Gordon River cruise from Strahan: Sarah Island & rainforest walk

A 2,000-year-old Huon Pine tree stands in the rainforest you walk through.

A six-hour World Heritage cruise departing Strahan at 9am takes you through Hells Gates into Macquarie Harbour, past salmon and trout farms, to Sarah Island for a guided tour of Tasmania's first penal settlement, then deep into the Gordon River rainforest. You disembark at Heritage Landing to walk a boardwalk through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, where the ancient forest and its oldest trees are the reason the wilderness is protected. Lunch of Tasmanian produce and morning tea are prepared on-board; the skipper provides live commentary and video on the coast's history. Cruises run daily except Christmas and August 1–31.

Step-by-step itinerary

Morning cruise and rainforest walk

• Depart Strahan Wharf at 9am
• View Hells Gates channel
• See aquaculture pens with trout and salmon
• Guided tour of Sarah Island penal settlement
• Enjoy lunch on-board
• Cruise along Gordon River
• Disembark at Heritage Landing
• Stroll rainforest boardwalk and see Huon Pine
• Return cruise to Strahan

The Experience

The catamaran Harbour Master leaves Strahan Wharf at 9am and heads straight into Hells Gates, the narrow channel where the Southern Ocean meets Macquarie Harbour. From there you cruise past aquaculture pens holding thousands of ocean trout and Atlantic salmon, then pull up at Sarah Island. The one-hour guided tour walks you through the ruins of what was Tasmania's first and most notorious convict settlement, and the guide explains the conditions prisoners faced in this isolated place.

Back on-board, the boat moves slowly up the Gordon River while you eat lunch — fresh Tasmanian produce prepared in the galley — and the skipper narrates the history of the coast over the water. The cruise takes you deep into ancient rainforest, and when you reach Heritage Landing you disembark to walk the boardwalk through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. The forest here is so old and so undisturbed that one Huon Pine tree is over 2,000 years old; the lichen-covered canopy and the silence are what make the whole region World Heritage listed. The return journey to Strahan gives you time to sit back and absorb the scale of what you have seen.

The boat operates in all weather, so bring a jacket and layers. Boarding tickets are held at the booking office next to the vessel and collected 30 minutes before departure. The main deck is wheelchair accessible; upper deck seating is not. Infants under two years old do not have allocated seating and must sit on an adult's lap. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. If you bring a service animal, it must have identification because you are entering a World Heritage protected area.

What’s included

• Cruise on the 35-metre catamaran Harbour Master with live skipper commentary and video on the coast's history.
• guided one-hour tour of Sarah Island convict settlement.
• boardwalk walk through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park rainforest.
• freshly prepared Tasmanian lunch and morning tea on-board.
• upper or main deck seating depending on your option.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by World Heritage Cruises

Is this one for you?Choose Upper Deck if you want the best views and don't mind paying a little more for the included lunch and beverage service; Main Deck seating is the same cruise at a lower price and is the only option if you need wheelchair access. Either way, the six-hour window means you can fit this into a day trip to Strahan without rushing, and the lunch on-board means you're not hunting for a restaurant between the penal settlement and the rainforest.

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Top questions

What is Sarah Island and why do we stop there?

Sarah Island was Tasmania's first penal settlement and one of its most notorious. The one-hour guided tour takes you through the ruins and explains the harsh conditions prisoners endured in this isolated location on Macquarie Harbour.

How long do we spend in the rainforest at Heritage Landing?

The boardwalk walk through the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is a stroll rather than a long hike; you disembark after the Gordon River cruise and explore the ancient forest on foot before returning to the boat for the journey back to Strahan.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, lunch is included and freshly prepared on-board using Tasmanian produce. Morning tea is also included; drinks and snacks can be purchased separately if you want them.

What seating options are available, and do they make a difference?

You can choose Main Deck Window Seating, Main Deck Centre Seating, or Upper Deck Centre Seating. Upper Deck includes lunch and a beverage, while Main Deck seating also includes lunch. The upper deck offers better views but is not wheelchair accessible; the main deck is fully accessible.

What should I wear and what if the weather is bad?

The cruise operates in all weather, so dress in layers and bring a waterproof jacket. The boat is a 35-metre catamaran, so it is stable, but conditions on the Southern Ocean can change quickly.

Can I bring children or a wheelchair on this cruise?

Yes, children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller. The main deck is fully wheelchair accessible; the upper deck is not. Infants under two years old do not have allocated seating and must sit on an adult's lap.