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The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site, located 90 minutes’ drive from Hobart is Australia’s most intact and evocative convict site. With more than 30 historic buildings and ruins across the 100 acres of grounds Port Arthur brings Australia’s early convict history to life.
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!
Hobart
7:30 AM
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.
