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Port Arthur Tours

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About Port Arthur Tours

Port arthur and the tasman peninsula.

Port Arthur is located on the Tasman Peninsula. The scenic drive from Hobart, via the Tasman Highway to Sorell and the Arthur Highway to Port Arthur, takes around 90 minutes.

Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the most popular attractions in Tasmania. This World Heritage-listed historic site was one of the earliest convict settlements in Australia back in the 1800s. The Port Arthur Historic Site consists of over 30 buildings, ruins and gardens to explore. The basic entry ticket includes walking and boat tours and there are many other places to explore too. Open from 9:00am until dusk.

A variety of guided tours & transfers to Port Arthur from Hobart are available for visitors to the region. Some guided experiences include entry fees into Port Arthur Historic Site, Lunch and opportunities to visit surrounding atractions on the Tasman Peninsula such as the Remarkable Cave, Unzoo and Lavender farm.

Port Arthur Entry Fees Entry to Port Arthur is not included in bus transfer only tours. You can purchase entry on the day of travel at Port Arthur

• Adult (18+ years) - $40.00
• Concession - $30.00
• Child (7 - 17 years) - $18.00
• Child (0 - 7 years) - Free Entry
• Family - $102.00 (2 Adults and up to 6 children)

Your site entry ticket gives you two consecutive days to experience the attractions and activities at Port Arthur.

Port Arthur Entry Fees include

• Access to more than 30 historic buildings
• Heritage gardens
• Walking trails
• 40-minute, guided Walking Tour
• 25-minute Harbour Cruise
• Entry to the Port Arthur Gallery

Port Arthur Day Tours From Hobart

This is an overview of the different guided Port Arthur tour experiences available. Please click on the above cards to view more info on each tour.

Tasman Island Cruise Full Day Tour + Port Arthur Historic Site + Lunch | Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Duration | 10 hours (approx) This is the ultimate Tasman Peninsula day tour. Your day includes return guided bus tour from Hobart, our award-winning 3 Hour Cruise, morning tea and lunch as part of three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site.

Port Arthur Day Tour | Pennicott Wilderness Journeys​ Duration | 10 hours (approx) Your day includes return guided bus tour from Hobart and Bronze Entry into the Port Arthur Historic Site. The tour departs from the Dock Head Building on Franklin Wharf, next to the Constitution Dock Lifting Bridge on Hobart's Waterfront.

Port Arthur & Tasman Peninsula Tour | Tours Tasmania ​ ​Duration | 11 hours (approx) Enjoy a fun and action packed day out on the Tasman Peninsula. Explore convict history at Port Arthur Historic Site, view amazing scenery and panoramic landscapes from Tasman Peninsula and Pirates Bay Lookout, and some great local specialties.

Port Arthur & Tassie Devils Tour | Tours Tasmania Duration | 11 hours (approx) Explore, discover and learn with our guides as we enjoy a variety of activities, walks, sightseeing, history, Tassie Devil Feeding, chocolate tasting and much more!

Port Arthur & Lavender Farm Tour | Tours Tasmania Duration | 11 hours (approx) Explore the Port Arthur Lavender Farm & Port Arthur Historic Site, see Tasman National Park highlight, the Tasman Arch, sample local chocolates made at Federation Chocolate Factory and visit the historic Richmond Village.

Port Arthur Attractions

This 3 day tour out of Hobart hits 3 of Tasmania’s most popular tourist destinations at a very competitive, generous price. Adventure, history, culture, nature, wildlife and local produce are all included in this magnificent Tasmanian experience.

What makes it Great:

• Covers the major tourist attractions around Hobart, Port Arthur & Bruny Island
• Small & personalised tour
• Spot incredible wildlife including rare albino wallaby

Getting To Port Arthur From Hobart

Self Drive to Port Arthur Port Arthur Historic Site is a 90-minute drive from Hobart, and the journey offers some of the best sightseeing in Tasmania. The Arthur Highway winds through lush farmland and forest, inviting beaches, and the Tasman Peninsula’s famously scenic coastline. Allow enough time to stop along the way and explore places like the Tesselated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck, and dramatic coastal sites such as the Blowhole, Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and Pirate’s Bay Lookout.

