Introduction of this Attractions

Port Arthur is a place of national and international significance which is part of the epic story of forced migration and settlement of this country. Port Arthur Historic Site is located on a beautiful harbour at the southern tip of the Tasman Peninsula, almost 100 km south-east of Hobart.

Port Arthur was much more than a prison; it was a complete community, home to convicts, military and civilian officers and their families. The convicts worked at many industries producing goods and services for use locally and to be sold in Hobart and beyond. The military and civilian officers were tasked with security and administration of the settlement.

Before Europeans arrived in the region, the land, its natural resources and abundant waters were utilised by the Pydarerme people of the Paredarerme language group.

Containing more than 30 historic buildings, extensive ruins and beautiful grounds and gardens, the Site has many stories to explore.

By the way, Port Arthur Historic Site is a special place of vivid history, cultural heritage and stories so compelling, you’ll want to hear them again and again. It’s a place of global significance – one of the 11 places that make up the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. And it’s one of Australia’s favourite tourist destinations. Come and discover the real people and living history of Port Arthur Historic Site.

What tour do they have?

They do have a lot of tour option for your suitable days and times. First of all, if you have some languages barrier issues, please don’t worry. There is Mandarin speaker tour as well where would make it easy for you to understand. Even though there is no Mandarin speaker, there will have interpreter for you. They have intro walking tour, Commandant’s Carriage Tour, Habour Cruise, Escape from Port Arthur Tour, Introductory Tour, Isle of the Dead Tour, Ghost Tour as well as Paranormal Tour. I will tell you more about the prices and the packages available in the following and it is worth to have this sort of good experience.

Intro walking tour is based on their history site and they will introduce you more about the story and heritage around the site which is pretty interesting. They will tell you about the history timeline, the convicts, the landmarks and research of the Port Arthur History Site.

Your site entry ticket gives you two consecutive days to explore and enjoy Port Arthur Historic Site’s many sites, tours and activities including:

• access to more than 30 historic buildings, ruins, restored houses, heritage gardens and walking trails,
• a 40-minute, guided Introductory Walking Tour,
• 25-minute Harbour Cruise,
• entry to the Port Arthur Gallery, which includes interactive exhibits and displays that tell the story of the Port Arthur Historic Site and its people.

The story of the Port Arthur Historic Site is a story of many people, places and moments. Over its long history, Port Arthur has been a place of hardship and punishment, a place of opportunity, and a place of leisure. Now it is one of Australia’s most important heritage destinations, where the story of Australia’s colonial history is written in stone and brick.

Visit them to meet some of the people who have passed through this place, walk where their stories unfolded, and learn about Port Arthur’s evolution from a feared convict settlement to a World Heritage-listed Historic Site and world-class tourist destination.

Regarding to my experience with this into walking tour, I have learn so many thing such as the old generation and how the people long time ago lifestyle looked like. The way how they convicts as well as the old fashion places which is pretty interesting. Some people may find history is very boring just like me but I find this history site is not as bad as what I thought of and it is worth to go to have some explore and discovery more in the old fashion story. You will find interesting and you will also learn lot of unexpected new things which is pretty cool.

Habour Cruise Tour is a 25 minutes cruising which is just showing you around the Port and how beautiful is this port as well as the history of this port. This tour is included in your site entry ticket which is pretty worth.

You will see lot of this history sign around the history site as well where you could take some information about it and recap what you have learn from this tour.

What else could explore after the tour?

There is the Port Arthur gallery as well where you will learn the story of many year ago. However, there will have lot of people you should have meet from the gallery. When you get your ticket from the ticket counter, they will give you something like this which is a small card in the photos shown following to meet this people and learn about their background.

When you go into the gallery, you will need to find the person that you got on the card then open it and read about this person story. It is just like a game which is very fun lolol….Like i got Thomas Lempriere and I found him. He is original from Germany and he born on year 1796. He was an artist of general Merchant, Chil Officer. Anyway, this is something like what you will know.

Ticket and cost?

When I visit there, i took the site entry ticket which is just included the intro walking tour and the harbour cruise tour. I will going back there to try another tour as well and I will share my person experiences so stay tune here.

Site Entry ticket prices is the proceeds from your admission fee contribute to the ongoing conservation, interpretation and development of the Port Arthur Historic Sites. The prices are Adult $40, Child $18, Family $102 (2 adults and up to 6 children) and Concession $32.

Ticket of Leave – Two Year Pass

Extend your site entry ticket to a Ticket of Leave, and return to Port Arthur Historic Site as many times as you like, for two years from the date of purchase. Your Ticket of Leave re-entry includes all activities included in the general site entry. Adult $20 / Family $40 (additional to site entry cost).

Resident and Ratepayer Pass – “R&R Pass”

Residents and ratepayers of the Tasman Municipality are eligible for a Port Arthur Historic Site R&R Pass which provides free site entry for all adult ratepayers or residents and up to 6 children (aged 7-17 years of age).  R&R passes are valid for 3 years from the date of issue and can be renewed.

An R&R Pass must be applied for in-person at the Port Arthur Historic Site Visitor Centre and requires proof that the applicant is a ratepayer or resident.

How to get there? – Navigation

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 geological features such as the Blowhole, Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen.

Free parking is provided; however, during peak periods our carpark does fill up quickly.  We recommend you arrive early if you wish to secure a parking bay close to the entrance.  There are dedicated spaces for caravans, motor homes and buses please look for the signs as you enter the site.

There is 2 options that you can get there with. They are either by tour buses or hire a car to drive down.

When I travel down to the Port Arthur, I went there by Tassie Tour operator. There is some tour buses going down there daily and you can book only. It costs $60 per person for both way with Tassie tour. In my person opinion, travel down with coach always the best, it is because while they drive down, they will drop-by some best attractions for the explore and view while on the way down to the Port Arthur which is pretty good.

If you want to know which coach will be the best, please do feel free to check this following site out. It’s help me a lot so this will help you too 🙂

https://www.discovertasmania.com.au/travel-information/getting-around/bus-and-coach

Tasman National Park Lookout

I will share more about this on my next blog as this is the new topic lolol. Stay Tuned! 😉

If you have any concern or enquiries or need some travel advice, please don’t feel hesitate to contact me via my instagram or facebook pages or drop by comments below 🙂