Run - Forest - Run

We rounded off our first day in Strahan with a braai on the water at West Beach, a great way to come down from the dizzying heights of my theatrical performance.

The following morning arrived and we checked out and left our luggage at reception (slightly more cautiously this time). It was 8:25 and the 9am cruise down the Gordon River was full, but there was some availability on the 8:30 trip. We hightailed it but arrived at the wharf to the sight of the boat leaving. I sweet-talked a lady at the other company into letting us onto their 9am cruise but we would have to sit on plastic chairs on the upper deck. After a couple failed to turn up we were upgraded to their seats and got a free lunch.

The cruise took us around the Macquarie Harbour, passing through Hell's Gates and also making a stop at a salmon farm. We had a walk around Sarah Island and then got stuck into lunch on the boat. I reckon I must have eaten around 50$ worth of the best smoked salmon so all in all it turned out to be good value for money.

The highlight of the cruise (coming in only just ahead of the salmon) was travelling down the Gordon River and into the forest that achieves 7 out of 10 of UNESCO's criteria for world heritage areas, matched only by 1 other place in the world.

We arrived back into Strahan at 3:30, about 30 minutes late, which meant that we only had half an hour to get our bags and make it back into town for our bus. Another full on sprint but with a full belly of salmon one that was a lot less comfortable. We just made it in time for our bus but turned a few heads in doing so. I think the locals were all shattered that we were leaving the friendliest town in the world in such a hurry.