Port Arthur Coach Transfers There are regular transport services between Hobart and Port Arthur.

• Pennicott Wilderness Journeys offer daily bus service from Hobart to Port Arthur, ideal for walkers travelling on the Three Capes Track, departing at 8.00am . The return bus departs from Port Arthur Historic Site at 4:45pm & returns at 6:30pm. (see above)
• The Port Arthur Shuttle departs Hobart at 10:30am & Returns at 5:30pm. Travel time from Hobart is 1.5 hours. (see above)

Guided Tours to Port Arthur A variety of guided tours & transfers to Port Arthur from Hobart are available for visitors to the region. Some guided experiences include entry fees into Port Arthur Historic Site, Hotel transfers, Lunch and opportunities to visit surrounding atractions on the Tasman Peninsula such as the Remarkable Cave, Unzoo and Lavender farm.

Other Attractions On The Tasman Peninsula

Three-hour Tasman island boat cruise This Pennicott Wilderness Journey takes you for a spectacular three-hour cruise along the extraordinary coastline of Tasman National Park, between Eaglehawk Neck and Port Arthur. Close encounters with the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere at 300 metres (328 yards) high, rugged and spectacular coastal landscapes, waterfalls, deep sea caves, amazing wildlife on land and sea like ocean gulls, pods of bottlenose dolphins, migrating humpback whales, as well as Australian and New Zealand fur seals .

Tasmanian Devil Unzoo The Tasmanian Devil Unzoo on the main way to Port Arthur is a wildlife park where you can visit many Australian animals including the infamous tasmanian devil. There are regular informative sessions and feeding times for the tasmanian devil as well as kangaroo and quoll feeding and bird shows. It has a glass dome that pops up from underneath the devil enclosure, so if you stick your head up into the dome while the devils are nearby, you may get a much closer look!

Blowhole, Tasman Arch & Devil’s Kitchen ​ You can reach formations like the Tasman Arch, the Blow Hole, the Devils Kitchen, the Tesselated Pavement, Remarkable Cave and Waterfall by car. But, by far the best views of the rugged coastline are from the parks many bushwalks. Take the Tasman Arch walking track around the back of the arch for some stunning views of the rugged coastline. From the arch, it is only a hundred meters walk to the Devil’s Kitchen. At the Devil’s Kitchen, you can look down deep into the gorge and hear the sound of the crashing waves below. A short walk around behind the blowhole will take you to a lookout with views out over the coast.

Tasman Bay National Park Lookout After driving approximately one hour from Hobart along Arthur Highway, the first stop as you cruise through Eaglehawk Neck is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Tasman Bay just off the main road onto Pirates Bay Drive. With a short walk to the Blowhole you can see waves passing through a tunnel in a rocky point and can spray up like whale spouts in the right conditions. Above the Blowhole, walk out on the point to Fossil Bay Lookout and enjoy views up and down the dramatic coastline. The quick and easy walk to both of these attractions is less then half a kilometer (0.3 miles) long.

Port Arthur Lavender Farm Port Arthur Lavender situated on the waterfront at Long Bay, just a five-minute drive from the iconic Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the most picturesque, with endless rows of lavender grown beside a reflective lake Stroll down the purple alleys of lavender and enjoy the delicious lavender infused ice cream. Port Arthur lavender season starts from around the middle of November and reaches full glory during December and January.

Hikes & Trails

The Tasman Municipality comprises the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas; combined they offer the most diverse day walking options in Australia. From easy family walks of only 15 minute to multi-day trails to suit even the most adventurous. Below are a few of the most popular.

Please note: Many of the walks require a National Parks Pass if you wish to enter Tasman National Park. It is best to organise this before you arrive.

