Gordon River cruise boat surrounded by Tasmanian wilderness rainforest
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Gordon River Evening Dinner Cruise

from A$165
6 hours
Strahan
All Ages (0+)
Free Cancellation (72 hours prior)

Spend a summer evening on the Gordon River aboard Spirit of the Wild, with a rainforest walk at Heritage Landing, a Tasmanian buffet dinner, a guided tour of the Sarah Island convict ruins and sunset at Hells Gates. Choose from several seating options, from the main deck to the Premier Upper Deck with an open bar.

  • Gordon River cruise boat surrounded by Tasmanian wilderness rainforest
  • Cruise boat beside Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour at dawn
  • Couple gazing up at the rainforest on a Gordon River cruise walk
  • Gordon River cruise boat surrounded by Tasmanian wilderness rainforest
  • Cruise boat beside Sarah Island in Macquarie Harbour at dawn
  • Couple gazing up at the rainforest on a Gordon River cruise walk

Quick read before you book.

  • Sunset over the Southern Ocean at Hells Gates, weather permitting
  • Whisper quiet upstream run into World Heritage wilderness
  • Dinner served on the water as the river darkens
  • Convict history on Sarah Island in the evening light
  • Runs on a handful of summer dates only

What people say about this operator.

Google Reviews
4.8 Stars|2,055 reviews

What could be better?

Honestly, not much. Grab a window seat if you can and bring a jacket for the outside decks.

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Included in this tour.

  • About 6 hour evening cruise from Strahan aboard Spirit of the Wild
  • Quiet cruising on electric motors along the Gordon River
  • Guided rainforest walk at Heritage Landing
  • Guided interpretive tour of the Sarah Island convict ruins
  • Chef prepared buffet dinner featuring Tasmanian produce
  • Dedicated onboard guides and commentary
  • Cash bar on the main deck, on Main Deck options
  • Open bar with Tasmanian red, white and sparkling wines, beer, juices, tea and espresso, on the Premier Upper Deck option
  • Premium leather recliners, private viewing deck and lounge, on the Premier Upper Deck option

Commonly asked questions.

It is a summer only cruise. For the 2026 to 2027 season it runs from 27 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 and from 14 to 24 February 2027, and our guide on when to visit Tasmania helps you plan the rest of the trip.

Check in at 3:00pm at the Gordon River Cruises terminal on the Esplanade in Strahan. Boarding is at 3:15pm and the cruise departs at 3:30pm, returning about 6 hours later.

Yes, every seat includes a chef prepared buffet dinner featuring Tasmanian produce. Let the operator know about dietary requirements when you book and they will cater for them.

Main Deck Central and Main Deck Window share the same cruise, dinner and walks with a cash bar, the window option simply putting you beside the glass. The Premier Upper Deck adds leather recliners, a private viewing deck and lounge, and an open bar of Tasmanian wines, beer and soft drinks.

Yes. Child fares cover ages 3 to 16 and infants under 2 travel free on a lap, one per paying adult, while children on the Premier Upper Deck pay the adult fare.

The Master can cancel or change the cruise for weather or safety, and you can then choose a full refund or move to a cruise of equal value. If you cancel yourself, you get a full refund more than 72 hours before departure and no refund inside 72 hours.

The main deck is wheelchair accessible, but mobility scooters cannot be taken on board. Call the operator before booking to talk through access on the Heritage Landing and Sarah Island walks.

Strahan is on Tasmania's remote west coast, roughly a four hour drive from Hobart or Launceston, so most people drive and stay the night. Our guide to exploring Tasmania without a car covers the alternatives.

More about this tour.

This is the Gordon River in its quietest hours. The Evening Dinner Cruise leaves Strahan mid afternoon and runs the day in reverse, so you reach the rainforest as the light softens and finish at Hells Gates, the narrow mouth of Macquarie Harbour, where on a clear night the sun drops into the Southern Ocean.Aboard Spirit of the Wild, the boat switches to electric motors in Whisper Mode for the run upstream, gliding past rainforest reflections into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. You step ashore at Heritage Landing for a guided boardwalk through ancient temperate rainforest, then settle in for a chef prepared buffet dinner built on Tasmanian produce while the river slides by.After dinner you land on Sarah Island for a guided tour of the convict ruins, one of the harshest penal settlements of colonial Australia. If convict history grabs you, our guide to the Port Arthur Historic Site tells the other half of the story. Prefer to cruise by daylight with a fish farm stop and lunch? The Spectacular Gordon River Cruise runs most of the year.This tour has multiple options;
  • Main Deck Central: central seating on the main deck, with a cash bar
  • Main Deck Window: main deck seating beside the windows, with a cash bar
  • Premier Upper Deck: premium leather recliners by full length windows, a private viewing deck and lounge, and an open bar with Tasmanian wines, beer, juices, tea and espresso
The dinner cruise runs on a short list of summer dates only, so plan your west coast trip around them. Explore the options below, check availability for your date, then book the one that suits your evening.

Additional info.

Check in at 3:00pm at the Gordon River Cruises terminal, 24 Esplanade, Strahan, for 3:15pm boarding and a 3:30pm departure. The cruise takes about 6 hours and returns to Strahan.This is a seasonal summer cruise. For the 2026 to 2027 summer it operates from 27 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 and again from 14 to 24 February 2027.
  • Child fares apply to ages 3 to 16. Infants under 2 travel free, one per paying adult, without a guaranteed seat. Child fares are not offered on the Premier Upper Deck, where children travel on an adult fare.
  • Dietary requirements can be catered for when you let the operator know at booking.
  • You cannot bring your own alcohol on board, and alcohol is not served to anyone under 18.
  • The main deck is wheelchair accessible and mobility scooters cannot be taken on board. Call the operator to discuss access at Heritage Landing and Sarah Island.
  • Bring a warm, waterproof jacket for the outside decks and the island walks, and comfortable walking shoes.
  • The Master can cancel or alter a cruise for weather or safety reasons, and if the operator cancels or changes the itinerary you can choose a full refund or rebook onto a cruise of equal value.
  • Cancellations made more than 72 hours before departure receive a full refund. No refund applies to cancellations within 72 hours of departure.