Strahan + Gordon River Cruise

Carmen Friend
Jan 8, 2018
1 min read

Strahan is a town of 600 residents surrounded by the second largest Harbour in Australia-Macquarie Harbour and a stones throw to the ocean.

Roads were built to Strahan in the 1960’s, the only other way to previously get here was by boat or rail.

The Gordon River was once a hive of activity with the felling and retrieving of Huon Pine from the forest. In 1981, the Franklin Gordon NP joined with the Cradle Mountain NP became a UNESCO protected area. This area sits as Number 1 on the list of protected areas in the world as it meets 7 of the 10 criteria. The logging and convict era of this beautiful park is protected forever.

The Gordon River is 200km long, the longest in Tasmania. At its deepest it is 40m and shallow around 5m. It exits into the Southern Ocean at Hell’s Gate. The next land from Hell’s Gate 8,000km away is Argentina! Boat trip takes you across the Harbour, up the Gordon River to view a 500 year old Huon Pine. From there it is back to Sarah Island where 513 convicts lived at a time on 12acres. Then past the trout and salmon farms and out through Hells Gate.

Strahan is also home to a historic railway journey back to Queenstown- full and half day trips. This area is under explored and has a massive amount of history to be shared.