Gordon River Cruise Strahan: UNESCO Wilderness Electric Boat

Cruise deep into World Heritage wilderness without the engine noise

A Gordon River Cruise from Strahan takes you six hours into Tasmania's UNESCO-protected wilderness aboard Spirit of the Wild, a custom-built vessel with electric motors that let you experience the river in near-silence. You cruise to Sarah Island—a former convict penal colony with tangible history—and step ashore at Heritage Landing to walk an ancient rainforest with a guide. Chef-prepared lunch happens on the water as you return; the morning departure gets you there first, and the 360° viewing deck on the upper level gives you the river from every angle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Gordon River Cruise and Heritage Tours

• Cruise quietly aboard Spirit of the Wild
• Hear river stories from dedicated guides
• Step ashore at Heritage Landing for rainforest tour
• Enjoy Chef-prepared lunch on the river
• Cruise to Sarah Island
• Explore Sarah Island with guided history tour
• Return to Strahan
• Enjoy local produce tastings at terminal
• Browse souvenirs and explore Strahan waterfront

The Experience

The boat leaves Strahan early, and being first on the river is the whole point. Spirit of the Wild's electric motors mean you hear the water, the birds and the guide instead of an engine—the tranquility is something you have to experience to believe. As you cruise into the Gordon River, the guide tells the stories of the place: the rainforest, the river's shape, what lives here. At Heritage Landing you step ashore and walk into the ancient forest with the guide, who explains what you're standing in front of.

Sarah Island comes next. It was one of Tasmania's harshest convict penal colonies, and the guide takes you through the ruins and the history—the hardship, the heroes, the villains—so the place stops being just scenery and becomes a story you can see. The island balances the wild landscape with the weight of what happened there. You walk it with time to stand still and look.

Lunch happens on the water on the way back to Strahan: a chef-prepared buffet served on board while you cruise. The boat has a restroom, plenty of deck space, and that 360° viewing deck at the top if you want to be outside the whole time. When you return to Strahan, there are complimentary tastings of local produce at the terminal and a chance to browse before you head out to explore the waterfront. The whole day is six hours.

What’s included

• Chef-prepared buffet lunch on board.
• dedicated on-board guides speaking English.
• quiet cruising under electric motors on the Gordon River.
• interpretive rainforest walk at Heritage Landing.
• guided tour of Sarah Island.
• complimentary tastings of local produce at the Strahan terminal on return.
• restroom on board.
• 360° viewing deck.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by NRMA

Is this one for you?You choose your deck level at checkout—Premier Upper Deck, Main Deck Window, or Main Deck Central—so you pick where you sit and what you see. The morning departure is what gets you there first on the river, which is the whole reason the operator built this boat and runs it this way; if you're arriving in Strahan with a free afternoon or a second day, the later departure works the same route with the same guide and the same lunch, just with fewer reflections on the water.

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Top questions

What is Sarah Island and why do guides spend time there?

Sarah Island is a former convict penal colony in the Gordon River, once one of Tasmania's most feared prisons. The guide walks you through the ruins and tells the stories of the people who were held there—the hardship and the history are visible in what remains, and the island balances that tangible past with the wild landscape around it.

How does the electric motor system on Spirit of the Wild change the experience?

The electric motors let you cruise quietly on the Gordon River so you hear the water, wildlife and your guide instead of engine noise. That quiet is what makes the wilderness feel like wilderness, and it's the reason the operator built the boat this way—to let you experience the place as it actually is.

Is lunch included, and what does the chef prepare?

A chef-prepared buffet lunch is included on the morning cruises and served on board as you cruise back toward Strahan. The menu caters for all dietary requirements, so you eat on the water instead of stopping ashore.

What happens at Heritage Landing?

Heritage Landing is where you step ashore to walk into the ancient rainforest with a dedicated guide, who explains the forest and its history. It's an interpretive tour, so the guide is there to tell you what you're looking at and why it matters.

Does the boat have a 360° viewing deck, and is it accessible?

Spirit of the Wild has a 360° viewing deck at the top of the vessel so you can see the river from every angle. The main deck is wheelchair accessible; the upper deck has stairs, so wheelchair access is on the main deck only.

What time does the cruise depart, and how long does it take?

The cruise departs early in the morning from Strahan and takes six hours total. The early departure is why you get there first on the river, which gives you the best chance of seeing the famous reflections and the wildlife that moves with the light.