Flowing through Tasmania’s remote west coast, the Gordon River bends a scenic path through one of the oldest temperate wilderness regions on Earth. As a perennial river and a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, it draws more than 10,000 visitors each year. One of the most immersive ways to explore this protected landscape is on a Strahan Gordon River cruise.
This is not a fast-moving sightseeing experience, where you rush from point A to B. Instead, the cruise is shaped around the stillness of the river. From ancient trees to tannin-dark water and convict history, the scenery changes gradually, with a front-row view of what makes this location truly spectacular. So if you’re on a Gordon River cruise, here is what you will see!
Mirror-like Reflections On The Water
If you’re a first time visitor, don’t get too shocked by the dark colour of the river. The water appears almost black, but it’s not because of pollution or sediment. The dark hue comes from tannins – a natural organic compound released by the surrounding vegetation.
The magic happens when you look over and see the reflections. The river turns glassy and the surface reflects the rainforest so perfectly, it’s hard to tell where the forest ends and water begins. Mountains, trees and the sky stack themselves upside down in the river, creating one of the most photographed scenes in Tasmania. You’ll feel like you’re actually cruising through a liquid mirror!
Hells Gates
This sounds like something lifted straight out of a myth and for early sailors, it might as well have been. This narrow opening marks where the Gordon River flows out into Macquarie Harbour – notorious for rough waters, shifting winds and the risk of shipwreck. To those arriving by sea, Hells Gates in Strahan was the last hurdle before entering the harbour.
Today, the site is more symbolic, though the name ‘Hells Gates’ still carries weight. The channel is small and narrow, with the water darkening further, as if the wilderness is quietly deciding whether to let you pass. Looking at it from the decks of the cruise, visitors get a real sense of entering an ancient and guarded land.
The Heritage Landing
One of the highlights of the cruise is a short disembarkation at Heritage Landing on Gordon River. Here, you’ll step off the boat and onto a boardwalk that winds through dense rainforest.
On this walk, you’ll come face-to-face with some of Tasmania’s prehistoric plant life. Moss-covered logs, towering tree ferns and Huon Pine specimens are over 2,000 years old! This brief stop lets you explore the wilderness that protects the river and its ecosystem. With guided commentary, you will even learn about the convict history and the region.
Huon Pine Trees
The Huon Pine trees in Tasmania are one of the oldest living tree species on Earth and a main attraction of the cruise. Large and dense, these trees grow incredibly slowly, which makes their timber dense, aromatic and resistant to rot.
During the cruise and the heritage landing walks, guides will often point out Huon Pines along the riverbanks and explain their historical use in boat building and furniture. Today, the harvesting is strictly controlled and most of the trees you’ll see are protected, there to continue quietly existing and for you to look at them with awe!
Sarah Island
No Gordon River cruise is complete without a visit to Sarah Island in the Strahan waters. Located in Macquarie Harbour, the island carries a heavy history being one of Australia’s harshest penal settlements.
Walking among the ruins, you’ll see the remnants of convict-built structures, now covered in leaves and twines. The tour is woven with stories of escapes, punishment and survival, bringing a stark contrast to the calm beauty of the surroundings.
Wildlife Sighting
While wildlife sightings aren’t guaranteed, the Gordon River rewards patience. The river is largely undisturbed, so the animals here are not performative, making sightings brief, but immensely satisfying!
On your cruise, you might spot the white-bellied sea eagles circling overhead and the elusive platypus swimming in the dark waters. You may also spot Wallabies and Tasmanian Devils along the riverbank and pink robins on the branches of trees.
Unlike rivers that flow through towns, farmland and engineered channels, the Gordon River is untouched by modern infrastructure, showing you the raw and unfiltered side of Tasmania. What you see on this cruise is an ecosystem that exists without human interference and how it affects the way the world moves.
So, if reading about the wilderness isn’t enough and you want to experience it at its own pace, a Gordon River cruise offers a rare opportunity to do just that!
