Afternoon Gordon River Dinner Cruise

The most powerful part of this cruise is the change of mood as you leave Strahan behind. The open waters near Hell’s Gates feel rugged and exposed, then the Gordon River grows quiet and reflective, with a rainforest walk and Sarah Island adding two very different kinds of history and scenery.

I like the mix of wilderness and human history, and I like that the crew keeps you moving between water, forest, and shore instead of leaving you on the boat for six hours. Captain Andy and the local guides are singled out by name in the experience details, which gives the commentary a personal feel. The main consideration is the buffet dinner: it is included, but diners looking for a memorable hot meal or a stronger focus on Tasmanian produce may find the food less impressive than the setting.

What makes this Strahan cruise worth considering

• Hell’s Gates gives the cruise a dramatic opening, with rougher coastal scenery before the calmer Gordon River.
• Sarah Island adds a guided history stop, covering the former convict settlement rather than offering only a passing view from the boat.
• The Gordon River rainforest boardwalk gets you off the catamaran, with time to see the World Heritage-listed South West Wilderness on foot.
• A 35-meter catamaran provides a comfortable base, with upper-deck seating available with dinner, afternoon tea, and a beverage.
• Live commentary comes from the skipper and local guides, including Captain Andy, whose friendly approach has drawn particular praise.
• The six-hour schedule covers several major sights, but the cruise operates only from December 27 to January 16, so dates matter.

Leaving Strahan for Hell’s Gates

Your trip begins at 18 Esplanade, beside the Strahan Wharf area. You need to collect your boarding tickets from the booking office 30 minutes before departure, with the listed start time at 3:15 pm. This is a simple step, but do not arrive at the last minute. Your ticket is held at the office next to the vessel, not sent straight to the boat for you to collect at the gangway.

The vessel is a 115-foot, or 35-meter, catamaran. That size matters on a six-hour outing. You have a comfortable platform for watching the coast, listening to the skipper, and settling in for the meal, rather than treating the cruise as a quick sightseeing ride.

The first stretch takes you toward Hell’s Gates, the narrow entrance between Macquarie Harbour and the Southern Ocean. The contrast is one of the best reasons to choose this trip. The outer waters feel open and forceful, while the Gordon River is prized for its stillness. Bring a warm layer even in summer, since the cruise operates in all weather and conditions on the water can change quickly.

You can buy extra drinks and snacks on board, but those are not part of the listed inclusions. If you like to nibble throughout a long afternoon, plan around that detail. The included food is the dinner buffet, with afternoon tea and a beverage included for upper-deck seating.

Sarah Island brings the past ashore

The guided visit to Sarah Island gives the cruise its strongest historical element. Rather than hearing only a short narration from the vessel, you disembark and walk through the former convict settlement with a guide.

That change in pace helps. You get a sense of place while hearing about the penal station and the people who lived and worked there. The guided presentation is described as especially effective, and the visit can be a highlight if you enjoy history explained in a direct, grounded way.

The island also gives you a useful counterpoint to the wilderness. The Gordon River can feel remote and untouched, but Sarah Island shows how industry and punishment once shaped this part of Tasmania. The experience includes an acknowledgement of Country and attention to First Nations history, an important part of presenting the region with more care than a simple scenic cruise.

Allow for walking on shore. The information says most people can participate, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed. No special fitness level is stated, so if you have mobility concerns, contact the operator before booking rather than assuming every part of the shore visit will suit you.

The Gordon River’s quiet change of pace

After the more exposed waters and the Sarah Island stop, the Gordon River feels like a reset. The river is known here for its peaceful character, and the cruise gives you time to watch the water and the forest rather than rushing from one photo stop to the next.

The ship’s live commentary helps explain what you are seeing. The skipper and local guides provide information throughout the outing, so you are not left to guess which parts of the river or surrounding wilderness matter. The quality of that commentary will shape your enjoyment, and Captain Andy receives specific praise for his work with the crew.

The cruise also connects the river to the South West Wilderness, which is UNESCO World Heritage-listed. That designation is not just a label for the brochure. It tells you that the area has international importance for its natural values, and the trip gives you both a water-level view and a short walk through the forest.

A rainforest boardwalk, not just a view from the boat

The Gordon River rainforest boardwalk is a valuable part of the day. From the catamaran, you can appreciate the scale and quiet of the region, but a walk lets you pay attention to smaller details and experience the damp forest atmosphere at ground level.

Expect a guided or supported shore excursion rather than a long independent hike. The supplied details call it a rainforest boardwalk, not an extended bushwalk, so you should not book this expecting a full-day trek. It is better understood as a short, purposeful walk that breaks up the cruise and brings you closer to the forest.

Wear shoes suited to walking and bring clothing for rain or cool conditions. The cruise runs in all weather, and the operator specifically asks you to dress appropriately. A waterproof layer is more useful than relying on a fine forecast.

What the dinner adds to the afternoon

The meal turns this from a standard sightseeing cruise into a longer afternoon and evening outing. Dinner is a buffet, and smoked salmon raised locally is featured among the food. Afternoon tea and a beverage are included with upper-deck seating.

The meal is practical rather than the main reason to book. I like having dinner included because the trip lasts about six hours and returns after the day’s main sightseeing hours. You do not need to arrange a separate meal while moving between the harbour, Sarah Island, and the river.

Still, keep expectations in check. The food has received mixed reactions, with some diners wishing for a hot meal and others hoping for a stronger partnership with Tasmanian producers. That does not cancel out the value of the included buffet, but it does mean you should book this for the scenery, commentary, and shore visits first. If food is central to your idea of a dinner cruise, ask the operator what the current buffet includes before paying.

Upper-deck seating is especially worth checking when you book. The listed inclusions connect that seating with dinner, afternoon tea, and a beverage. The exact seating arrangements are not explained in the supplied details, so confirm what is available for your date.

How the six hours feel in practice

Six hours is long enough to make the whole outing feel like a major part of your Strahan visit. You get several different settings, but the length can also feel demanding if you prefer short activities or have limited time in town.

The schedule is paced around a sequence of experiences:

• Ticket collection and boarding at Strahan Wharf
• The outward cruise toward Hell’s Gates
• Commentary from the skipper and local guides
• The guided Sarah Island visit
• The Gordon River cruise
• The rainforest boardwalk
• Afternoon tea, a beverage, and buffet dinner
• Return to the original meeting point

The exact order may vary, but the important point is the range. You are not paying only for a meal on a boat. You are paying for transport into a remote setting, interpretation of the area, a shore landing, and time in the forest.

The maximum group size is 210 people. That is a fairly large outing, so do not expect a private or hushed cruise. The catamaran provides room and structure, but busy departures may feel more organized than intimate. The upside is that a vessel of this size can accommodate a broad mix of people and keep the trip running in poor conditions better than a tiny boat might.

Is $111.17 a fair price?

At $111.17 per person, the cruise offers reasonable value if you plan to make full use of the six hours. The price includes the Sarah Island guided tour, rainforest boardwalk, dinner, upper-deck inclusions where applicable, commentary, and the cruise itself. Those separate elements would take planning and payment if you tried to arrange a similar day on your own.

The value is strongest for people who want a single organized outing covering Strahan’s major water-based sights. You do not need to organize transport to Sarah Island, find a separate guide, or work out how to reach the Gordon River. The operator handles the route and timing from the wharf.

The value is weaker if you dislike group excursions, care mainly about fine dining, or have only a short window in Strahan. The trip takes about six hours, and extra drinks and snacks cost more. You should also remember that the cruise is seasonal, operating only from December 27 through January 16. It is not available from January 17 through December 26 according to the supplied schedule, so this is a narrow summer option.

A 4.9 rating from 23 reviews and a 100 percent recommendation rate point to strong satisfaction, especially with the wilderness, crew, and historical stops. Those numbers are useful, but the mixed food comments are worth taking seriously. The setting does most of the work here.

Who should book this cruise?

I would point this outing toward you if you want to see several sides of Tasmania’s west coast in one day. It suits people who enjoy a blend of scenery, history, light walking, and guided commentary. Families can participate, provided children are accompanied by an adult, and most people can take part.

It also suits anyone who wants the Gordon River without arranging several separate activities. The combination of Hell’s Gates, Sarah Island, the rainforest boardwalk, and the river gives you a broad introduction to the area.

You may want a different plan if your priority is a quiet small-boat ride, a serious food experience, or a long forest walk. The group can reach up to 210 people, and the dinner is a buffet rather than a fine-dining service. The cruise also requires you to accept changeable weather and a long afternoon on the water.

Book at least a little ahead if your dates fall within the short operating season. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the operator offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. After that point, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. If bad weather or a failure to meet the minimum number of people cancels the trip, you can choose another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

My call: book it for the setting, not the buffet

I would book the Afternoon Gordon River Dinner Cruise if I had a summer date in Strahan and wanted one substantial outing that joined the coast, river, rainforest, and convict history. The peaceful Gordon River, dramatic Hell’s Gates, Sarah Island, and friendly crew give the day real variety.

Go in expecting a well-organized sightseeing cruise with a buffet, not a restaurant meal on the water. Dress for changing weather, collect your boarding ticket early, and give yourself enough time to enjoy the shore stops. If that balance suits you, the $111.17 price is a sensible way to see a difficult-to-reach part of Tasmania.

FAQ

Where does the Gordon River dinner cruise depart?

The cruise departs from 18 Esplanade, Strahan, Tasmania 7468, near Strahan Wharf. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What time should I arrive?

The listed start time is 3:15 pm. You should check in and collect your boarding tickets 30 minutes before departure at the booking office next to the vessel.

How long does the cruise last?

The full experience lasts approximately six hours.

Is dinner included?

Yes. Dinner is included as a buffet meal. Upper-deck seating also includes dinner, afternoon tea, and a beverage.

Are drinks and snacks included?

A beverage is included with upper-deck seating. Additional drinks and snacks can be purchased on board.

Does the cruise include Sarah Island?

Yes. The experience includes a guided tour of the Sarah Island convict settlement.

Does the cruise operate in bad weather?

The cruise operates in all weather conditions, and you are advised to dress appropriately. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Can I cancel my booking?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.