🏛️ Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania
Things to do in Port Arthur
A hauntingly preserved convict settlement on a wild peninsula
Port Arthur is Australia’s most complete and evocative convict site — a UNESCO-listed 19th-century penal settlement of roofless sandstone ruins, a church shell and restored buildings set in gardens above a quiet bay. Sombre, atmospheric and beautifully kept, it’s the centrepiece of any dark-academia trip to Tasmania, about ninety minutes south-east of Hobart on the Tasman Peninsula.
Time needed
A day (or stay over for the after-dark Ghost Tour)
Best time
Open year-round; autumn (April–May) is at its most atmospheric and less busy, while summer (December–February) is warmest but the peak-season crowd is largest
Region
Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania
Don’t miss
The convict settlement & harbour cruise
Entry includes a guided introductory walking tour and a short harbour cruise past the Isle of the Dead and Point Puer boys’ prison — the best way to understand the site before exploring the ruins and Penitentiary at your own pace. Allow a full day.
Check availability on GetYourGuideTop things to do in Port Arthur
- The roofless Penitentiary and the Gothic church shell — the site’s haunting icons.
- A cruise and landing on the Isle of the Dead, the settlement’s burial island.Find tours
- The lantern-lit after-dark Ghost Tour through the ruins.Find tours
- A full day trip from Hobart taking in the whole Tasman Peninsula.Find tours
- Nearby Remarkable Cave and the Tessellated Pavement rock formations.
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How to get to Port Arthur
About a 90-minute drive south-east of Hobart across the Tasman Peninsula — easiest with a hire car, though many visitors take a full-day guided coach tour from Hobart that includes the drive and the peninsula sights.
Hire a car in Tasmania
Compare rental deals — handy for reaching Port Arthur at your own pace
Best time to visit
Open year-round; autumn (April–May) is at its most atmospheric and less busy, while summer (December–February) is warmest but the peak-season crowd is largest. The site is moving in any weather.
Port Arthur tips
- Book the after-dark Ghost Tour ahead — it sells out and is the standout evening experience.
- Your ticket is valid for two consecutive days, so you can split the ruins and the cruise if you prefer.
- Combine it with the Tasman Peninsula’s cliffs and Remarkable Cave to make a full, unhurried day.
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Opening hours, prices, transport and entry rules change — always verify before you go, and check your government’s current travel advice. Some links are affiliate links; Wavvia may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.