Trail Name | Hours Distance | Grade | Parks Pass

• Waterfall Bay: 1 | 3km | Easy | Required
• Convict Coal Mine Circuit: 2 | 3km | Easy | No
• Cape Hauy: 4 | 8km | Medium | Required
• Shipstern Bluff: 4 | 8km | Medium | No
• Clarks Cliffs: 4 | 8km | Medium | No
• Crescent Bay: 4 | 9km | Medium | Required
• Bivouac Bay: 4 | 10km | Easy | Required
• Cape Raoul Lookout: 2 | 6km | Medium | Required
• Cape Raoul: 5 | 14km | Medium | Required
• Waterfall Bay to Fortescue Bay: 7 | 17km | Medium | Required
• Cape Pillar: 2 day | 30km | Medium | Required
• Cape Pillar Circuit: 3 day | 38km | Hard | Required
• Three Capes Track Tour: 4 day | 48km | Medium | Included

Weather & What To Bring

As there is a lot to see and do at Port Arthur, site entry passes are valid for two consecutive days, and include a 45 minute guided introductory walking tour and a 25 minute harbour cruise.

If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Port Arthur, the hottest months are from December to February. The warmest time of year is generally late January and early February where highs are regularly around 31.9°C with temperatures rarely dropping below 18.5°C at night. Always carry additional warm clothing, including a waterproof outer layer.

Bring comfortable footwear and clothing for all weather is recommended

A courtesy shuttle service for people with restricted mobility is available on site between 10am and 3pm daily with an extended service offered during summer

Read Port Arthur Tours Reviews

Galia licht.

Jodi was a great guide

Melissa Hurley

The whole tour was incredible! Thoroughly enjoyed it and was great value for money. A great way to fill in the day with some magnificent sites. Thank you!

Lynda Rohan

Ian was a fabulous guide/driver. He is friendly, knowledgeable and interested in helping people enjoy the experience. The tour was excellent with time to enjoy each place we stopped.

Roy Schroedl

This could have been a 6 hour trip instead was of 8 hours. Plenty of time to walk the grounds. Glad we made the visit anyway.

Nicola Jones

Fabulous! Well organised.

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Tasmania Explorer

Top 8 Port Arthur Tours – Best Port Arthur Tours From Hobart

One of the most popular things to do from Hobart is a Port Arthur day trip, and there are plenty of Port Arthur guided tours available.

The main event of a Port Arthur day tour is the Port Arthur Historic Site, the infamous convict settlement and one of the best preserved historical sites in Australia. But there are plenty of other sites, ranging from interesting to incredibly scenic that this area offers visitors.

Best Tour to Port Arthur

Don’t have time to read the whole article? The best choice is the fantastic Port Arthur Day Tour with Harbour Cruise and Tasman National Park.

Click here to book it now >>

Which Port Arthur Tasmania tour is best for you will depend on how much time you have and how much further afield you’d like to explore.

Below we have listed the top Port Arthur day trips. Whether you have half a day for a shore excursion or a full two days to explore the area, there is an option to suit you!

Click here to download your free Tasmania Road Trip Planner checklist . We’ll help you get ready for your trip!

Top 3 Tours: Best Port Arthur Tours

Want to book the best option without reading full reviews? Book one of our top 3 picks below…

Port Arthur Day Tour with Harbour Cruise and Tasman National Park

✔️ Concentrates on Port Arthur Historic Site

✔️ Best reviewed

Port Arthur, Richmond & Tasman Peninsula Day Tour

✔️ See as much as possible in one day

✔️ Explore Richmond as well

Port Arthur Day Tour with Carnarvon Bay Cruise

✔️ Concentrates on Port Arthur and Tasman Peninsula

Compare All The Best Port Arthur Tour Options

The table below compares all the following Port Arthur tours to help you make the best choice for your budget, style and preferences. The first five are all Port Arthur tour from Hobart options.

Here’s a quick overview if you are looking for a specific type of tour…

Top 5 Hobart To Port Arthur Tours

Port arthur, richmond and tasman peninsula day tour.

If you want to pack as much as possible into one day, this may be the best one of the Port Arthur day tours for you.

This tour starts early with hotel pick up in Hobart between 7am and 7:30am, and stops at some of the most scenic spots on the Tasman Peninsula on the way to Port Arthur. This includes the Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen in Eaglehawk Neck, and includes a 2km cliff top walk from Paterson’s Arch to Waterfall Bay.

You’ll then head to Port Arthur Historic Site where you’ll have 4 hours to explore. This is plenty of time to examine the ruins, buildings and gardens. Included is a 40 minute walking tour and harbour cruise which is standard in a Port Arthur visit.

If 4 hours is too long for you, there is also an optional extra to visit the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo or Port Arthur Lavender Farm.

On the way back to Hobart, this tour stops at the historic village of Richmond where you can walk the streets and cross Australia’s oldest stone span bridge.

The tour stops at a local lookout point for scenic views over Hobart before dropping you back at your hotel around 6pm.

Lunch/dinner is not included in this tour but there are places to buy lunch along the way, or you could bring your lunch with you.

This is a full day and is great for people who have limited time to explore Port Arthur and the surrounding area, and want to fit as much in as possible.

Click here for more information.

If you’re looking for one of the more relaxed day tours from Hobart to Port Arthur, this Hobart to Port Arthur tour could be a good option.

This Port Arthur day tour from Hobart includes hotel transfers with pick up around 8:45am. The tour first takes you to some of the top attractions on the Tasman Peninsula including Devils Kitchen and the Tasman Arch. It’s also possible to do an optional tour of Remarkable Cave.

Next, you’ll visit Port Arthur Historic Site. The tour price includes entry to Port Arthur Historic Site, a 40 minute guided tour of the site as well as a cruise around Carnarvon Bay. You can then do a Port Arthur self guided tour around the site enjoying all that it has to offer.

The bus ride includes commentary along the way and offers free WiFi. The tour returns you to your hotel around 5pm. Note, there is no breakfast or lunch included.

This is a great option if you want to spend plenty of time at the historic site as well as see the scenic attractions around the Tasman Peninsula.

Port Arthur Day Tour with Carnarvon Bay Cruise and Isle of Dead Tour

For one of the Port Arthur tours from Hobart with something extra, check out this day trip to Port Arthur from Hobart. This tour includes a Port Arthur guided tour of Isle of the Dead in addition to entry to the historic site.

Departing around 8:45am, this tour includes hotel pick up, but it is also possible to meet at a departure point on Brooke Street Pier.

On the way to Port Arthur, this day trip to Port Arthur from Hobart stops at Eaglehawk Neck where you’ll visit Doo Town, see the Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch and the blowhole before continuing on to Port Arthur Historic Site.

Entry to the historic site includes a 40 minute walking Port Arthur prison tour and a 20 minute Port Arthur boat cruise which gives you entry to Isle of the Dead and includes a walking tour of the island. This was the settlement’s burial site, and it contains graves of both convicts and free settlers. Over 1000 people are buried here, and a tour offers insight into their lives.

This tour will have you returning to Hobart around 5pm just in time for dinner.

Port Arthur Day Tour With Harbour Cruise And Tasman National Park

Another option among Port Arthur day tours from Hobart is this highly rated tour.

Beginning around 8:30am with hotel pick up from Hobart’s CBD, this tour heads to Port Arthur via a photo stop at the historic village of Richmond, just 30 minutes from Hobart, where you can see the famous bridge.

The next stop on this tour is Eaglehawk Neck where you can check out the scenery over the water from Pirates Bay Lookout.

The tour then takes you to Port Arthur Historic Site where you can enjoy a guided walking tour and a harbour cruise so you can experience everything this place has to offer.

It’s then on to the Remarkable Cave to see more of the rugged coastline of the area.

This is a full day with the tour arriving in Hobart around 6:30pm, but it’s one where you can make the most of the scenery and historic site. You’ll be dropped back at central hotels.

Port Arthur Day Tour with Salamanca Market and Carnarvon Bay Cruise

For something extra, check out this tour with a stop at Salamanca Market. This tour is basically the same as the Port Arthur Day Tour with Carnarvon Bay Cruise listed above, with an additional hour for visiting Salamanca Market.

Salamanca Market is a vibrant street market that is held every Saturday in Salamanca Place. The street shuts down to traffic and fills with stalls selling local produce, handcrafted trinkets, chocolate, fudge, jams, clothes, toys, bags and plenty of food. It’s always busy and beaming, and an exciting spot to explore.

This tour departs from Hobart at 8:45am and returns around 6pm and includes hotel pick up and drop off. You’ll have over an hour to roam around the market before heading to Port Arthur via Eaglehawk Neck and stopping at the main points of interest here.

When you reach the historic site, you’ll be given around 3.5 hours to explore and enjoy a walking tour and harbour cruise.

Wilderness Port Arthur Cruise

There are few ways to get closer to nature and wildlife than from the sea, and this Port Arthur boat tour by Tasman Island cruises in Port Arthur is one of the best choices.

This 3 hour wilderness cruise takes you around the Tasman Peninsula exploring some of the amazing geological formations from the sea. This includes skirting around the rugged and towering coastline and seeing sea caves and waterfalls.

This is also one of the top Port Arthur boat tours for spotting wildlife. Expect to see numerous species of birds, dolphins, seals and even potentially a whale.

You’ll also see the isolated Tasman Island Lighthouse. The crew are knowledgeable of both the area and wildlife and will answer any question.

These tours depart from Port Arthur, so you’ll need to make your way there. You should also expect to get wet – jackets are provided.

These tours are truly unique and let you experience and appreciate the area from a completely different angle.

Port Arthur Cruise Ship Tours

This is an excellent tour option for those arriving in Port Arthur on a cruise ship. Cruise ships reach Port Arthur by tender where it’s an easy walk to the entry of the Port Arthur Historic Site. This is the meeting point for this tour.

This is a half day tour which still gives you plenty of time to explore the historic site, as well as around Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula.

Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry is the first stop where you can do some tastings, as well as purchase some chocolate, a gift or tea. This tour takes you to Tasman National Park where you’ll stop at top attractions on the Tasman Peninsula, including Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch and Remarkable Cave.

There is a visit to Doo Town and a stop at the cafe Doo-lishus (extra charge), as well as a stop at Port Arthur Lavender Farm where you can walk through the farm, get a coffee or something to eat and visit the fabulous gift shop, before arriving back at the historic site to start exploring. Note that entry to the historic site is at your own cost.

This is one of the best value Port Arthur Tasmania tours for cruise ship passengers.

Want To Travel Independently?

Whilst doing a tour is an excellent way to see the top sites in and around Port Arthur, travelling independently is also possible.

For independent tours to Port Arthur from Hobart, you’ll need your own car to make the most of the area. Attractions are quite spread out and there’s a lot to see.

You can plan your tour by reading about how to get to Port Arthur from Hobart here and things to do in Port Arthur here .

You can also stay overnight in Port Arthur. There are several nice accommodation options in and around Port Arthur. If you plan to do this, note that entry to the Port Arthur Historic Site is valid for 2 days. This will give you plenty of time to explore the site extensively.

Visiting independently also gives you more flexibility over the Port Arthur tour times.

Port Arthur Walking Tour

All entry tickets to Port Arthur Historic Site include a 40 minute walking tour. You can choose the time of your walking tour when you book your ticket.

The walking tour begins from the main entry building and offers insights into the sites history and how life was here. Guides generally discuss the life of individual convicts, the problems of the time that lead to the establishment of the site, and information on the church and homes of the free settlers.

You’ll also hear about the brutal conditions at Port Arthur, leading to its reputation as one of the toughest gaols in the colony.

Port Arthur Harbour Cruise

Entry to port Arthur also includes a 20 minute harbour cruise around Carnarvon Bay. These cruises are on a modern two-storey vessel offering nice views of the harbour with narration from the boat’s captain.

It is also possible to get off at Isle of the Dead. This small island was Port Arthur’s burial site and the graves of over 1000 men, women and children, both marked and unmarked, fill the island. It is a small additional fee to visit the island.

