Gordon River
Gordon River

Gordon River

Daily
Gordon River, Gordon River, Tasmania

The basics

Taking a guided cruise down the Gordon River is an extremely popular activity, and many visitors to Strahan—a town on Tasmania's west coast—spend a day floating down the scenic waterway. From the comfort of a quiet, state-of-the-art vessel, you can gaze out towards the forests along the river’s banks, which are home to 2,000-year-old trees. Most tours hit a few sights along the way including Sarah’s Island and Hell’s Gate.

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Recent reviews from experiences in Strahan

Amazing experience
star-5
Amazing experience
Nicole_S, Mar. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
Fantastic day. The boat is new, seats comfortable ,facilities clean and a view from every seat. The staff have great knowledge of the area and ensure that it is left untouched after tourists. Sarah Island has a fascinating history.
Must do tour
star-5
Must do tour
Beverley_S, Sep. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
The staff on board were amazing, loads of knowledge on the history of the area. Sarah Is tour guide was the best I've had during my stay in Tassie, made the story of the convicts seem realistc
Strahan and Gordon River Cruise
star-5
Strahan and Gordon River Cruise
Derek_H, Sep. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
Sarah Island tour was informative and insightful. Hells gate was incredible and the rainforest walk was unbelievable.
Most enjoyable trip
star-5
Most enjoyable trip
Heather_M, Sep. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
All the staff were friendly and welcoming. The guided tour on Sarah Island was very informative and presented with flair. The cruise itself was relaxed with just the right amount of history explained along the way.
Loved it
star-5
Loved it
KimMichelle_B, Aug. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
We really enjoyed this cruise, the staff were fantastic and the sights were amazing. Well worth doing.
Beauty, experience and knowledge all rolled into one amazing day.
star-5
Beauty, experience and knowledge all rolled into one amazing day.
Angela_M, Aug. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
We had Dolphins swimming around us and Captain Ross was so knowledgeable about the Dolphins, he cut the engines so we could watch them. The whole experience was exceptional guides excellent, food such good quality. Loved all the experiences, but all the background information made the day extra special learnt so much. What an amazing place so much to see and do.
Amazing, Informative Cruise.
star-5
Amazing, Informative Cruise.
Raimo_I, Aug. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
The entire cruise was very interesting and informative, we especially loved the Sarah Island part of the tour. David was the most captivating, knowledgeable and passionate tour guide we've ever had.
Beautiful day out
star-5
Beautiful day out
Deanne_G, Aug. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
Beautiful day out, everything was amazing, staff were lovely. The history of Sarah Island alone makes the cruise worthwhile.
A wonderful experience despite the weather
star-5
A wonderful experience despite the weather
Craig_T, Jul. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
Even though the weather was not great, the team did a great job. The guide on Sarah Island was fantastic. The lunch was good too. And the river part of the cruise....oh my!!
Fabulous Day
star-5
Fabulous Day
Joanna_C, Mar. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
Lovely boat, lovely staff, lovely food and fantastic destinations and scenery. Great commentary and recommend you take the guided tour on Sarah Island. Fabulous care taken of the environment visited. Thoroughly recommend this tour. Well worth the effort to get to it.
Last minute surprise
star-5
Last minute surprise
Aileen_S, Apr. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
The beauty, the quiet running of the ferry. Staff who couldn't do enough for us. The totally amazing guided tours, sarah island, just WOW! The guide we had was brilliant. The historical information provided on the cruise was so very interesting. The ferry was clean, food was fantastic, catering to my allergies so well done. In 2 weeks of traveling beautiful Tasmania the ferry toilets were the cleanest we came across, even surface spray was provided as an extra precaution. We had not pre planned this wonderful jaunt so finding an available seat was a bonus, when the booking clerk saw i was using a stick due to a recent injury she ensured our seating was the best possible option for us. Overall a wonderful experience, thankyou
It was the total package
star-5
It was the total package
Michael_D, Feb. 2023
Gordon River Cruise departing from Strahan
Everything on this excurtion was well done. The standard of the modern vessel, with comfortable assigned seating, access to external decks, clean toilets and an on-board coffe shop was top notch. The mix of live commentry and on screen video history was well done. The guided land tours were also well presented. The buffet lunch was of a high standard. All of this supported the natural beauty of seascapes and landscapes visited. Definitely worth of 5 stars.
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Things to know before you go

  • The weather on Tasmania’s west coast is often blustery and wet. Come prepared with the appropriate clothing even during the summer months.
  • Most tours are wheelchair-accessible, though motor scooters are not permitted due to size limitations.
  • Cruise tours to the island typically serve food.
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How to get there

Most tours of the Gordon River depart from Macquarie Harbor from the western Tasmanian town of Strahan, which is located 185 miles (297 kilometers) from the capital of Hobart. Private boats are available for hire, although most visitors choose to visit as part of a cruise tour.

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When to get there

The best time to visit Tasmania is from December and February during Australia’s summer. Though this is peak season for the region, it offers the best weather and temperatures for outdoor excursions.

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Discover Sarah Island’s Harrowing Past

As Australia’s oldest penal colony, Sarah Island has a chilling history. At first glance, the settlement was set on a somewhat idyllic looking isle in the middle of the Southern Ocean, however, upon further inspection visitors will discover that Sarah Island was a fate worse than death, complete with an inhospitable climate, lack of food, backbreaking work, and disease.

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Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the nearest attractions to Gordon River?
A:
Attractions near Gordon River: