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Gordon River Cruise
The Gordon River Cruise departs daily at 8:30 a.m. from Strahan on the West Coast of Tasmania. During the cruise, you will cross Macquarie Harbour to Hell's Gates, silently cruise along the Gordon River and disembark at Heritage Landing and Sarah Island.
The cruise is approximately 6 hours, and lunch and commentary are included. There are toilets on board and a bar where you can purchase drinks and snacks.
Hell's Gates & Salmon Fish Farms
After departing the wharf, you cruise across Macquarie Harbour and out to the notorious Hells Gates, where the harbour and the Southern Ocean meet.
Hell's Gates is the entrance to Macquarie Harbour, one of Australia's most dangerous harbours. The channel entrance is exceptionally shallow and narrow, only 120 metres wide.
Lighthouses on both headlands overlooking the entrance warn about the dangerous conditions. The cruise then heads back across Macquarie Harbour to the Atlantic salmon farms, where you’ll learn about salmon farming on the west coast of Tasmania.
Gordon River
Then, you quietly cruise along the Gordon River, taking in the breathtaking scenery and enjoying the tranquillity of this beautiful World Heritage-listed wilderness.
See the beautiful reflections of the temperate rainforest surrounding you in the mirror still waters of the Gordon River. Ancient Huon Pines, sassafrass, leatherwood, celery-top pine, and myrtle trees will also be seen.
Heritage Landing
You then stop at Heritage Landing, where you can disembark and walk along the elevated boardwalks through the temperate rainforest. See wonderful rainforest plants, sassafras, myrtle and an ancient Huon pine tree.
After you leave Heritage Landing, a lovely buffet lunch is served on board the boat; enjoy it as you cruise back along the Gordon River.
Sarah Island
The last stop of the day is Sarah Island, Tasmania's oldest convict settlement and one of the severest penal establishments in the history of transportation to Australia. You can join a guided tour (included in the cruise ticket) or explore the 8-hectare island yourself; there are interpretation signs around the ruins.
This is a stunning island with a shocking and fascinating history. The buildings are mostly ruined now, but the natural beauty is breathtaking.
Includes World Heritage Cruise and Gordon River Cruises, which both offer a 6-hour cruise of the Gordon River.
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