A wonderful experience with amazing scenery and interesting commentary peppered with entertaining stories. The cruise crew were friendly and competent and the lunch provided was delicious.
6hr Gordon River Spirit Of The Wild Cruise – Main Deck Window
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This award-winning cruise on Gordon River gives you the earliest access to Tasmania’s most famous wilderness waterway on board the ‘Spirit of the Wild’. Departing before any other operator, this experience maximises your chances of seeing the Gordon River’s legendary mirror-like reflections at their most pristine. Leaving Strahan wharf at 8:30am, the purpose-built boat cruises in whisper mode across Macquarie Harbour and deep into Tasmania’s Heritage-listed wilderness.
Your Main Deck Window seat treats you to a waterside vantage point for the entire adventure. Set beside expansive windows, it offers uninterrupted views of the ever-changing landscapes unfolding beyond the glass, allowing you to settle in comfortably as you immerse yourself in the surrounding scenery.
Spirit of the Wild Cruise Route:
Back aboard ‘Spirit of the Wild’, enjoy a freshly prepared buffet lunch showcasing Tasmanian produce. Macquarie Harbour Atlantic salmon finds its way to your plate, alongside seasonal salads and hot selections inspired by Tasmania’s rich culinary heritage. As the wilderness scenery slips past your window, the meal becomes part of the experience itself.
Returning to Strahan around 2:30pm, you'll leave with more than photographs. The still waters of the Gordon River, the stories of Sarah Island and the beauty of Tasmania's ancient wilderness combine to create a day that captures the very essence of Tasmania.
NOTE: Evening Departures (Dec–Feb): Additional evening departures operate during the peak season. Choose your departure at the time of booking
Your Main Deck Window seat treats you to a waterside vantage point for the entire adventure. Set beside expansive windows, it offers uninterrupted views of the ever-changing landscapes unfolding beyond the glass, allowing you to settle in comfortably as you immerse yourself in the surrounding scenery.
Spirit of the Wild Cruise Route:
- The adventure begins as you cruise towards Hells Gates, the narrow channel connecting Macquarie Harbour to the Southern Ocean. This dramatic passage earned its ominous name from convicts who passed through on their way to the notorious penal settlement of Sarah Island, fully aware of the hardships that lay ahead.
- Continuing past the aquaculture leases at Liberty Point, you'll see where Atlantic Salmon and Ocean Trout are sustainably farmed in the harbour's clean, cold waters. The region's salmon industry has become an important part of Tasmania's food story, and you'll experience it firsthand later during lunch.
- Soon the vessel enters the tranquil waters of the Gordon River. Here, towering rainforest and ancient wilderness reflect perfectly on the dark river surface, creating the mesmerising mirror images that have made this destination famous around the world. From your window seat, the changing reflections become a constant companion as the vessel drifts through one of Tasmania's most remarkable landscapes.
- At Heritage Landing, step ashore for a guided walk along elevated boardwalks winding through cool temperate rainforest. Surrounded by centuries-old Huon Pines and native vegetation found nowhere else on earth, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the age and significance of this pristine ecosystem.
- The cruise then continues to Sarah Island, once Australia's harshest convict outpost. Expert guides bring the island's extraordinary history to life through engaging storytelling, while immersive onboard presentations introduce key historical figures whose lives were shaped by this remote settlement.
Back aboard ‘Spirit of the Wild’, enjoy a freshly prepared buffet lunch showcasing Tasmanian produce. Macquarie Harbour Atlantic salmon finds its way to your plate, alongside seasonal salads and hot selections inspired by Tasmania’s rich culinary heritage. As the wilderness scenery slips past your window, the meal becomes part of the experience itself.
Returning to Strahan around 2:30pm, you'll leave with more than photographs. The still waters of the Gordon River, the stories of Sarah Island and the beauty of Tasmania's ancient wilderness combine to create a day that captures the very essence of Tasmania.
