Cat O Nine Tails Cruises

Just back from a very enjoyable trip today, albeit stunningly hot. Our guides were enthusiastic, knowledgeable and funny. This made the whole experience more relatable, digestible and I definitely learned something news, even as a born and bred Brisbanite. Highly recommend.

What a great day - very informative and well presented. The two prison guards and prisoner 31 did a great job entertaining and informing us.

Lunch under the trees with a breeze was marvelous.

It was bloody hot but that is Queensland in the summer.

I would definitely recommend it as an activity.

Cannot rate highly enough. The tour operator thought of everything to make the day enjoyable. We travelled with our small kids and elderly in-laws. All had fun and enjoyed the scenery, the history and the “guard” and “prisoner “ who presented were knowledgeable, engaging and hilarious! The tour even provided transport on the island for those who weren’t able to make the walk - so no one had to miss out. Worth the day out and excellent value for money.

What a great day out! Sunday 17/09/23.
Blue skies, dead calm and tour to remember. The crew and guides were so knowledgeable and funny. Lunch was lovely with the view of tge Bay. Highly recommend!

Outstanding value. Very informative and interesting tour guides/actors who kept everyone thoroughly engaged.
Manly and the trip across the bay were an added bonus.

Fantastic, this was one of the best tours I’ve been on in years! The team were incredibly knowledgeable and absolutely hilarious love learning about our history and with this Team we certainly did! I’m looking forward to booking the night tour next!

Had a great day. The passion and knowledge of the guard and his 2 prisoners was brilliant. Was a hot day so the cold beer at lunch was extra sweet!

Absolutely brilliant! Luckily we had great weather, the crew were engaging, friendly, knowledgeable.just fantastic. Highly recommended for locals and tourists alike!

Fantastic tours of St Helena island. Jeff and the guys do a fantastic job bringing the history to life. Their knowledge about the history of colonial Queensland and Brisbane. This is a must do if you are a local or visiting.

Absolutely brilliant. Had a wonderful day full of surprises and so much knowledge of the history. Smashing picnic lunch under the trees on a island paradise. BUT, the best bit were the convicts.sorry I mean staff. From the moment we boarded to the moment we left they looked after us. Roll playing and wonderful senses of humour made this a very special day.and WOW.wonderful value for money. Thank you inmate 321 and team we had the best of days!

I bought 4 of these vouchers as gifts on Groupon. They are ridiculously hard to redeem and when you ring the company the guy is incredibly aggressive and rude. Won't have a conversation with you and talks over the top of you.

The people that I've bought for haven't actually been on the tour yet, so here's hoping that the tour itself is enjoyable, although dealing with the actual company has definitely tainted the experience somewhat.

An excellent day, fantastic scenery. The guides were knowledgeable and entertaining. Would highly recommend.

Absolutely brilliant. Amazing knowledge and humor from the tour guides. We will be recommending to all of our family and friends. And attempting a private trip just for our family. Thank you all very much for an amazing experience

The day was fantastic! The guys really made it fun with the humor and level of energy they had for all! A must go see with the team!

We had an interesting day on the island. The guides were informative all along the way. They really know the island history. Lunch was adequate. The only negative is the boat: it needs a thorough cleaning. Cobwebs and mold are around the windows, so one would not want to get too close to that. Above the door to the engine room, there are black handprints. It has been a long time since the interior was thoroughly cleaned, making me cringe a bit.

Good value for money with the discount. The guys leading the tour were great, very enthusiastic and engaging with hilarious moments. Food basket really well presented. Lots of sadness associated with the place though, prisoners used to generate a commercial enterprise that funded the state or possibly some personal pockets? Even in death only a number to their name. Perhaps today's authorities could collate those numbers and attach a name to their tombstone? Miggies were outrageous and still scratching today, insect repellent was suggested but I assure you never enough. One historical correction though was the fact that apart from the Indegenous peoples and those travelling past Australia to New Zealand centuries ago the guide forgot the mention the Portuguese Explorers Christian de Mendonca 1532 and Admiral Torres travelled along the east coast close to 100 years before the Dutch van Dieman visiting the west coast. But it's all about which history books we read not commonly recognised. Overall a great opportunity to discover some of Brisbanes hidden history. Well done operators!

What an excellent opportunity to go back in time, and discover an important piece of our history. 321 and 78 were informative, funny and very entertaining, all whilst giving us a day out to remember for a long time to come. I would recommend this trip to anyone. I would give the tour more stars, but they only gave me a rating out of 5. Thank you so much for a very interesting day.

Absolutely fantastic tour. The guides were full of A+ dad jokes along with amazing knowledge of the local area and of course St Helena island. A great day out for the whole family of all ages. Don’t forget your walking shoes, sunscreen and water. Highly recommend!

Really informative and fun walking tour of the 1800 penal colony ruins located on St Helena. Great crew and lunch! Highly recommend

Excellent trip to the St Helena Island by Cat o Nine Tails. The little island is just a short boat ride from Manly carries so much history of Brisbane and Queensland. The crews ‘role play’ the prison guard, prisoner 321 and prisoner 31. They turn the history lesson of St Helena so much more enjoyable and entertaining. Well done guys.

ADVICE:
1. If your cruise departs on Sunday, allows plenty of extra time to find a parking spot because the Sunday market is also on Sunday.
2. It is basically a walking trip on the island, need to walk about 5km in 3.5 hrs. Wear a pair of comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen/hat/long sleeve and water, especially in a hot day.