We board our bus and leave Queenstown at 7.30am to drive to the fishing port of Strahan on Macquarie Harbour on the
west coast where we join World Heritage
Cruises
The Collingwood and Franklin rivers flow through deep
valleys and uninhabited mountainous rainforest country
then merge as the Gordon River to flow into the Macquarie
Harbour on Tasmania's west coast. The lower part of the Gordon River is
part of the World Heritage area with
rainforest and rare trees such as the Huon. The water in rivers
in western Tasmania are drinkable but stained brown from the button grass tannin growing in the
catchment area and ancient trees are mirrored in the dark
waters reflected and rippling in the ship's wake as we cruise first
to the Harbour Mouth - a narrow entry called Hells Gates.

We see distant rings of aquaculture pens and next
stop at Sarah Island to see the ruins of the penal settlement and learn
about the harsh conditions in the 1820's
convicts judged to be intransient experienced. At the Heritage landing we follow the boardwalk which
winds its way through the rain forest and learn of the Huron Pine walking
among trees 1000 years old. Back on
board we enjoy a fabulous buffet lunch featuring Macquarie Harbour
salmon harvested from the salmon farms.
On our return to Strahan, some
elected to take the wilderness train back to Queenstown - remaining
group members were demonstrated milling of Huon pine at the Strahan
wharf and learn of the role this unique timber played in the settlement of
the area before returning by road and exploring the mining township of
Queenstown.
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