NOTE: Evening Departures (Dec–Feb): Additional evening departures operate during the peak season. Choose your departure at the time of booking
- 6hr Gordon River Cruise aboard ‘Spirit of the Wild’
- Main Deck Window seating
- Guided walking tour of Sarah Island
- Guided Heritage Landing boardwalk
- Unique interpretation of river history through character-based videos
- Chef-prepared buffet lunch with Tassie produce
- Dedicated guides to talk you through this adventure
- Drinks available for purchase from cash bar on the Main Deck; EFTPOS and credit card accepted
- Please Note: National Park Pass is required; purchase separately via Parks & Wildlife Tasmania
- Evening Departures (Dec–Feb): Additional evening departures operate during the peak season. Choose your departure at the time of booking
- Get your own window seat for all-day viewing, combining comfort and exceptional scenery without the premium deck price
- Award-winning Gordon River experience, giving you the best chance to see its renowned glass-like reflections
- Immersive storytelling through video presentations featuring historical personalities such as Capt. James Kelly & Lady Jane Franklin
- Join expert guides on Sarah Island and uncover the dramatic stories behind one of Australia's most notorious convict settlements
- Wander through temperate rainforests at Heritage Landing, where you are amidst rare Huon Pines that have been around for centuries
- Adult $199
- Child $89
- Family $425
Main Wharf at 24 The Esplanade, Strahan
You can collect the boarding pass on the Esplanade the day before or by 8.15am on the morning of your cruise
Google Maps - CLICK HERE
You can collect the boarding pass on the Esplanade the day before or by 8.15am on the morning of your cruise
Google Maps - CLICK HERE
- 8:00 am: Check-in at Main Wharf, 24 The Esplanade, Strahan. Collect boarding pass by 8:15am, or the afternoon prior.
- 8:30 am: Depart Strahan Wharf aboard the 33m catamaran.
- 9:00 am: Hell's Gates, the narrow passage where the Southern Ocean meets Macquarie Harbour
- 9:30 am: Cruise past the fish farms of Macquarie Harbour, where Atlantic Salmon and Ocean Trout are raised in pristine Tasmanian waters
- 10:00 am: Enter the Gordon River and be the first to see the famous mirror-like reflections
- 10:45 am: Heritage Landing; walk the elevated boardwalk through ancient rainforests and stand amidst Huon Pines
- 12:00 pm: Chef-prepared Tasmanian buffet lunch served on board. EFTPOS available at the bar
- 1:00 pm: Sarah Island; guided walking tour of Australia's most feared convict settlement, brought to life through character-based interpretation
- 2:00 pm: Re-board and cruise back toward Strahan
- 2:30 pm: Return to Strahan Wharf
All passengers have the same cruise itinerary, guides and stops regardless of seating tier.
Main Deck Window (this package): A guaranteed main deck window seat with buffet lunch and full access to the vessel’s viewing areas and outdoor decks.
Main Deck Central (see alternate package): Enjoy comfortable allocated seating on the main deck with buffet lunch and full access to the vessel’s viewing areas and outdoor decks.
Premier Upper Deck – VIP Experience (see alternate package): The ultimate Gordon River experience, featuring premium upper deck seating, access to a private viewing deck, morning tea, canapés, long table lunch and an open bar.
Main Deck Window (this package): A guaranteed main deck window seat with buffet lunch and full access to the vessel’s viewing areas and outdoor decks.
Main Deck Central (see alternate package): Enjoy comfortable allocated seating on the main deck with buffet lunch and full access to the vessel’s viewing areas and outdoor decks.
Premier Upper Deck – VIP Experience (see alternate package): The ultimate Gordon River experience, featuring premium upper deck seating, access to a private viewing deck, morning tea, canapés, long table lunch and an open bar.
- Cancellation requests must be submitted via email to help@australiancruisegroup.com.au
- Refunds, where applicable, will be processed to the original payment method.
- No correspondence will be entertained for cancellations made after the free-cancellation period.
- A ‘no-show’ refers to any confirmed passenger who fails to board the vessel prior to scheduled departure. Please note, we make every effort to ensure our cruises depart on time. It is highly recommended that all passengers be ready for boarding 15 minutes prior to the stated time.
- An individual booking is defined as all bookings having less than 10 passengers on a single e-ticket. Individual bookings require full payment at time of booking.
- Up to 4 days prior: Full refund
- Within 3 days: 100% cancellation fee
- Group bookings are defined as all bookings for 10 or more passengers on a single E-ticket. Group bookings can be made with a partial payment of 20% as deposit. The balance amount must be paid 7 days before the cruise date.
