Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan

Must-Do Experience in Strahan

This full-day historical tour was fantastic. Our whole family with grandchildren enjoyed it. The boat "The Spirit of the Wild" is a comfortable modern catamaran and it was a smooth sailing day for us. The historical information given along the way was interesting and we stopped at the convict prison of Sarah Island for a guided tour along the way. Our guide Sarah was great with her stories and expertise. We were able to travel out past Hell's Gates to feel the power of the ocean past the shelter of the bay. The boat also travelled up the serene Gordon River for several km to an area with a loop boardwalk. We saw many of the beautiful endemic Tasmanian trees and in the temperate rainforest. The rangers have done a good job here. A healthy and nutritious buffet salad lunch with chicken and smoked salmon was provided. The only downside of this was that the breadrolls and scones were not very fresh. The cost is expensive but very worth it.

A bucket list must that I didn’t know about!!

Wow and wow, this cruise was on a cloudy day and the scenery was spectacular. I didn’t know this cruise was on my bucket list until I did it. The crew were great, the facilities and food amazing. Getting to Strahan was a bit of a winding drive but worth it. Also the staff at the check-in and shop were informative about other shopping options in the area.

What an amazing day out.

We were in the Premium Upper deck and the welcome was wonderful. We felt this experience was well worth the extra money. This was a spacious area with recliners by full-length windows for maximum comfortable sight-seeing. The staff were excellent as they served morning and afternoon tea, little soup cups and canapes. The buffet lunch spread was amazing and certainly catered for me, a Pescatarian 😉. The cruise itinerary was just fabulous .. from Strahan headed out to Hells Gate and after the rushing water here, we moved into the quietness of the Gordon River. So still that the reflections were just amazing. There was a viewing deck for excellent viewing and photo opportunities; although a little breezy. There was a stop at Heritage Landing for a lovely walk through the rainforest to an ancient Huon pine. After an excellent buffet lunch, it was time to explore Sarah Island and a great guided tour with Kiah Davey. What a wonderful day and an absolute must either staying in Strahan or travelling from nearby.

Very enjoyable and great value for money!

It was a magical cruise. The reflections on the water were incredible. Our onboard guide, Hannah, was very knowledgeable and very helpful. Our stewardess on the premium deck, Emily, was very pleasant and very attentive. Her efforts made our excursion all the more enjoyable. We can thoroughly recommend the cruise overall and the premium package in particular. Maggie, our guide on Sarah Island, was excellent and told an enthralling story. An excellent day overall and great value for money. The boat is very comfortable and stable. The food was restaurant quality and the range and quality of wines was very good.

Good enough for the rich and famous and us

Super. It is worth paying the extra for the posh trip with leather armchairs all facing the panoramic windows, attentive waiter service, with breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, all featuring the best of Tasmania's produce, including wines. Running on electric whilst in the Gordon River was a bonus, as it was gliding on the water, no noise.

Spectacular for nature lovers, environmentalists and history lovers

Boat and crew were fantastic! Particularly liked Hannah’s commentary and Guy’s guided tour of Sarah Island. Spectacular scenery and we were so lucky with the weather which was crystal clear so the river was a mirror.

Fantastic

Fantastic cruise, informative, staff were lovely and know so much about the area. Delicious lunch. Book the window seats- they are worth the extra

Stunning

A most wonderful experience made all the better by great staff, great food and stunning scenery. A massive thank you to our guide Hannah who was amazing, especially as she let me go first for the buffet lunch!

Fantastic day

A wonderful experience, would highly recommend it. We were blessed with a stunning sunny day which enhanced the whole experience

Our Gordon River Experience.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this cruise as it was very informative and gave us a great insight of the area and its past. So much to take in on this cruise with a guided tour of Sarah Island and its history. We enjoyed the premier experience which I would highly recommend if you want to feel spoilt. The views are spectacular from the top deck along with the service - I give it a 10 out of 10 and am so glad we did this one as you see quite a bit in a short amount of time.

Great day of cruising

Had a wonderful day. The crew were just so lovely. The lunch was very tasty and well organised. The 2 stops were enjoyable. I would highly recommend

A great cruise with a good lunch

Gordon river is magical. The guides were wonderful and informative. Lunch was good, and even had a vegan option (you have to ask them on the day). You can see why it's a world heritage area. My only feedback is that we had one more walk/activity to do.

Best on the west

We went on Easter Sunday and I’ve been recommending it to everyone since! Such good value for money and the tours are amazing, it was a rare day that we could go out to the southern ocean so that was very cool. Maggie and Katrina were very enthusiastic and great guides, Katrina’s got a great personality for cabin crew staff, she’s so funny and witty and kept us entertained. The west coast is such a beautiful place, the whole cruise experience was a solid 10/10

Gordon River part of the...

Gordon River part of the cruise was exceptional and lunch very nice. The stories told on board during the cruise were also very interesting. Would highly recommend the premium upper deck with its excellent service.

Amazing Day on the Gordon River

This was one of the highlights of our trip to Tasmania. I was worried because of rain forecasted on the day of our cruise but it turns out that the weather made it a magical day on the river. The rain held off until late in our day just in time for the Sarah Island stop. They had umbrellas available on the island. It was the mist on the river for most of the day that made it so picturesque. We booked the premier deck which made it very nice. We felt pampered and relaxed. It was perfect. Staff was amazing. Highly recommend this trip on this boat and if possible, book the premier deck. We rarely splurge on things like this, but we were very glad that we did.

Don’t miss this!

Experience of a lifetime! Great crew, informative commentary, unbelievable views. Everything timed to perfection, delicious buffet lunch included.

Must do when visiting Strahan.

Awesome value for money, spectacular scenery and informative tour guides. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

Great day out and good buffet lunch

This was a great day out! We booked seats near the windows. We sat in comfort all day. Great views out the windows. The seats in the center are cheaper and you can move around the boat as much as you want. The buffet was great. I am a coeliac and I was well catered for. Plenty to choose from.

Interesting river cruise

We came to Strahan to do this river cruise. While it was cloudy, the scenery was very nice. There was a stop to see the Huon and Leatherwood trees, endemic to Tasmania.. We also went to Sarah Island, first penal convict settlement for a walk and a history lesson. Most interesting.

Gordon River Cruise - a must when visiting Tasmania

Brilliant well organised cruise on the Franklin-Gordon River for 6.1/2 hours. Very comfortable boat (large catamaran) and delicious lunch etc. (We took the slightly more expensive option and sat on the top deck - well worth it). The weather was calm enough to cruise out into the Southern Ocean for a short while - a bonus, because not always possible). Went ashore at Sarah Island for a very detailed tour of the prisoners in the convict days. A lot of history was passed on during the cruise and is a must do when travelling to Tasmania. The cruise left from Strahan that, on its own, is well worth a visit for its stunning scenery and fascinating stories of pioneers and their endeavours.

Nature so pure - age for all time.

The passage through hells gate. The silent cruise so far up the Gordon river. The weather on the days was flat calm. The captains explanations on the video was excellent.

Good cruise but not sure of overall value

Given we booked premium deck seating, not sure if the overall value would be there. Don't get me wrong, staff and actual cruise was great despite a wet rainy day. Stops were a good way to strecth your legs. Food could have been better but undertand the challenges involved in this type of cruise. Overall, an enjoyable day.

Not value for money

Booked trip and lashed out for the Premium Deck. Cannot say was value for money. The cruise itself was lovely and the stories about Strahan's history was fascinating and scenery stunning. We planned this for months - and were looking forward to the trip - travelling from Adelaide just for the cruise. I booked initially direct through the site and paid full price. Husband found cheaper option so we cancelled initial booking. Appreciate that upkeep of vehicle would be enormous - however cannot see that our money was well spent. Have to mention though staff were lovely.

Would go again

Unfortunately we set off in very overcast conditions we arrived early to be greeted by very friendly and informed staff the weather conditions a little cool but not bad we were seen to our seat's which is why it is good to prebook. The cruise takes you around the Strahan bay then out to the entrance of the ocean the hole tour has commentaries then we travel down the River to Sarah Island where you are met by guides ours was so entertaining you swear you are there when it was a convict Island very informative and a laugh thrown in then return back to the wharf after on our tour morning tea & lunch which we paid extra but worth it don't miss this

The best day out!

The whole cruise was one of the best experiences of my life. The scenery was world class, it was informative, the food was delicious, it was exciting and too beautiful for words to describe. Just do it you won’t be disappointed..

An unforgettable experience

The cruise was a definite highlight of our trip to Tasmania. We were aboard ‘Spirit of the Wild’ for our 6 hour return journey from Strahan. The Wilderness Word Heritage Area was truly amazing. Loved that the vessel could switch over to ‘whisper mode’ (electric) when we entered the Gordon River. It made for a quiet, surreal experience. The dedicated crew were amazing! This is a ‘must do’!! You won’t be disappointed.

World heritage environment

The scenery you observe is pristine. The journey is quite lengthy, about 130 km. There is commentary along the journey explaining fauna and flora in the area as well as points of historical significance. There is opportunity to get out on the deck aswell as 2 stops. One is a short 400m stroll down a board walk to see temperate rainforest the second is a tour of Sarah Island. All walks are extremely easy and flat. We did window seats on the main deck. There is a cheaper option sitting in the middle of the main deck and a more expensive upper deck experience. The lunch option was buffet style but I think for the price of the ticket could have included a glass of drink. Otherwise an enjoyable experience

JUST DO IT!

I have been around Oz a couple of times. This trip on Mac/Franklin rates in top 5. The $ nearly put me off(not rich nomad) but I am glad it didn't. Crew ( particularly Harriet but all) were genuine and friendly. Snack bar very reasonable price. Shore tours still leave me thinking of the terrible doings in a land of beauty that was the convict era. I really could have stayed on for the next tour.

OMG

Such a wonderful experience from the amazing staff to the spectacular scenery. Who needs the Alaskan forest when you have the Gordon River and Sarah Island. This trip is a must!!!

