Plan your visit

Before you head over to join one of our wonderful Gordon River cruise experiences in and around Macquarie Harbour, please remember: this is Tasmania and it pays to be prepared!

On the West Coast of Tasmania, at the edge of a vast wilderness, Strahan is remote and can be subject to unpredictable weather at times. As the saying goes in Tassie, you are very likely to experience four seasons in one day – from blazing sunshine to drenching rains. Take a moment to find out what to bring, where to find us and how to get here.

When you have booked, you can pick up your ticket from the Strahan Activities Centre the day before, or early on the day of the cruise. If you need some cash for purchases on the cruise, you can also use the ATM located just outside the booking centre.

Climate

Location

Getting Here

The Tasmanian Wilderness

Strahan is rugged and the climate on the west coast of Tasmania unpredictable. Summer temperatures can reach a pleasant 20-30 degrees, with an average rainfall of 200mm in the summer; whereas winter can drop to 5-10 degrees and rains can fall at 550-650mm (cold and wet) in the winter.

It may be clear blue skies one minute and moody clouds the next – a feature that adds to the magic, wild, unpredictable and spectacular qualities of this border between civilisation and nature. But it pays to be prepared, whatever your planned Strahan activities...

Remember to bring:

  • Waterproof coat and fleecy jacket
  • Sturdy footwear
  • Sun hat and sunscreen
  • Beanie, gloves and a scarf
  • A camera
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Gordon River Cruises is centrally located on the waterfront at Strahan, a short walk from the town’s accommodation, attractions, shops and cafés. 

Strahan is like nowhere else: overlooking the quiet Macquarie Harbour, this is a town that has seen triumph and tragedy, with a rich history that reaches back to the early days of Tasmanian settlement. Hamer's Hotel, the town's historic pub is filled with character and stories from yesteryear, from our origins as a tiny port servicing the local copper mine, to our time as a thriving centre for the remote west coast’s mining, fishing and timber industries.

Strahan’s restaurants and cafes delight diners with fresh local produce and, best of all; it’s only a stone’s throw from the pristine and untouched West Coast World Heritage Wilderness.

Your boarding passes

Your cruises will depart from the Esplanade – and don’t forget your boarding passes! You can collect these at the Activities Centre on the Esplanade the day before or by 8.15am on the morning of your cruise.

Strahan accommodation

Whatever adventures you have planned, Strahan Village has accommodation options to suit. With 132 rooms ranging from 3.5-4 star, you can choose your holiday experience. Relax in a hilltop room taking in the magnificent view from your private balcony, or stay in a cottage right on the Esplanade and watch the action of the working waterfront.  Find out more about Strahan Village here and if you are an auto club member, enjoy a discount on your accommodation.

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Getting Here

Strahan is on Tasmania’s remote west coast – we are around five hours’ drive west of Hobart, and approximately four hours’ drive southwest of Launceston.

(Once you get here, you will find Gordon River Cruises at 24 The Esplanade, Strahan.)

By road

FROM HOBART

Leave Hobart on the Brooker Highway and drive through the city’s northern suburbs to Granton.
From here, follow the Lyell Highway (A10) through New Norfolk, Hamilton and Ouse.
(It is a good idea to break your journey at Lake St Clair at the southern edge of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.)
Take your time to complete the last section of your journey to Strahan, which takes you along winding mountainous sections of the road to your west coast destination. 

FROM LAUNCESTON

Depart Launceston on the Bass Highway (1) and drive towards Cradle Mountain via Deloraine (turning off at Elizabeth Town to Sheffield).
From here, take the A10 road through Tullah, Rosebery and Zeehan and to Strahan.

By air

Australia's major airlines fly daily into Hobart and Launceston from most capital cities. Flights are approximately 60 minutes’ duration from Melbourne, and approximately 105 minutes’ flying time from Sydney. Private charter services to Strahan are also available from Hobart or Launceston.  For information on our Fly and Cruise package click here.

By sea

The Spirit of Tasmania sails daily between Melbourne and Devonport. You can bring your own vehicle on the Spirit, or hire cars are available from the Spirit of Tasmania terminal. 

Car hire

You can arrange car hire through a number of car rental companies based in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie and other regional centres throughout Tasmania. 

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On the West Coast of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Wilderness is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and covers 15,800 square kilometres (or 20% of Tasmania). It is one of the last expanses of temperate wilderness in the world and covers a network of parks and reserves across the state.

The Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park is found in the South West of Tasmania and named after the two main rivers that travel within the park: the Franklin River and the Gordon River.

Every morning Gordon River Cruises is the first to carve through the still, mirror-like waters of the Gordon River to embark on a journey through this uniquely unspoiled part of the world.

On board, cinematic floor-to-ceiling windows and forward facing seats offer an unrivalled perspective as we make our way through one of the last remaining World Heritage Areas.

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Gordon River Cruises

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