It is beautifully presented and includes a walking tour making a visit worthwhile.

Port Arthur Ghost Tour

For something really unique, consider taking a Port Arthur night tour by doing one of the super popular Port Arthur ghost tours.

The 1.5 hour long Port Arthur Tasmania ghost tour takes you around the site by lantern light with a guide sharing the more gruesome history and many ghost stories that have given Port Arthur a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in Australia.

Whether or not that’s true, it’s fair to say that the Port Arthur ghost tour stories combined with the atmosphere at night makes for an eerie and popular tour!

Plus, there are options to start your tour with a two-course Port Arthur ghost tour dinner at the 1830 Restaurant & Bar.

Final Words

Port Arthur and the surrounding area have so much to offer.

In our opinion, this is a must visit spot when travelling around Tasmania, if only to visit the historic site. As you can see, there are plenty of options when it comes to day tours Hobart to Port Arthur.

I hope this article has helped you find the best Port Arthur day trip. Enjoy your visit!

Want to learn more? Click here to read our full guide of everything to do around Port Arthur , all the best Port Arthur accommodation here and here for our full guide to the Tasman Peninsula.

Related posts:

By Shan Hutchinson

Shan grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.

• +61 3 6231 5390
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Port Arthur, Richmond & Tasman Peninsula

Join us for a fun and action-packed day out on the Tasman Peninsula.  Take a jaw-dropping walk along Australia’s highest sea cliffs before discovering the dark history of Port Arthur Historic Site. Explore with our Tour Guides as we enjoy a variety of activities, walks, sightseeing, history, and so much more !

Today is action packed and fast paced. We make an early start from Hobart and drive directly to the stunning Tasman Peninsula.  This area has amazing history, fascinating stories and spectacular scenery. It is also home to Australia’s highest sea cliffs.  We enjoy the panoramic views of the coastline from Pirates Bay Lookout, this provides a great perspective of the surrounding area, it’s geological features and also the difficulties faced by escaping convicts!  Passing through Eaglehawk Neck and "The Dogline" our Tour Guides will share with you some fascinating stories and history of the area.  Then we begin one of Tasmania's "Great Short Walks".  We follow a spectacular track, of around 2 km’s along the Waterfall Bay cliff top.  The walk takes around 45-60 minutes, is undulating, but categorised as an easy walk.  The track concludes at the remarkable rock formations of Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen.

Continuing our journey, we arrive at Port Arthur Historic Site.  As we enter the Port Arthur Historic Site, there is a wealth of information and history to take in and you will have ample time to explore and discover the nooks and crannies with around 4 hours on site. Your entry includes a complimentary Harbour Cruise around the Isle of the Dead, ‘The Port Arthur Experience' a podcast that provides a fascinating introduction to the site, and complimentary site talks throughout the day led by Port Arthur’s expert guides. Discover the grim and violent history of the early Australian Penal system and get a sense of the isolation experienced by the convicts in this “inescapable prison”.    Walk among the main penitentiary; see the solitary confinement cells and many more buildings in this World Heritage open air museum.

On our return to Hobart, we travel via the historic township of Richmond. Arriving late the in the afternoon, you will have time to meander the streets, stop for a coffee, visit the Lolly Shop, Chocolatier and walk across Australia’s oldest bridge still in use – a convict built sand-stone bridge, reported to be haunted!

We arrive back into Hobart around 6.00pm.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions here http://www.tourstas.com.au/about-us/frequently-asked-questions/

Read our Terms & Conditions here http://www.tourstas.com.au/about-us/terms-conditions/

• Port Arthur Historic Site (4 hours)
• Waterfall Bay Cliff Top Walk (easy grade)
• Tasman National Park – Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch
• Pirates Bay Lookout
• Eaglehawk Neck & The “Dogline”
• Richmond Village and historic bridge
• Port Arthur Historic Site entrance fee
• Port Arthur Harbor Cruise
• Professional guides & interpretation
• Small, friendly groups
• Hotel pick up/drop off from select locations

Not included

• Meals not included

What to bring

• Sensible shoes for day touring
• A variety of warm clothing
• Hat, sunscreen
• Water Bottle, Snacks, Lunch (or buy it on the day)

Tour Details

• Adult: $155
• Child (8-15 Years): $145
• Duration: 1 day
• Departs: Hobart 7.30am
• Returns: Hobart 6.00pm
• Days: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
• Pick up time: 7.00am to 7.30am depending on your location

Port Arthur

Stunning location conjuring Up Australia's Criminal Past

WHAT SPARKS YOUR INTEREST?

