Strahan: Cruises, Rainforest and History
Accommodation in Strahan
Strahan offers several clearly distinct ways to experience nature and history. Commercial cruises to Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River depart from here; paths through Peoples Park lead to Hogarth Falls. Other attractions include a historic railway journey, a walk along the foreshore and a theatrical production based on an event dating back to 1834. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth considering first whether you would like to discover Strahan from the water, on foot, by rail or through its history.
Gordon River Cruises
Commercial cruises from Strahan provide access to Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River. Gordon River Cruises and World Heritage Cruises take passengers through Hells Gates and onto the Gordon River. The cruises associated with Strahan make Sarah Island, the former penal colony, their final stop. This allows the waterways, the passage through Hells Gates and the historic destination to be understood as distinct elements of the boat trip. The river and the passage are complemented by the historic significance of the final stop: Sarah Island is not just a name on the route, but the site of the former penal colony.
Rainforest Trails and the Foreshore Walk
A nature experience on foot leads from Strahan through the cool-temperate rainforest in Peoples Park to Hogarth Falls. Both the trail and its destination define this outing: the rainforest is just as much a part of the route as the waterfall. The Strahan Historic Foreshore Walk offers a different walking route. It runs from West Strahan Beach to Regatta Point Station, passing galleries and historic information boards; the walk is also located on The Esplanade in Strahan. The two walks can therefore be distinguished by their character: at Hogarth Falls, the trail leads through rainforest to a waterfall, while the Foreshore Walk passes galleries and historic information boards along a route between two named points.
A Play with a Historical Story
The Ship That Never Was is a classic pantomime production by the Round Earth Company in Strahan. Its story is based on a robbery that began in 1834: ten convict shipwrights stole the Frederick, and the production grew out of this event. This historical basis directly connects the play to the robbery and gives a visit to the theatre a link to Strahan’s history. The production is listed as performing daily at 5:30 pm from September to May at the Richard Davey Amphitheatre. Check the current schedule before your visit, as performance times are seasonal.
Train Journey from Regatta Point Station
In Strahan, Regatta Point Station is the boarding point for a historic train journey into the rainforest on the West Coast Wilderness Railway. The same station is the endpoint of the Strahan Historic Foreshore Walk. This brings two different experiences together: a train journey into the rainforest and a walk featuring galleries and historic information boards. The station provides a specific landmark for considering the two activities separately. Check the railway’s current operating information before your trip.
The cruise and the walk to Hogarth Falls differ above all in perspective: the cruise focuses on the harbour and river, while the walk to the falls passes through cool-temperate rainforest. This distinction can help you decide what to focus on during your stay before choosing a hotel in Strahan.
Discover more destinations: Meadowbank, Kayena, Dunalley, Lalla, Ulverstone, Coles Bay, Gardners Bay, Branxholm.
For the broader travel overview: Tasmania.
