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Port Arthur Historic Site

Port Arthur Historic Site: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

1. From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

Embark on a cruise that sails beneath the highest vertical sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere at Cape Pillar. Discover waterfalls, rock formations, archways and deep-sea caves. Cruise along the coastline which is part of the Tasman National Park. Discover the home of a diverse range of wildlife including hundreds of seals, migrating whales, and abundant sea birds in their thousands. At any time of year, you're likely to see the feeding frenzy of diving gannets, albatross and sea eagles wheeling on the wind, cliff-nesting cormorants and peregrine falcons, or a pod of playful dolphins surfing the bow wave of the boat. Enjoy a cruise on a vessel that has covered open-air tiered seating for an excellent all-round view and connection with the environment.

Port Arthur Historic Site Entry Ticket

2. Port Arthur Historic Site Entry Ticket

Explore the award-winning iconic attraction, the Port Arthur Historic Site. Just a short 1.5 hour drive from nipaluna / Hobart in turrakana / the Tasman Peninsula, the Port Arthur Historic Site has over 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes set in 40 hectares of landscaped grounds. Allow plenty of time to fully experience all that Port Arthur has to offer. Site entry tickets are valid for daytime entry for two consecutive days and includes a harbor cruise, a self-guided audio experience, and complimentary site talks by expert guides throughout the site. Start your experience in the Port Arthur Gallery where you can select a character card to connect with one of the convicts, soldiers, or free settlers that spent time in this secondary punishment station. Listen to personal histories of the people of Port Arthur and explore the collections of artifacts that have been uncovered there. Stream the Port Arthur Experience as you venture through the convict ruins and lush gardens at your own pace. Wander through meticulously curated house museums and engage with expert guides with free presentations throughout the day. A short harbor cruise will present the site to you as the convicts would have experienced back in the 1800s. Enjoy historical commentary as you cruise around the Isle of the Dead and past the Dockyards and Point Puer the site of the first Boys Prison in the British Empire.

Tasman Peninsula Tour, Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site

3. Tasman Peninsula Tour, Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site

Experience the best of the Tasman Peninsula on an informative and entertaining day trip from Hobart.  Journey 1.5-hours from Hobart to Port Arthur by comfortable coach. Enjoy morning tea on the Tasman Peninsula. Climb aboard a custom-built boat for an unforgettable 3-hour wilderness cruise. Explore the spectacular coastline between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck. Look for seals, migrating whales, seabirds, or even dolphins.  At the end of your cruise, spend 3-hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site. You will have time for lunch on site and to explore before the return journey to Hobart. Be dropped back to Hobart or your hotel around 6 pm.

Hobart: Full Day Tour to Port Arthur with Admission

4. Hobart: Full Day Tour to Port Arthur with Admission

Embark on a tour full of contrasts — compelling tales of the harsh lives of convicts combined with the breathtaking scenery of the Tasman Peninsula. Your passionate Tasmanian driver guides will entertain you with personal insights and information about wildlife and other points of interest during the bus tour and are on hand to assist you throughout the day. From Hobart, cross the Tasman Bridge and head into the Coal River Valley, an award-winning wine region, through the historic town of Richmond with a short photo stop at the famous convict-built Richmond Bridge. Visit Tasman National Park, where you’ll marvel at the spectacle of Tasman Arch and enjoy superb views of the rugged coastline. Be in awe of the wonderful views from Pirates Bay Lookout. Arriving at Port Arthur, join the guided walking tour of the historic convict site, with access to over 30 restored buildings and ruins. See the penitentiary, the separate prison, the commandant's house, the church, and more. Visit the interpretation center with its interactive exhibits and displays, and follow the harrowing life of a convict. Enjoy a cruise on Carnarvon Bay around the Isle of the Dead. Purchase lunch with plenty of time for quiet contemplation in the beautifully maintained gardens and to explore the many restored historic buildings of Port Arthur. Ask your driver about the optional, included remarkable cave tour. On Saturdays, the tour includes a visit to Hobart’s Salamanca Market. Delight in a shopping experience at this popular, colorful outdoor marketplace. You'll have time to explore the market at leisure for approximately 2 hours. Then, you will need to meet your bus at 11:00 to continue on with the Port Arthur tour and get a sense of Australia’s convict era and the early settlement of Tasmania. The Saturday tour does not include the cave tour or a visit to Richmond.