- Up to 7 days prior: Full refund
- Within 6 days: 100% cancellation fee
- Dedicated seat spaces for guests who would like to bring a wheelchair to use as a seat; wheelchair storage is also available
- Easy ramp access
- Gender neutral/equal-access toilets on the Main Deck
- Pram access, pram storage and baby change facilities available
- Both land excursions allow for easy disembarkation. Heritage Landing’s raised non-slip boardwalk is accessible, with the exception of a small set of steps that can be navigated around. Sarah Island also offers an accessible experience
- Our disabled seating provides amazing views and is located close to the equal access toilets via flat floor
Boarding Pass Collection: Collect from the Main Wharf at 24 The Esplanade, Strahan. Available the afternoon prior, or by 8:15am on the morning of departure.
National Park Pass: Required for all passengers. Purchase from Parks & Wildlife Tasmania at passes.parks.tas.gov.au prior to departure.
What to Wear: Sturdy, closed-toe footwear is essential. Bring a rain jacket and a warm layer; west coast weather changes quickly and temperatures drop on the river.
Accessibility: Dedicated wheelchair seating with unobstructed views, easy ramp access, gender-neutral accessible toilets, pram storage and baby change facilities on board. Both shore excursions are accessible.
Payment on Board: EFTPOS and all major credit cards accepted at the bar. No need to carry cash.
Infants: Infants (0–3 years) cruise free of charge when seated on a parent or guardian's lap and do not require a dedicated seat.
Cancellation Policy: Full refund up to 72 hours (local time) before cruise date. After 72 hours: 100% cancellation fee applies
National Park Pass: Required for all passengers. Purchase from Parks & Wildlife Tasmania at passes.parks.tas.gov.au prior to departure.
What to Wear: Sturdy, closed-toe footwear is essential. Bring a rain jacket and a warm layer; west coast weather changes quickly and temperatures drop on the river.
Accessibility: Dedicated wheelchair seating with unobstructed views, easy ramp access, gender-neutral accessible toilets, pram storage and baby change facilities on board. Both shore excursions are accessible.
Payment on Board: EFTPOS and all major credit cards accepted at the bar. No need to carry cash.
Infants: Infants (0–3 years) cruise free of charge when seated on a parent or guardian's lap and do not require a dedicated seat.
Cancellation Policy: Full refund up to 72 hours (local time) before cruise date. After 72 hours: 100% cancellation fee applies
- These Terms and Conditions set out the terms on which you (on behalf of yourself and any person on whose behalf you are booking, together "you" or "your") book through Australian Cruise Group Pty Ltd ABN 89 152 554 302 (referred to as, we, us and our, in these Terms and Conditions) for all bookings, reservations, products and cruises operated by us including Sydney Showboats, Magistic Cruises, Clearview Cruises Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruises, Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruises, Vivid Sydney Cruises, Sydney Christmas Party Cruises, Sydney New Year’s Eve Cruises, and any other cruises, websites, operations or entities operated by us. These Terms and Conditions constitute the agreement between you and us.
- Full payment is required at the time of booking for all scheduled and special event cruises. Click here to read the Cancellation Policies that apply to the respective cruises.
- A ‘Book with Deposit’ option is available for online group bookings (6 or more guests) on select scheduled cruises, provided the cruise date is more than 10 days from the booking date.
- For partially paid bookings, the balance payment must be settled 7 days prior to the cruise date. Bookings not settled by the due date will be automatically cancelled and the deposit forfeited.
- Online group discounts are applicable on select cruises throughout the year, excluding the periods from 1 November to 1 January and 20 May to 15 June.
- Group bookings (10 guests or more): The guest has a choice to pay 20% deposit to confirm the booking, if the cruise date is more than 21 days in advance. The customer must confirm the final number of guests 7 days prior to the cruise date and are required a full and final payment 21 days prior to the cruise. Credit will be issued for any reduction in final passenger numbers up to 7 days prior to the cruise date.
- Change cruise date (transfer your booking): Any request to transfer a booking to another date must be made 72 hours prior to the cruise date. Such transfer of bookings are subject to availability of seats at the same price for the new cruise date. If the price is higher for the new cruise date, you will be required to pay the difference in addition to the minimum transfer fee.
- Transfer fee: There is a $10 per person minimum transfer fee will apply. New Year’s Eve cruise tickets cannot be transferred to a different date.
- All passengers including the infants must be manifested for safety and security reasons. Un-manifested guests will be refused boarding.
