Strahan: Gordon River Cruise with Lunch & Sarah Island Walk

The quietest part of this cruise is also its best: once the boat reaches the Gordon River, the electric motor lets you hear the water, birds, and forest instead of a diesel engine. Full-length windows keep the views coming in wet weather, while the open decks give you the classic Gordon River reflections when the river lies still.

I like the mix of wilderness and human history, with a rainforest boardwalk at Heritage Landing followed by the convict ruins of Sarah Island. I also like that lunch is part of the day rather than an extra purchase. The main thing to consider is Tasmania’s west coast weather: rain and cold can arrive quickly, and the two shore walks are much better with sturdy shoes and a proper rain jacket.

Key points to know before you book

• The electric-powered boat keeps the Gordon River wonderfully quiet, making the forest feel more present.
• Sarah Island is the most memorable history stop, with lively guides such as Josh, Maggie, Shannon, and Lyel bringing the former penal settlement to life.
• The buffet lunch is included, with a licensed galley selling extra drinks and snacks.
• Heritage Landing gives you a short rainforest walk, including myrtle, sassafras, ferns, and an ancient Huon pine.
• Main Deck tickets offer good value, while Premier Upper Deck adds leather recliners, a private viewing deck, lounge access, drinks, tea, coffee, and canapes.
• Allow six hours and dress for changing weather, even if Strahan looks sunny at departure.

Why the Gordon River is worth six hours

This is not just a boat ride from Strahan. It is a carefully paced trip through Macquarie Harbour, Hells Gates, the Gordon River, Heritage Landing, and Sarah Island. You get water views, forest, local industry, colonial history, lunch, and guided walks in one outing.

That variety explains the strong value at $109 per person. You are paying for a six-hour experience with a substantial buffet, onboard interpretation, two shore excursions, toilets, and access to open-air viewing areas. You are not paying for hotel pickup, and drinks from the main-deck bar cost extra, but the core day is covered.

I would choose this cruise if you have only one full day in Strahan. It reaches places that are difficult to visit independently and gives you context for what you are seeing. The day is busy enough to feel worthwhile, but not so packed that you lose the quiet mood of the river.

Checking in at Strahan’s main wharf

Check in at the Gordon River Cruises terminal at 8:00 AM for the 8:30 AM departure. Look for the grey Spirit of the Wild behind the terminal, then collect your boarding pass inside. You can also collect it the day before, which is handy if you are staying nearby.

Strahan Village is less than a two-minute walk from the terminal. If you drive, all-day Pay and Display parking is about 250 metres away. Bring coins, with around AUD $10 suggested for parking.

Your seat is allocated, but you are free to move around the boat and use the open decks. That matters because no single seat gives you every good view. You may want your assigned seat for lunch and commentary, then move outside when the boat reaches an especially scenic stretch.

The boat is wheelchair accessible on the Main Deck. Mobility scooters are not permitted because of their size. Infants travel free if they do not occupy a seat.

Hells Gates and the mouth of Macquarie Harbour

The cruise begins across Macquarie Harbour toward Hells Gates, the narrow entrance where the harbour meets the Southern Ocean. This is a useful opening to the day because it shows you the scale and exposure of the water before the cruise turns toward the sheltered Gordon River.

Conditions can change here. Calm weather gives you a smooth passage and clean views, while wind and rain make the crossing feel more dramatic. The captain and crew are experienced, and the boat has been praised for feeling smooth in both calmer and rougher conditions, but you should still bring a warm layer if you are prone to feeling cold.

On this section, the onboard guides explain the harbour and the west coast’s fishing and aquaculture industries. You may pass fish farms and hear how salmon and trout farming developed in Tasmania’s west. The cruise also offers a taste of the produce, adding a local food note before lunch.

The commentary uses live guiding, video clips, and character-based interpretation involving Captain James Kelly and Lady Jane Franklin. The format gives the ride more shape than a list of place names. Still, sound quality can vary depending on where you sit and how busy the boat is, so move closer to the guide if the commentary matters greatly to you.

The Gordon River under electric power

The change comes when the boat turns onto the Gordon River. The sound drops away, and the trip becomes less about covering distance and more about noticing small details: dark water, reflections, tangled forest, and the changing shape of the riverbank.

The quiet electric motor is one of the cruise’s strongest features. You can stand outside without shouting over the engine, and the stillness feels appropriate in a World Heritage-listed wilderness area. On a calm day, this is your best chance to see the famous Gordon River reflections. Cloudy weather can also work beautifully, softening the contrast between water and forest.

Full-length windows help in poor weather and give you a broad view from inside. I would still use the open-air decks whenever the conditions allow. You can look ahead from the front, watch the wake, or find a side view of the forest that disappears quickly as the boat moves on.

The west coast is famously changeable. A wet day is not a reason to cancel mentally, since the rainforest can look especially atmospheric under rain. It does mean you should pack a waterproof jacket, warm clothing, and shoes that can handle damp paths.

Heritage Landing and the temperate rainforest

Heritage Landing is the first shore walk. You follow raised boardwalks through temperate rainforest, keeping your feet above the wet ground while guides explain the plants and animals around you.

Look for sassafras, myrtle, ferns, and the ancient Huon pine described as the pride of the forest. The walk is not designed as a hard hike. It is a short, managed outing that lets you get among the trees rather than viewing them only through glass.

That distinction matters. From the boat, you see the forest as a wall of green and brown. On the boardwalk, you can notice bark, leaf shape, moss, and the height of the trees. Your guide adds the meaning behind what you see, so the walk feels more useful than simply taking photographs.

Wear sturdy footwear. The boardwalk makes access easier, but rain can still make the approach and surrounding surfaces slippery. If you have limited mobility, the Main Deck is wheelchair accessible, but the shore walk may require more care. The supplied information confirms wheelchair access on the Main Deck, not full accessibility for every part of the shore excursions.

Buffet lunch on the water

Lunch is served during the cruise, and it is one of the practical strengths of the day. You can eat without losing sightseeing time, then return to the windows or decks as the boat continues.

The buffet has been described as tasty, plentiful, and well organised. Food can be more limited near the end of service, so I would not wait too long if a particular dish matters to you. One meal had run short of chicken, and a beetroot and feta salad had little feta left late in service. That sounds like a small service issue rather than a pattern, but it is worth knowing.

The standard ticket includes the buffet lunch. Drinks and snacks from the licensed galley are extra, and the Main Deck bar accepts cash or card. Tea and coffee are available, while the Premier Upper Deck includes a wider drinks service.

The meal works best as a comfortable break rather than the reason to book the cruise. The scenery and shore stops carry the day. Still, having hot food and a proper place to sit is valuable in cool, wet Tasmanian weather.

Sarah Island’s convict stories and ruins

Sarah Island is the most powerful stop for many people, and I can see why. The former penal colony and shipyard gives the cruise a human story after the quiet of the forest.

Your guide leads you among the ruins and explains the convict settlement, the shipbuilding work, and the harsh conditions that made Sarah Island feared. The presentation is character-based and often lively rather than dry. Guides named Josh, Shannon, Maggie, Sarah, Margaret, Louise, and Lyel have all been singled out for animated, funny, or engaging delivery on different departures, but your guide will vary.

You should expect an outdoor walk on uneven historic ground. The route is not simply a photo stop. The guide uses the surviving structures and setting to explain what happened here, so sturdy shoes and weather protection matter again.

Sarah Island also gives you a useful counterpoint to the Gordon River. The wilderness is not untouched in the simple sense. People have used, damaged, protected, and fought over these waterways for generations. The stop connects convict history, shipbuilding, conservation, and modern tourism without turning the day into a lecture.

Choosing between Main Deck and Premier Upper Deck

The Main Deck is the sensible choice for most people. You receive an allocated seat, full access to the general boat areas, the buffet, onboard commentary, and the two shore walks. You can still go outside for views, so a standard ticket does not trap you indoors.

Main Deck seating is available in central or window positions. A window seat is useful in rain, while a central position may give you easier movement. Since you can move around the vessel, the difference is not absolute, but your allocated seat remains your base.