Tasman Peninsula Day Trip with Cruise & Devils from Hobart

5. Tasman Peninsula Day Trip with Cruise & Devils from Hobart

Experience the highlights of the Tasman Peninsula on a day trip from Hobart. Journey 1.5 hours from Hobart to Port Arthur by a comfortable coach. Enjoy morning tea on the Tasman Peninsula. Climb aboard a custom-built boat for an unforgettable 3-hour wilderness cruise. Explore the spectacular coastline between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck, from rugged sea cliffs to waterfalls, rock formations, archways, and deep-sea caves. You might see seals, migrating whales, seabirds, or even a pod of playful dolphins surfing the boat's bow wave.  At the end of your cruise, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park. Spend part of the afternoon at the Park before the returning journey to Hobart for hotel drop-off.

Port Arthur Shuttle and Tasman Sights Tour

6. Port Arthur Shuttle and Tasman Sights Tour

Take a conveninient shuttle transfer srevice from Port Arthur to Hobart. Travel in comfort on air-conditioned vehicles driven by a friendly local driver. After pickup, set off on the journey to Port Arthur. Along the way, stop at Eaglehawk Neck’s Pirates Bay lookout and the Dog Line monument to soak up the scenery and take fantastic photos. The next stop will have the mouths of sweet tooths watering as you visit the Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry. After the chocolate factory, explore the beautiful Port Arthur Lavender Farm. Discover unique handmade products made from Tasmanian Lavender and take a stroll around the scenic lavender trail. Next, visit the Port Arthur Historic Site. Immerse yourself in the fascinating, rich, and dark history of the best-preserved penal settlement in Australia. Admission is at your own cost and the entry fee will include a 35-minute guided walking tour and a 20-minute harbor cruise. If history is what you came for, enjoy the full 4 hours exploring Port Arthur Historic Site. However, if you are up for one more experience, then you can hop back onboard the bus after 3 hours for a trip to the Remarkable Cave. Just a short 8-minute drive away, be greeted with the spectacular vista of Maingon Bay. At the lookout, you can take in the exceptional views of Penguin Rocks and the bay. Descend down the 115 steps to view the Remarkable Cave from a viewing platform where you will be surrounded by ancient sandstone cliffs. Return back to the historic site to pick up the remaining passengers and then return to Hobart in the late afternoon.

Tasmania: 7-Day Tasmania Highlights Tour

7. Tasmania: 7-Day Tasmania Highlights Tour

Day 1: Hobart to Strahan Departing Hobart, your tour of Tasmania/lutruwita begins in Mount Field National Park. Walk among the world’s tallest eucalyptus trees and discover the cascading Russell Falls. The incredible scenery continues at Lake St Clair (Australia’s deepest freshwater lake), and the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. You’ll learn about Tasmania’s mining history in Queenstown before arriving in the village of Strahan where we’ll spend the next two nights. Day 2: Wild West Coast Discover the West Coast’s wild and rugged coastlines and rainforests. Walk to Tasmania’s highest waterfall, Montezuma Falls, within the ancient rainforests of the Tarkine/takayna. At the coast we’ll explore Henty Sand Dunes and Tasmania’s longest stretch of sand at Ocean Beach. Or today you can choose an outstanding nature cruise on the beautiful Gordon River (own cost). Day 3: Cradle Mountain to Launceston Discover Cradle’s alpine and glacial-carved wilderness as you look for wombats, echidna, and other Tasmanian wildlife. Choose from a variety of world-class walks, such as the track to the summit of Marion’s Lookout, or the Dove Lake circuit. Later today we'll drive to the city of Launceston via the colourful town of Sheffield, known as the Town of Murals. Day 4: Launceston to Bicheno Explore Launceston's lovely Cataract Gorge which is a great place for seeing wallaby. Travel to the Bay of Fires/larapuna and learn about the spiritual connection of the land to Tasmanian aboriginal people/palawa. Walk along pristine white sands with its turquoise waters with striking orange boulders. We will spend the night in Bicheno, home of the little penguin. Day 5: Freycinet National Park Walk to Wineglass Bay or climb to the summit of Mt Amos. We'll visit the Cape Tourville lighthouse before returning to Hobart/nipaluna. Day 6: Tasmanian Devils, Richmond and Wellington Park Today we'll meet Tasmanian devils at Bonorong wildlife sanctuary, before exploring the heritage village of Richmond. Back in Hobart we'll show you some of our favourite spots on Mount Wellington/kunanyi. Tonight, unwind in one of Hobart's historic pubs or restaurants. Day 7: Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula Discover the rugged coastal scenery and epic convict history of the Tasman Peninsula/turrakana. Visit Port Arthur, Australia’s best preserved convict settlement. Later today we'll walk to the stunning Crescent Bay, before returning to Hobart.