Must do experience in Tasmania

Everything about the trip was first rate. The staff were wonderful. Hats off to Emily, who was so professional, whilst multitasking. The buffet was impressive and although we were the last to be served, there was no shortage of the delicious range of food. The Sarah Island tour was an absolute highlight of our time in Tasmania! Lyle’s dramatic, entertaining delivery made it easy to imagine the convicts’ lives. We would recommend this tour to anyone!

Amazing

The weather was great and the river so calm. The whole experience was even better the second time and I will be recommending for anybody to do and see this beautiful but isolated part of our state

Great experience

the views were tops. great people. learnt a lot about the area. the staff were fantastic. the meal provided was excellent

Wonderful trip

The entire trip was amazing . Very restful. Full of information and a great lunch ! The service was excellent !

The trip was very...

The trip was very pleasant the weather was soso but the staff were great and food awesome the places we passed were very well explained and their seating was very comfortable

Gordon River Cruise

Beautiful experience visiting the wild side of Tasmania. The crew were amazing and the captain explained the cruise beautifully. Highly recommend

Gordon River Cruise from Strahan is a must do for everyone visiting Strahan.

The cruise was amazing. the commentary was wonderful, fully explaining the history of the area. Sarah Island tour took you back to the hard days of the colony and the tour guide was very informative. The rainforest walk was serene, almost cathedral like. BUT the crew were fantastic, went over and beyond to make the experience unforgettagle. Thank you.

A must to do when in Strahan

Excellent boat to cruise the Gordon River. We paid the extra money to sit in the preminium upper deck and were not disappointed. Staff were wonderful and attentive. Food was great. Seats very comfortable. Commentary was interesting as was the tour on Sarah Island. Rainforest walk was lovely. Could not fault anything about the day. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip and service

Enjoyed 🤗

Fantastic trip. Enjoyed it 🤗 Only thing. Make more use of the TV screen. Use it when pointing out places of interest. Photo's of trees plants ect. so we know what we are looking for as we pass by. EG. Photo of a Houn Pine, named plants screen images would be very helpful. Remember passenagers faceing backwards or at back of boat are on a time delay. (Length of boat) Thanks heaps !!

Scenery food, informative...

Scenery food, informative narrative the visit to Sarah island was interesting and I felt the guide was more real about what the convicts had suffered ( I thought port Arthur was more about the officials and the plight of the convicts somewhat sanitised) it was a lovely cruise

Perfect in every sense

Had the pleasure of being in the premium section upstairs with Tassie wines and produce to enjoy. Crew were faultless. Boat is smooth, quiet and comfortable. The scenery majestic. If you can, spoil yourself. You won’t regret it.

Rainy days & Mondays

Sadly the day we went, was a miserable day. Rained for most of it, made it hard to take pics. The staff are wonderful, the food was great. Sarah island was a highlight.

Peaceful

Amazing. So tranquil. The boat in silenr mode made the experience so much better. Seats very comfortable. Lunch and light breakfast were great

Great - but basic service could be better

Great day out spoilt by not being informed that EFTPOS was not available throughout the trip. We could not get a bottle of water. Found out at the end of the trip that the Galley could run a tab. The food service apparently is a “well oiled machine”. The machine needs an oil change. A bit of a rush for folk served last. The Sarah Island tour was great. Very hard to understand the tour guide who was of Asian background attempting to speak with an Irish accent.

Very enjoyable and a great day all round.

The cruise was professionally conducted. The crew were informative and friendly. Lunch was served efficiently and was abundant and tasty. The trip out of the harbour was interesting as was the cruise on the river. The weather was perfect as was the whole cruise.

Most fantastic cruise with in Tasmainia

We took five cruises in Tasmania the month of February 2024 and this was the best. Just beating out the Maria Island. Both are a must. The history of Sarah Island and personal tours along with the five buffet lunch combined to get it over the line first. Topping it all off, the crew and staff were five-star! Well done and we will do it again, and again.

A must do

Wonderful day learning so much of our countries history along the way. Amazing scenery both on water and on Sarah Island.

A fabulous day cruising on the Gordon River from Strahan with friendly, helpful staff on board.

We enjoyed the Gordon River Cruise from Strahan. The crew were happy, friendly and would help you if you needed some help or advice. The lunch supplied was wonderful and the visit to Sarah Island was very interesting. The Captain took us close to the island to spot the birds, the different types of trees and also showed us the salmon farming in the river. Also the staff in the Cruise office were also friendly and advised us where to get some coffee before going onboard.

Great day out

'Spirit of the Wild' cruise around the harbour and Gordon River, we had the best day. Lovely crew, smorgasbord lunch, great seating and access to outside deck areas. Included Sarah Island visit and we had the most informative guide. Highly recommend.

Unmissable

Absolutely unmissable - the history, beauty and majesty will stay with you forever. Very comfortable tour, lunch was excellent. Tour on Sarah Island was one of the best i have ever been on - entertaining while imparting accurate history and interesting snippets.

A memorable trip

We were fortunate we had good weather. We were impressed with the reflection off the pristine water of the Gordan River and the excellent commentary by the guide at Sarah Island. Lunch was also very good. Suggestions for improvement: use bigger coffee cups.