We were in the little village of Strahan on the wild West Coast to experience nature at its most raw. Set on the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Strahan is the gateway to Franklin-Gordon Rivers National Park and today we were booked for a day of relaxed adventure on the Spirit of the Wild… a 6 hour cruise on Macquarie Harbour, through Hells Gates and headed for the deep dark waters of the Gordon River giving us the opportunity to experience the dramatic and untamed landscapes up close whilst learning of its history.

The harbour cruise is unlike anything you’ve experienced anywhere else in the world. Mirror-flat water reflecting the vast Tasmanian wilderness, misty mountain peaks, densely forested riverbanks and ancient Huon Pines holding back the lush, green rainforest, tannin-stained rivers and the brutal convict history of tiny Sarah Island.

The weather was not what we wanted and there were certainly no blue skies but in some ways it perhaps just added more atmosphere with low cloud and mist sitting over the forest as we made our way down the river through the serene wilderness beauty. This beauty is one that you definitely can’t capture with pictures. It’s more about the pristine silence (even the boat travels in ‘whisper’ mode) and knowing you are travelling through untouched wilderness with global significance. You can feel the cultural and spiritual significance. Though freezing in the front of the boat, I was in awe as I soaked it in. It felt like I was in a sacred place.

As we cruised along the river, all i could think about was how good it would be to get off the boat and have a look around. Heritage Landing was an opportunity to do just that. Our boat moored at a landing and we went on guided tour around a boardwalk loop through the forest. It was a great chance to see and smell the forest up close once again, including the magnificent Huon pines, and I can’t get enough of it. It really feels like some kind of prehistoric ’land before time’ movie set.

We then head to Sarah Island to learn the fascinating history of the convict and pioneer days and admittedly, i wasn’t all that fussed about the idea of convict history tour. But, the stop here and the stories of life on the island and how it ended up being a major ship building site was actually awesome- our guides was amazing and really brought the history to life.

After returning to Strahan, the girls return to our little BnB to warm by the fire while I decide to walk to Hogarth Falls. It is a pretty waterfall, cascading down the sheer, mossy rock face to the log strewn, tanin-stained waters below. A lovely short walk to the waterfall, the tree-fern lined walking track meanders adjacent to Botanical creek beneath stands of towering eucalyptus and through verdant temperate rainforest. It is apparently home to a number of platypus that frolick in the mornings or at dusk… but sadly, despite constant looking, I still haven’t managed to spot one.