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Port Arthur was not on anyone's travel itinerary. Originally a granary and dockyard, Port Arthur held many secrets as inmates suffered various forms of torture and submission. Although education and religious instruction were a focal point, most prisoners were subjected to long hours of isolation combined with harsh and punishing treatment. In fact, even at their mandatory religious services they were seated in separated pews, so as not to encourage additional human contact. What went on here in daily prison life is detailed in the onsite Complex Museum, as well as in the interesting Interpretive Center to help you understand the significance of this Tasmanian site to Australia's past.

Imagine a place similar to the famed Alcatraz; a foreboding and harsh monster of an incarceration facility for hardened criminals doomed to die in lonely and painful circumstances. Like Alcatraz, Port Arthur had these hardened souls, the maximum security types, the unrepentant ones, the incorrigible, but also, unlike modern day prisons, were the mentally impaired, the political resistors and even the poorly educated unfortunate outcasts enlisted for the benefit of their physical strength in order to provide skilled and unskilled labor for government expansion and monetary gain. Capitalizing on free labor was the main objective and a convict could expect to be at Port Arthur for the term of his natural life. Women were also housed here, separately, but their incarceration came with different rules, routines, harassment and shames. The masters of both their fates lived in luxury of sorts, eating, drinking and otherwise insensitive to the effect and impact which they had on others not so privileged there. Image thanks to: Tourism Tasmania & Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority

A Changing Tide

Extensive hiking trails, lookout areas, convict-built stone walls and natural wonders such as the Remarkable Cave, are also attractions. A short boat ride to the Isle of the Dead as the original convict cemetery is included with most guided tours. Port Puer, the historic location of the old boy's prison, can be seen from Carnarvon Bay on tour boats passing the dockyards as well.

A highlight not to miss is the Lavender Farm; a truly delightful retreat in your day, rich with the aroma of relaxing lavender where in the adjoining cafe you may take a delicious break, enjoying lavender-graced hot and cold drinks, cakes and menu items designed to lure the senses. There is also a lovely gift shop where you can purchase lavender-themed souvenirs such as decorative items, soaps and lotions, candy and other all-things-lavender. Later, if you are an avid fan of ghost stories and don’t have very small children or companions afraid of the dark, there is the entertaining, lantern-led, evening Ghost Tour. It’s another aspect of the gloomy past here, a unique perspective of the British Empire’s most storied penal settlement. You most certainly will be drawn into another world where walls can speak of suffering and punishments which didn’t always fit the crime.

These are just a few of the many things to see and do in Port Arthur where lasting impressions evoke a well-preserved glimpse of a long ago era that essentially shaped the Australia of today. Image thanks to: Supplied Courtesy of Port Arthur Historic Site

Getting There

There are many tour operators who will package your trip to Port Arthur , either for a guided day trip or a few day’s stay over, which includes transportation and lodging if you choose. On your own, you can reach Port Arthur by car, van or motorbike. There are also regularly scheduled ferry services from Hobart with narration on board as you traverse the sea en-route to Port Arthur, which is 1.5 hour’s drive on the Arthur Highway from the capital. This means a trip to this historic site can be done as a day trip (with plenty of things to see and do around the area), or you can make a weekend out of it!

Practicalities

Accommodating And Dining

Attractions

Back in Hobart, attend a wine tasting event, visit the teaming Twilight Market, shop for handicrafts, listen to live music and enjoy the vibe of city life as the locals do. Day or night, there are a variety of places to enjoy whatever your taste may be.

