Strahan and the Gordon River

Strahan sits on Macquarie Harbour, an inlet six times the size of Sydney Harbour connected to the Southern Ocean by a channel so narrow and dangerous it was named Hells Gates. Cruises cross the harbour, pass through the gates, and run up the Gordon River into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, where the boats slow to a crawl and the tannin-black water reflects the rainforest almost perfectly. They stop at Sarah Island, a penal settlement from 1822 to 1833 that was among the harshest in the system, its ruins now interpreted on guided walks. In the village, a long-running play about the settlement is performed nightly.

What you actually see

• The Gordon River - black reflective water beneath rainforest on the cruise.
• Sarah Island - the ruins of the penal settlement, walked with guides.
• Hells Gates - the narrow harbour entrance the boats pass through.
• The nightly play - the long-running convict drama performed in the village.

When to go

November to April for the best cruise conditions; the west coast is wet year-round and rain is likely in any season. Cruises run daily with reduced winter schedules. Ocean Beach nearby is worth a sunset visit.

Honest expectations

The cruise is a full day and expensive, and rain frequently obscures the scenery. Wilderness boat wash damaged the Gordon's banks historically, and speeds are now restricted, which lengthens the trip. Strahan is small with limited dining.

Nearby

Queenstown lies east; the West Coast Wilderness Railway runs between them.