Gordon River
Gordon River
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
22 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
4
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Tastravel88
Perth (Tasmania), Australia17 contributions
Payed for premium seats which after getting on board wernt much better than regular u were at the window but the standard seats in the middle are up higher and have nearly just as good a view if not better cause you can see out both sides of the ship. And if you sit at the rear of the ship on the right you get to eat dead last and have ppl lining up for seconds before you have even gotten up cause left rear get to line up first and it works it way up that side and then down the right which is suppose to be just the premium seating then after that basic seating which obviously no one keeps an eye on cause all the ppl in the basic justed jumped in with the premium so had to wait even longer than was meant to. PAYED FOR PREMIUM GOT NOTHING BETTER THAN BASIC lucky staff were friendly and the cruise is good or would have been a complete bust
Written February 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sophie S
Swansea, UK14 contributions
Dec 2011 • Solo
I took a Gordon River Cruise on the Lady Jane Franklin on Boxing Day from Stahan. I hadn't booked and just about made it, arriving 10 minutes before departure, but I'm very pleased I went on the cruise. I enjoyed the whole experience but the highlight was a guided tour of Sarah Island. Our guide on the day, Emily Coatman, was just fantastic. There's not much left in terms of actual ruins on the Island but she was very enthusiastic and engaged the audience, making it a really great experience. I travel a lot and I've been on a lot of guided tours, and sometimes they can be very boring if the guides repeat their script in a dull monologue, but not Emily. She'd make a great actress and an excellent teacher for that matter but I hope she keeps doing those tours!
Written December 31, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AUSTIN L
Richmond, UK498 contributions
If you are visiting Tasmania then be sure to go to the South West and book a trip up the Gordon River. There are two or three companies offering boat trips of between half a day and two days up into this World Heritage Site. It must be one of the best trips in the world. The boats generally take you out first into the Great Southern Ocean....in itself utterly spectacular with waves, stunning beaches, rips, sand bars and glorious skies. You then chug back across the great natural habour, having experienced one of the most treacherous entrances of any harbour in the world, up inland into the Gordon River. If you want isolation, peace, calm, away from it all...then here you have it like no place on earth. You get an opportunity to walk into the Temperate Rain Forest, to see some of the oldest trees on earth, to quietly explore the forest floor without causing further environmental harm or damage. On the beautiful return journey a light, delicious supper is served up on the afternoon trip before a visit to the infamous convict selllement of Sarah Island ....you return back with the setting sun illuminating some of the most spectacular scenery in Tasmania... feeling humbled and awe inspired by the natural world and all its glory. Head for Strahan to do all you booking, accommodation and food.
Written February 15, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ge90
Auckland, New Zealand144 contributions
Jan 2012 • Couples
The boat cruise was a curate’s egg: the harbour entrance and the visit to Sarah Island were interesting. The trip up the Gordon river is magic, stunning, fantastic, memorable. The buffet lunch was great, the staff were great and the organisation and service were all great.
But you do need to be aware that buying the most expensive Gold class tickets will not protect or insulate you from some of the loudest, most persistent, noisy, unruly, hyperactive and inconsiderate families that ever walked the soil of Tasmania and that 6 hours is a long time to endure a crèche-on-steroids environment. To be fair, none of the dear little children actually landed in my lap while I was trying to eat.
Travel tip : buy the cheapest tickets and spend most of the time on the seats outside.
But you do need to be aware that buying the most expensive Gold class tickets will not protect or insulate you from some of the loudest, most persistent, noisy, unruly, hyperactive and inconsiderate families that ever walked the soil of Tasmania and that 6 hours is a long time to endure a crèche-on-steroids environment. To be fair, none of the dear little children actually landed in my lap while I was trying to eat.
Travel tip : buy the cheapest tickets and spend most of the time on the seats outside.
Written January 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
poeta1826
Naracoorte, Australia10 contributions
Dec 2019
Every minute of the trip was fantastic
I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone
The tour, the food, the staff all excellent
I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone
The tour, the food, the staff all excellent
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Blueraven2
Melbourne27 contributions
Dec 2011 • Friends
Travelling on the Lady Franklin II was well worth the drive from Hobart to Strahan. Even overcast and sometimes rainy skies, could not dampen the enthusiasm of the very helpful crew as you journey out of Macquarie Harbour, through Hell's Gates in to the Southern Ocean, then returning to venture up the magnificent Gordon River. Such a pristine environment that has existed for millenia; visiting and breathing the exceptionally clean air was a very humbling experience, making a mere human being seem insignificant in time. The ship calls into Sarah Island, an island used a penal colony in the 1860s. Our guide, Emily Coatman, was outstanding. She brought history alive, including members of the tour in her animated, entertaining and knowledgeable commentary. Definitely a worthwhile exepreince.
Written December 3, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony W
Sydney, Australia4,582 contributions
Jan 2018 • Family
The Gordon River is not only an amazing part of Tasmania but an area the whole country can be proud of. Best seen from one of the cruises that leave from Strahan it is worth the effort to visit this World Heritage area.
Written January 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brett S
4 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Couldn't have picked a better day to travel, apparently got to 23 and at times felt every bit of it. Staff were very informative and friendly with plenty of food for all. Paid the little extra for the gold premium window seats and if not for the 25% discount we got through the entertainment book the price could have been questionable. Captain took us through hells gates and out to cape sorell which was a bonus. Sarah Island tour was great with the tour guides very passionate and able to tell a good story keeping the guests interested the entire time.
Written October 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2mumies
Sydney, Australia323 contributions
Feb 2013 • Couples
Went for a cruise down the Gordon River on World Heritage cruises what a great day.
The service we recived from Adam was great
The girls from the Sarah island were wonderful story tellers
The views could not have put on a better show the sun was out make the water shine like diamonds.
Captain was entertaining and very knowledgeable.
Thank you for a great day.
The service we recived from Adam was great
The girls from the Sarah island were wonderful story tellers
The views could not have put on a better show the sun was out make the water shine like diamonds.
Captain was entertaining and very knowledgeable.
Thank you for a great day.
Written February 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam D
Hunstanton, UK73 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
This wilderness attraction is a World Heritage Site. The trip, on 300 (??) seater catamaran, takes you out across Australia's 2nd largest harbour to Hell's Gate, so called as it was the entrance to the most hellish penal colony of the British era of transportation. Going out through the narrow entrance, takes you into the surf of the Pacific. Returning, the next stop is Sarah's Island where multiple lashings occurred on a daily basis to keep order amongst the transportees. Moving upstream on the Gordon River takes you through a wide and deep channel between trees down to the water. A stop upstream gives you an opportunity to see Huon Pine. The path is flat, boarded and narrow causing long waits as the single guide explains what to see. If, like us, you have already visited the rainforest of the Franklin river on the way between Derwent Bridge and Strahan, the river trip was disappointing, apart from seeing Huon pine in its real environment. However, you can see the wood being turned in the wood turners at the harbour. The captain of the craft gives an excellent running commentary during the 6 hour trip - the harbour is very calm - and shows his enthusiasm for the area and the local community. Upstairs on the boat is better than downstairs but the ship can feel very crowded. The buffet lunch was nice with plenty to eat and you had to purchase your own drinks. All in all, an enjoyable but very expensive attraction that is helping to keep the local community alive with local holidaymakers.
Written March 27, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you get public transport to this sight
Written June 8, 2015
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