Strahan Village - Gordon River Paddle [Federal Group]
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Gordon River Paddle's full-day signature experience on Tasmania’s West Coast combines a cruise on Lady Jane Franklin II with a sea kayak trip on the iconic Gordon River in the heart of Tasmania’s Franklin Lower Gordon World Heritage Area National Park.
With its superlative natural beauty, pristine rainforests, unique wildlife and rich human history, this region is unlike anywhere else in the world – one of only two places on Earth that meet seven out of the ten World Heritage Area criteria for natural and cultural values.
The Lady Jane Franklin II departs Strahan at 8.30am for the voyage across Macquarie Harbour. You will pass through the notorious Hell’s Gates, the narrow entrance to the harbour, and feel the power of the Southern Ocean before returning into the harbour past working fish farms and then onto the Gordon River, alongside ancient rainforest mirrored in the water.
Along the way, the captain will captivate you with tales of the history of the region, and its early life as the site of a major penal colony, boat-building industry, mining and pining operations and fishing port.
After morning tea and a safety briefing, the safe, stable and comfortable double sea kayaks are lowered into the Gordon River at Heritage Landing, the furthest point that cruise boats can reach. With a minimum of two and maximum of eight people, the paddle upstream is a quiet and intimate experience – pristine forest air to breathe, ripples fanning away from the bow, the swirl of a platypus ahead. Only bush birds and the splash of the paddle breaks the silence of the wilderness.
Led by a trained guide you will explore the river as far as Line Kiln Reach in unmatched serenity, discovering the amazing history that has occurred on the banks around you – the days of the piners and their pursuit of the precious Huon pine timber, and the fight to save the Gordon and Franklin rivers in the 1980s.
After an easy hour and a half’s paddling you reach a small secluded beach where the guides serve a riverbank picnic lunch of fresh Tasmanian produce.
Then it’s a lazy drift and paddle back downstream, hearing stories of the river, keeping an eye out for a sea eagle or azure kingfisher, before arriving at Heritage Landing to meet the afternoon cruise back to Strahan.
During the return voyage a delicious dinner is served and there’s a stop at Sarah Island, for a fascinating discovery walk around the ruins of the once feared convict colony. The cruise boat arrives back in Strahan at 8.30pm.
| Inclusions: |
| Tour includes the cruise, all equipment for the sea kayak trip, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Paddlers should wear light but warm clothing (thermals are excellent) and have a spare set of dry clothes. |
| RATES VALID: 01/04/11 - 30/09/12 |
Adult
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Child
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| Departs: 7:30am - Returns: 8:15pm |
$380.00 |
$380.00 |
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| PLEASE NOTE: All guests participating in the Piners and Miners experience must have hiking boots or boots with adequate ankle support due to undulating terrain covered in the walk. Those without appropriate footwear will continue on the experience at their own risk. This experience is not recommended for children under 10 years of age. | ||||
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