- All cruise fares are quoted in Australian Dollars and include Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- We reserve the right, if we consider necessary (for example, due to mechanical breakdown, for safety reasons or weather conditions), to substitute vessels without notice (including any vessels of a third party), deviate from a vessels advertised route, change any menu, service, schedule, program, performance or cruise fare. We will endeavour to provide a similar quality vessel, route, menu, service, schedule, program, performance or cruise fare (as the case may be) in these circumstances. In such circumstances, we will not be liable for your direct or indirect loss, or to refund any fares or portions of fares, nor will we be liable for any other damage, loss, expense, loss of time, disappointment, inconvenience, or any other consequential loss suffered by you.
- Requests from our guests for dietary requirements (gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free), substitutions and modifications of menus on board our cruises will be politely declined, as our kitchen team prepares the meals in our onboard kitchens. As we cater for large number of guests in a relatively small meal time, it is not practical for us to accommodate to such requests within the given time frame. All of our cruises have at least on vegetarian menu option for seated & served menus. Banquet/buffet menus also offer vegetarian choice. We cannot guarantee that certain products or ingredients (nuts, gluten, diary, etc.) will not be in our food, and we explicitly accept no liability in this regard. For serious food allergies you must make own decisions on selecting meals. Our staff’s comments are only to assist you in making an informed decision. In exceptional circumstances, with our prior written consent you (or one of your guests) may bring your own meal.
- Our cruises operate on busy waterways and are subject to the risks and perils of cruising on such waterways including loss, damage and injury arising out of or in connection with changing tidal and weather conditions and the navigation of other craft. To the extent permissible by law, we will not be responsible in tort, contract or otherwise for any loss or damage arising out of injury or death sustained by you or any other passenger, howsoever arising and whether or not arising as a result of our negligence or failure to render due care and skill. You enter into this agreement and book and travel on our cruises at your own risk. If however any guarantees, terms, conditions or warranties are implied into this agreement by any law of the Commonwealth or New South Wales, the exclusion of which would contravene that law or cause part or all of this clause to be void, then to the extent permissible by law:
(a) We exclude all other guarantees, terms, conditions and warranties; and
(b) Our liability for breach of such guarantee, term, condition or warranty is limited to the supply of the relevant cruise again or the cost of re-supplying the cruise. - We exclude all liability for any loss or damage to clothing or personal items/belongings howsoever arising and whether or not our liability arises in tort, contract or otherwise.
- Some of the tours, products and cruises we operate may be considered dangerous and you should be aware of the risks involved before participating, which may include injury or death. Where the tours, products and cruises include activities that could be considered dangerous, you assume all of the inherent risks which are applicable to those activities. Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude you from participating in activities and you are responsible for confirming your ability to participate. You must use caution when participating in activities and inform us of any medical or other conditions.
- It is a condition of this agreement that any claim for loss or damage must be notified to us in writing within seven (7) days from the day the cruise finishes, and any court action, suit or proceeding must be brought no later than one (1) year from the same day. If you fail to comply with either of these conditions, we will be forever discharged from all claims, suits, actions and/or proceedings relating to or arising out of or in any way connected with the cruise and we will be discharged from all liability whatsoever, including any liability for negligence.
- We may contract or arrange for third parties to provide the whole or part of the cruise and any related services to you. You must not bring any claims or actions against such third parties. If you bring such a claim or action in breach of this agreement, you agree to indemnify us and the person against whom the claim or action is made against the consequences of that claim or action. You agree that in entering into this agreement, we are acting as the agent of and trustee for each of our employees, officers, agents and subcontractors, and each of these persons is deemed to be a party to the contract for the purpose of entitling each of them to enforce, have the benefit of and rely upon these Terms and Conditions.
- We strictly do not permit any alcohol to be brought on board for consumption. Any discussions with our representatives should not be construed as an acceptance to bring alcohol of any nature on board for any event or function. In line with our Responsible Service of Alcohol policy, such requests will be refused politely.
- You must not bring any alcohol or illegal substances onto the vessel. We reserve the right to refuse you entry to the vessel, or to require you to disembark from the vessel, including due to your intoxication or for the safety of other passengers or the vessel.
- This agreement is to be governed by and is to be construed in accordance with the laws in force in New South Wales. Any action, claim, suit or proceeding arising out of or connected in any way with this agreement or the cruise will only be brought in the Courts of New South Wales.
- If any of these provisions are unenforceable, this shall not affect the enforceability of any other part of the provision or any other provision. In the event of inconsistency between these Terms and Conditions and any other terms, these Terms and Conditions will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. No waiver or variation of this agreement will have binding effect unless such waiver or agreement is in writing and signed by us.