The Premier Upper Deck costs more, though the exact upgrade price is not provided here. It includes premium leather recliners, full-length windows, a private viewing deck, and a private lounge area. You also receive an open bar with Tasmanian red, white, and sparkling wines, beer, juice, tea, and espresso coffee, plus morning and afternoon tea and canapes.

I would consider Premier if you value comfort, want quieter surroundings, or see the drinks service as part of the occasion. For a family or budget-conscious couple, Main Deck offers the better value. The scenery and walks are shared, and you can still use the open decks.

What the six-hour schedule feels like

The cruise leaves Strahan at 8:30 AM and returns to the same meeting point after roughly six hours. You should expect a full morning and early afternoon rather than a quick scenic outing.

The schedule has a pleasant rhythm:

• Hells Gates and Macquarie Harbour open the day with water, industry, and coastal views.
• Commentary and character interpretation fill in the area’s history as you cross toward the Gordon River.
• The electric-powered river section slows the mood and brings you into the rainforest.
• Heritage Landing provides the first shore walk.
• The buffet gives you a warm, social pause onboard.
• Sarah Island ends the sightseeing with a guided history walk.
• The boat returns to Strahan after the final viewing time.

The two shore visits are relatively short compared with the hours onboard. That suits you if you want scenery without a demanding hike. If you prefer spending most of the day on land, this may feel boat-heavy.

Weather, comfort, and small practical details

Pack for four seasons in one day. A warm layer and rain jacket are essential, even in summer, and the advice becomes especially important in winter. Comfortable shoes are listed as a requirement, but I would choose sturdy footwear rather than simple sneakers.

The boat is generally considered comfortable, with recliner-style seating on the Premier Upper Deck and good viewing through the windows. Air-conditioning can feel intermittently cold, so carry that extra layer even when the forecast looks mild.

The onboard toilets are useful during a six-hour trip. The licensed galley sells drinks and snacks, but those purchases are not part of the $109 price. If you want wine, beer, or espresso throughout the day, the Premier option may make more financial sense, depending on its upgrade cost.

Cancellation is free up to three days in advance for a full refund. The cruise needs a minimum number of participants, and if that minimum is not reached, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Who should book this cruise?

I would book this if you want to see the Gordon River properly but prefer a comfortable, guided day to arranging several separate activities. It suits couples, families, older visitors, and anyone who values a clear schedule, good onboard facilities, and short walks rather than strenuous hiking.

It is also a strong choice for history lovers. Sarah Island gives the day more substance than a scenic cruise alone, and the guides often make the convict stories the emotional high point.

You may want to reconsider if you dislike group excursions, cannot spend several hours on a boat, or want long independent walks. The cruise is structured, and your time ashore is limited. Also, do not book it expecting guaranteed sunshine or perfect reflections. The weather is part of the west coast experience, but it can affect visibility and comfort.

Should you book the Gordon River cruise?

Yes, if you have one day in Strahan and want a well-rounded introduction to the region. At $109, the combination of transport, guides, lunch, two shore walks, and six hours on the water is good value.

Choose Main Deck for the best price. Choose Premier Upper Deck if you care about premium seating, a private viewing area, and included drinks. Pack warm, waterproof clothing, arrive before 8:00 AM, and save your best energy for Sarah Island. The Gordon River is the quiet star, but the rainforest and convict settlement are what make this more than a pleasant boat trip.

FAQ

How long does the Gordon River cruise last?

The experience lasts six hours, including the cruise, buffet lunch, Heritage Landing walk, and Sarah Island walk.

Where do I check in?

Check in at the Gordon River Cruises terminal on the main wharf in Strahan by 8:00 AM for the 8:30 AM departure. The grey Spirit of the Wild docks behind the terminal.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A chef-prepared buffet lunch is included. Drinks and snacks from the licensed galley are available to purchase separately on the Main Deck.

What are the two shore excursions?

You visit Heritage Landing for a rainforest walk on raised boardwalks, then explore the ruins and convict history of Sarah Island with a guide.

Is the cruise wheelchair accessible?

The experience is wheelchair accessible on the Main Deck. Mobility scooters are not permitted because of size limitations.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable, sturdy shoes, a rain jacket, and warm clothing. Tasmania’s west coast weather can change quickly, especially when you leave the boat for the rainforest and Sarah Island.