From Hobart: Port Arthur, Richmond, & Tasman Peninsula Tour

8. From Hobart: Port Arthur, Richmond, & Tasman Peninsula Tour

Visit Port Arthur Historic Site, part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Australian Convict Sites, on this day trip from Hobart. Learn about the site’s history as a convict colony on a walking tour, visit ruins and restored buildings, and appreciate the coastal scenery of the Tasman Peninsula. Get picked up from your Hobart hotel and start with a visit to the well-preserved colonial village of Richmond. See Australia's oldest bridge and take the chance to grab a coffee from the Richmond bakery. Head south to the Tasman Peninsula and admire Pirates Bay lookout and Tessellated pavements. Upon arrival at the Port Arthur Historic Site, learn the story of the convict settlement and the terrifying realities of life as a prisoner among the preserved jail ruins. Take a cruise of the harbor to see the site from a different perspective, and enjoy extra time to explore on your own. During your return to Hobart, stop at the Port Arthur Lavender Farm for an opportunity to taste lavender ice cream and explore the lavender fields. Finally, discover the geological formations of the Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen, and Blow Hole before riding back to your hotel.

Port Arthur: Tour with Isle of the Dead Cruise

9. Port Arthur: Tour with Isle of the Dead Cruise

Cross the Tasman Bridge, and head out on the Tasman Highway over the Pittwater Causeway onto Forestier Peninsula. Admire the pristine beauty of Pirates Bay, Eaglehawk Neck, and Norfolk Bay. Visit Abel Tasman National Park, where you’ll marvel at the spectacle of the Tasman Arch and enjoy superb views of the rugged coastline. You’ll be amazed at the magnitude of the Devil's Kitchen. Explore Port Arthur, where you’ll take a guided walking tour of the historic convict site, with access to over 30 restored buildings and ruins. See the penitentiary, the separate prison, the commandant's house, and the church.

From Hobart: Port Arthur and Tasmanian Devil Unzoo Day Tour

10. From Hobart: Port Arthur and Tasmanian Devil Unzoo Day Tour

Travel with us from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula, where the might of the Southern Ocean has carved spectacular caves and arches into solid rock. Meet Tassie’s coastline at its rugged finest. It’ll take your breath away. Spend the morning walking along 300 metre high clifftops, pausing at majestic lookouts to watch giant waves crash against dolerite spires. Visit Pirates Bay, Waterfall Bay, Tasman Arch and the famous Devil’s Kitchen, ticking all the best views off the list. Tasmanian Devils are carnivorous marsupials that can only be found in Tasmania. They look like a small bear and are just as feisty, with one of the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom. In this action-packed tour that features a trip to the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, you’ll get up close and personal with these iconic critters in a snarling feeding frenzy! You can also feed wallabies by hand, attend a Birds of the Bush presentation and learn about local wildlife from the Unzoo’s passionate staff, before heading off to explore the Port Arthur Historic Site. Port Arthur is up next, where impeccably preserved ruins offer a chilling glimpse of life as a Tasmanian convict. Spend four hours exploring this World Heritage open air museum, including a complimentary harbour cruise around the Isle of the Dead and fascinating site talks. Our last stop is the unmissable Richmond, a historic village filled with quaint stone buildings, ye olde lolly shops and Australia’s oldest bridge! This sandstone beauty was built by convicts and is thought to be haunted. You be the judge. A devilishly good day out.

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What people are saying about Port Arthur Historic Site

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 700 reviews

Gliding along the bays and ocean was fabulous! We were lucky to be blessed with a beautiful day! The driver had been given permission by his boss to take us so very close to the dolerite cliffs called the blade! Magical! Spectacular! We also saw an albatross! A rare sight so near to the coast. We continued to view the seal Colony on Tasman Island playfully arguing about the funniest spot in the rocks. Comical! Then more beautiful natural coast towards Eaglehawk Neck.. on the way we were spoilt by getting very close to the pinnacle of Rock called the Candlestick some people climb! A magical day I’ll always remember!

Excellent day trip. Tim, our driver and guide was very informative and interesting. He explained about the forest fires and everything on the journey. Thoroughly recommend

Amazing trip with so much wildlife … dolphins, seals , whales, albatross…. Incredible!! Along with the scenic views of the rugged tassie coastline.

Our tour guide, Rick, had an excellent knowledge of the history of the area making the trip very interesting and informative.

Great day out. Timing of stops at each place was good. The guides had lots of local knowledge too.