If you are planning on joining us for a wilderness cruise from Strahan on Tasmania's west coast, you might like to take a look through our frequently asked questions below. If you have questions that are not answered here, please feel free to contact us directly and we would be happy to help.
When Spirit of the Wild cruises on the Gordon River, she's propelled by electric motors. This means your cruise experience is remarkably quiet, giving you the best possible understanding of the tranquility of the wilderness. We don't call it 'silent' but many of our guests do!
The weather on Tasmania’s west coast can be variable but that’s part of the attraction. We encourage our guests to bring a rain jacket and a warm layer for when you step off the cruise into the World Heritage rainforest.
It’s sometimes said that ‘onion dressing’ is the way to go in Tassie… plenty of layers! A waterproof or windproof jacket is useful as outside on the decks, even a hot day can be chilly with the boat traveling at speed across Macquarie Harbour. For the Bonnet Island Experience, bringing a beanie is a good idea. If you don’t have one, you’ll find a range at the Gordon River Cruises terminal.
Sturdy footwear is advised. Thongs (flip flops/jandals) and slip-on sandals such as Crocs are not suitable as the decks may become wet and slightly slippery. The Gordon River Cruise involves a walking component in two locations so comfortable footwear is also advised for this reason.
This is very unlikely. The Gordon River Cruise is an all-weather activity and our vessel was specially built for Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River. She is a very capable and comfortable vessel. We often receive feedback that the Gordon River is more spectacular in wet weather than on sunny days!
We can’t guarantee the weather will always cooperate but as we are the first vessel that cruises into the World Heritage Area each day, there is certainly a good chance of seeing reflections when you cruise with us.
Yes. We are very proud of our team at Gordon River Cruises and we ensure that all our guides receive training to make sure we deliver the high quality interpretation that our area’s natural and human history deserves.
Yes it is. We are pleased to offer interpretation on the Gordon River Cruise in French, German, Mandarin and Cantonese. These tours are delivered via a personal headset. Please request this at the time of booking if possible.
Our Gordon River Cruises staff can help you to choose the type of seating style you would like but the actual seat location is allocated.
Yes there is. Please call us at Gordon River Cruises and place a direct booking to access a pension discount.
Yes. There are three seating types and once your seat is allocated, it’s yours for the whole Gordon River Cruise. However, you are free to move around the vessel and use the open-air decks.
Absolutely not. There is no additional charge if you would like to pay with a credit card.
Yes, you certainly can. Spirit of the Wild boasts areas on the Main Deck, dedicated as accessible. In addition, the vessel has an accessible toilet, as does our terminal in Strahan.
You don’t have to stay in your seat for the whole cruise. You can access the outside decks and in fact, we encourage you to walk around your vessel.
We cater for most dietary requirements in our Chef-prepared buffet. However, if you have any special requests, it is best to call us at Gordon River Cruises or contact us via this website at least one day prior to departure.
There is plenty of parking close to the Gordon River Cruises terminal. Please note however, the area in front of the terminal is a loading zone for drop off and pick up only.
All day 'Pay & Display' parking is located 250m away from the terminal.
There is a well-stocked galley on board with tea, coffee, muffins, biscuits and more available. All purchases are with cash only as we do not have eftpos facilities on the vessel.
The closest ATM is at Molly's Takeaway on Innes Street. Cash can also be withdrawn from the local Post Office, located 200 metres from Gordon River Cruises.
Yes, there is a range of accommodation throughout Strahan. The closest accommodation is at Strahan Village, which is less than a 2-minute walk.
Of course! We love having families on board. A family ticket covers 2 adults and up to 3 children. The child ages are 3-14 years old.
60 nautical miles. To give you an idea of the scale of Macquarie Harbour, the mouth of the Gordon River is 35km from Strahan (our departure point).
Yes, all outside decks can be accessed by all passengers, with only one exception being the private viewing deck for Premier Upper Deck guests.
There is a possibility that the Bonnet Island Experience will be canceled if the weather is not suitable. Passenger safety is our first priority and we will operate only if we see the conditions as suitable.
This tour requires guests to climb aboard and disembark MV Sophia as well as climb a small ladder to access Bonnet Island. We recommend that guests strongly consider their level of comfort with these components of the tour.
