The Penitentiary ruins
A huge front on the harbour.
Anagoria — CC BY 3.0 · Anagoria — CC BY 3.0 · Anagoria — CC BY 3.0 · Anagoria — CC BY 3.0 · S Pwz — CC BY-SA 4.0
Port Arthur Historic Site is a former convict settlement on the Tasman Peninsula, about 97 km southeast of Hobart. It forms part of UNESCO's Australian Convict Sites, which UNESCO calls the best surviving examples of large-scale convict transportation and the colonial expansion of European powers. It takes its name from George Arthur, lieutenant governor of Van Diemen's Land. It began in 1830 as a timber camp, and from 1833 to 1877 it received the most hardened convicts, those who had offended again after transportation. They worked at many trades and built the Separate Prison, run on a new system. In 1996 the site saw a tragic shooting, and a memorial garden honours the victims, so please be respectful there. You walk across broad grounds among the ruined Penitentiary, the round guard tower above its arches, the ruins of the church and hospital, furnished officers' houses and the Government Gardens. The ticket includes a 20-minute harbour cruise, passing near the Isle of the Dead, the settlement's cemetery, and a self-guided audio experience is available. It is 52 km in a straight line from Hobart, so take a car or tour. Allow at least half a day, and the ticket lasts two consecutive days. The management advises layers and a raincoat, since umbrellas struggle in the wind, plus comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat.
A huge front on the harbour.
Round, above its arches.
Paths among the flowers.
Tasman Peninsula, 97 km southeast of Hobart, Tasmania
Yes, it includes a 20-minute harbour cruise.
Two consecutive days, according to the official price list.