteller, Peter has been returning to Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour for 53 years. His relationship with the region began as a deckhand on a crayfishing boat and has since encompassed decades of conservation work, bird surveys, photography, writing and guiding.

Peter has been involved in Orange-bellied Parrot conservation since the 1980s, guided birding and wilderness trips across Tasmania, and documented the natural world through photography and his book Wild Worlds. Since joining On Board in 2015, he has completed around 80 expeditions into the Southwest. For Peter, guiding is where all those threads come together: sharing the region’s natural and human history, helping guests venture beyond their comfort zones and, just as importantly, making sure there is plenty of laughter along the way.

“Port Davey is my second home. I get a bit edgy if I haven’t been down there for a while.”

What does your role with On Board involve?

I’m a guide, photographer, naturalist, conservationist, occasional deckie and general supporting cast for the skipper, host and chef. My job is to give guests possibilities – from easy opt-ins to more challenging adventures – and the confidence to give things a go. Safety is the foundation. From there, I share what I know about the geology, wildlife and human history, tell stories and answer questions. But I listen too. Our guests are incredibly well travelled and I want to hear their stories. My unofficial KPI is people laughing, learning and enjoying themselves.

What makes Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour so special to you?

I’ve been coming here for 53 years and I still feel like a student. There are places known by only a handful of people – including a pool where a small cataract creates what feels like a natural freshwater infinity pool. At high tide, you can sit in fresh water and reach out into salt water. Then there is the Aboriginal history, the wildlife and the sheer scale of the landscape. Port Davey has a way of getting under your skin. It’s my second home.

What does creating a memorable luxury experience look like to you?

Luxury here isn’t about making everything easy. It’s about giving people the support and confidence to experience something they might not have done on their own. I offer choices – some easy, some harder – and probably have a soft spot for the more challenging option. If someone climbs higher, walks further, learns something new or simply laughs a lot along the way, that’s a good day.

Is there an experience you especially love sharing with guests?

Climbing Mount Rugby. I might only do it two or three times a year now, but it’s still a favourite. It’s challenging, which makes the view and sense of achievement at the top all the more rewarding. I also love the unexpected wildlife encounters – dolphins beside the boat, albatross, sea eagles. Recently, Pieter and I came across a platypus at Horseshoe Inlet. In more than 50 years, I’ve only seen half a dozen down there. We moved gently alongside her for about half an hour, just metres away. This place can still surprise me.

What kind of traveller gets the most from an On Board expedition?

Someone curious and looking for a bit of adventure – and someone willing to let the Southwest be the Southwest. The weather is legendary, but that’s part of what makes the place what it is. The people who get the most from it are prepared to step outside their comfort zone, knowing they’re doing it in a very supportive environment. The landscapes weave a kind of magic on people. My advice is to go with it rather than fight it.

Is there a guest encounter that has stayed with you?

We once had a blind guest who made me think about guiding in a completely different way. I found myself painting word pictures of the landscape, describing the ground underfoot and using his walking pole to help direct him. He embraced the whole experience. It was challenging for me as a guide and incredibly memorable.

What do you bring to guiding from your life beyond On Board?

Conservation has been a big part of my life. I’ve been involved with Orange-bellied Parrot work since the 1980s, including searches and surveys, and I enjoy contributing observations to citizen science. I’m also a photographer and author, and have spent years talking to and interviewing people connected with the Southwest. All of those experiences find their way into the stories I share with guests.

Do you have a favourite time or place in the Southwest?

Really early, before sunrise. We often have photographers or artists keen to get up then, and sometimes it becomes a quiet one-on-one experience with a guest. For sunset, Bramble Cove is hard to beat, with the sun dropping behind the Breaksea Islands. I’ve watched it many times and it never really gets old. I’m also very fond of good storytelling around the dinner table later in the day.

Finally, a fun fact about Port Davey?

Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour are three times the size of Sydney Harbour. That fact is best delivered in a slightly surly tone.

To join On Board on one of their epic adventures into Southwest Tasmania, visit.