Port Arthur
- Address:Port Arthur Historic Site, Arthur Highway, Hobart
- Admission:Half-day pass starts at AU$30
6:46 AM Sunday, May 27
Passing clouds. Cool.
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Tasmania’s number one visitor attraction is the former convict settlement of Port Arthur, a ghostly and eerie heritage area just outside Hobart.
The crumbling ruins of the penal settlement include the Gothic church, the huge prison building, barracks, guard tower, and hospital.
Interactive displays tell the tragic story of the 12,500 convicts who served time here from 1830 to 1877, and after-dark ghost tours reveal the presence of the site’s many ghosts.
You don’t need to take a ghost tour to feel a shiver at Port Arthur. The site has a palpable sense of doom, despite its beautiful natural bushland and harbor setting.
Take a tour to learn more about the inmates, or join a cruise to the Isle of the Dead, the final resting place for many of the convicts.
Latest Reviews All Port Arthur Reviews »
PIcked up at our hotel door and treated to afull day tour to this very inetersting site. Very satisfied with the tour and our driver. Recommended
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This was a well organised tour which gave us plenty of time to explore the site and learn something of the past. We enjoyed the day with Tasmania turning on glorious weather.
Continue Reading »Practical Info
Port Arthur is on the Tasman Peninsula, 60 km (37 miles) south of Hobart. The peninsula is joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, Eaglehawk Neck, which in convict days was patrolled by hungry guard dogs.
These days you can enjoy the scenic drive from Hobart if you’re driving, or join an organized tour to visit Port Arthur for the day.
