About

Established in 1993 by the Bottcher family, Wetlander Cruises commenced operations as a well loved tourist attraction. It operates deep within the magical Gunbower State Forest along the Gunbower Creek, Gannawarra.

The current operators Jim and Lesley Moore are very proud to showcase one of the most significant & diverse Inland Islands in Australia. This remarkable hidden treasure boasts many delightful surprises. When you come aboard our floating restaurant we will take you on a scenic journey through an ancient forest wetland.

In fact Gunbower Island is the largest Inland Island in Australia and covers some 26,000 hectares with 19,500 hectares of forest and 1,200 hectares of marshes and waterways.

Visitors can expect to see many of the 260 species of bird and animal life that inhabit these Ramsar Accredited Wetlands. This means that the Wetlands are of International significance and boast some 170 species of Waterbirds alone as well as diverse Wildlife & Aquatic Life.

Enjoy our delicious locally sourced cuisine, prepared on board; sit back and relax while we meander through this internationally recognised sanctuary, or visit the bar and head to the upper deck to get an even better view and take in the panoramic views whilst listening to our audio commentary.

We serve as a Restaurant , Functions Hub, and Conference Centre.

We cater for lots of groups which have included Probus, Lions Clubs, Seniors, Car Clubs, Caravan Clubs, U3A, Social Clubs etc as well as taking bookings for smaller groups, individuals and families. We are frequented regularly by Nursing homes because we can accommodate wheelchairs and walking-frames on board. Please note however that we do not have wheelchair accessible toilets, but they can be used with the assistance of carers.

We can cater for a maximum of 96 Guests for either a Breakfast With The Birds, 2 Course Lunch or 2 Course Dinner Cruise. Our normal operations are Saturday and Sunday but we can operate on any other day when we have Groups of 20 or more and we can also offer “Exclusive Cruises” for 40 or more. The Wetlander is also available for Parties, Weddings, Conferences, Reunions, Paddleboard Packages, School Programs & Special Events.

We operate between August 15th and May 15th, during this 9 Month Period the water level remains high enabling Guests to take advantage of the magnificent views over The Wetlands from either the lower or top decks. Our Chef prepares & cooks all meals on board, we are proud of our diverse fresh local produce. We also have a fully functional Bar on board along with bathroom facilities for males and females.

We can also help with accommodation needs, there are a number of quality Motels, Guest Houses, & Caravan Parks in the area. As a point of reference, we are located only 5 Minutes away from “The Barham Bridge”.