Port Arthur is more than just a historic and eerily enchanting place to visit though--located on the coast of the Tasman Peninsula as it is, nature walks along the rugged cliffside are a must-do. Explorers will love the aptly named Remarkable Cave, with its spectacular scenery; just take note that a certain degree of fitness is required to climb the many stairs that were built to reach it.

Fortescue Bay, with its white-sand beach and heavily forested hills, is a popular jumping off point for bushwalks, kayaking adventures, and diving--and if you want to stick around, Banksia campground offers 24 shaded campsites. For jaw-dropping views, hike around Cape Raoul--a comfortable 5-hour walk--to really take in the beauty of the Tasman Peninsula, as well as Bruny Island. Less popular, but equally beautiful, Waterfall Bay offers another pleasant, easy-grade walk with views of Tasman Island and a vast expanse of ocean.

Within Tasman National Park, visitors can check out Tasmans Arch, a natural bridge built by Mother Nature into the seaside cliffs, and Devil’s Kitchen--a deep trench carved by the Tasman Sea herself, from a coastal overlook. Speaking of amazing views, the view from Pirates Bay is one of Tassie’s best, offering a view of not only the bay, but the township and rocky coastline that lay just beyond it. Pirates Bay Drive is a popular alternative, or scenic route if you will (just a few minutes longer than the direct route), to Eaglehawk Neck .

This small town, affectionately nicknamed “The Neck” by locals, is a narrow 400-metre-long land connection between the Tasman Peninsula and the Forestier Peninsula. This thin strip of land was once guarded by the “Dog Line”, which is pretty much what it implies: a group of dogs chained together, preventing convicts from escaping Port Arthur’s notorious prison site. A sculpture now commemorates this once vicious barricade.

Visitors will also discover a fair share of oyster shacks, where they can sample the local tasty delights along with a nice Tassie wine. To delve further into local produce, visit a farm gate , where fresh produce abounds far and wide. Chocoholics can get their fix here too: Port Arthur is home to local chocolate shops--The Federation Chocolate Factory being the first on most lists-- that are renowned for their high-quality, melt-in-your-mouth products.

These are just a few of the many things to see and experience on a trip to Port Arthur. Your visit will be sure to leave a lasting impression as it evokes a well-preserved glimpse of a long ago era that began to shape the destiny of today’s Australia in profound ways. Image thanks to: Paul Hoelen.

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Darby Marsh and Blausey Marsh – Spring Migration Bus Tours

Take a guided bus tour to two refuge properties closed to the public. Darby marsh is great little treasure tucked between Port Clinton and Camp Perry. At just under 500 acres, this marsh unit is located right along Lake Erie. An osprey nesting platform was installed in 2016 with the partnership of the 200 th Red Horse Squadron and has been successfully used ever since. Blausey Marsh is a 100-acre unit located along the Toussaint River. It provides great stopover habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl. An osprey nesting platform is located on this unit as well and has been successfully used most years. Tours leave the visitor center at Ottawa NWR (14000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio) at 7 a.m. and return at 10 a.m. Registration opens Thursday, April 4 th at 10:30 a.m. Call 419-313-3236 to register. Bus tours are free. Only one bus tour per group is allowed so that we can accommodate as many visitors as possible.

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Man charged with overturning port-a-potty, trapping woman and child inside

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man is facing charges after police say he knocked over a portable toilet containing a woman and child who became trapped inside.

Witnesses told Manchester police that the man and woman had been arguing near the port-a-potty at Derryfield Park on Wednesday. When the woman, who apparently didn’t know the 18-year-old man, went inside the port-a-potty to help her daughter, the man pushed it over and it landed with the door on the pavement. Bystanders ran over and overturned the toilet, freeing the woman and child who reported being covered in feces and bodily fluids, police said.

The woman and child were not hurt. The man was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and criminal restraint. He was also charged with simple assault for throwing something at one of the officers, police said. It was not immediately known if he is being represented by an attorney.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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