Port Arthur Historic Site

A penal settlement from 1830 to 1877 that held Britain's most serious convicts. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features ruined prisons, churches and the Isle of the Dead across a 40-hectare bay. Admission includes a guided tour and a boat cruise.

Port Arthur lies at the tip of the Tasman Peninsula, about 95 kilometres southeast of Hobart. It was established in 1830 as a timber station and quickly became the harshest penal colony for serious offenders in the British Empire. It closed in 1877. The Eaglehawk Neck isthmus, which connects the peninsula to the main island, was once sealed off with a line of guard dogs. The 40-hectare site contains more than 30 buildings and ruins scattered across lawns and English-style gardens. These include the four-storey Penitentiary, which was converted from a flour mill and had only its outer walls remaining after a fire in 1897. There are also the ruins of a Gothic church, the Separate Prison, which used total isolation and silence as punishment, a lunatic asylum, the commandant's residence and officers' gardens. In the bay lie the Isle of the Dead, the burial ground for more than 1,100 prisoners and officials, and Point Puer, a prison for young offenders. The site also includes a memorial garden for the 1996 shooting massacre. Admission costs about AUD 50 and is valid for two days. It covers a 40-minute guided walk and a 25-minute harbour cruise. Visits to the Isle of the Dead and the evening Ghost Tour, which costs about AUD 30 and is very popular, are sold separately. Nearby sights include the Tasman Arch, the Devil's Kitchen and the Chessboard Rock on Eaglehawk Neck. There are also Remarkable Cave and clifftop walks along the Tasman Peninsula. From Hobart, it is a 1.5-hour drive along the A9 highway. Alternatively, join a day tour, many of which include Eaglehawk Neck. There is no public bus. The site is large and hilly, so wear comfortable shoes and allow 3 to 4 hours. Afternoon light is good in summer, but book cruise seats early. Night tours must be booked in advance, and bring a jacket.

Port Arthur Historic Site

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby