An excursion to Port Arthur Historic Site is an immersive learning experience. Our tours and workshops bring to life to the stories of past peoples – convicts, military personnel, civilians, women and children – and offer students opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of convictism in Australia.

Choose from either a self-guided visit or a guided introductory tour.

SITE ENTRY (SELF-GUIDED VISIT)

Cost: $11.50 per student*

Download a site map and explore the buildings and stories of Port Arthur with your students with support from our audio experience.

Cost allows for site entry for two consecutive days and our harbour cruise. The harbour cruise departs from the Port Arthur Jetty and is approximately 25 minutes. Groups will be allocated a harbour cruise time when making a booking.

*Cost for site entry only applies to booked education groups of 10 or more students.

OR

TOUR: CONVICT LIFE AT PORT ARTHUR

Recommended level: Years 4 – 12
Duration: 45 minutes
Cost: $15.00 per student

Learn about convict life and the Port Arthur penal settlement on this guided introductory tour of the site. Students will visit key locations with one of our experienced tour guides and consider whether Port Arthur was a place of punishment or reform. Suitable for primary and secondary students.

In addition to the tour, the cost allows for site entry for two consecutive days and our harbour cruise. The harbour cruise is approximately 25 minutes and departs from the Port Arthur Jetty at various times between 11am and 3.40pm. Groups will be allocated a harbour cruise time when making a booking.

Dive deeper into the history of Port Arthur with additional tours and workshops.

*All programs and prices are current for 2024. If you are interested in making a booking for 2025, please contact the Education team.*

WORKSHOP: CONVICT BRICKMAKING

Recommended level: Years 4 – 6
Duration: 35 minutes
Cost: $5.50 per student

In this hands-on workshop, students will learn how convicts at Port Arthur made thousands of bricks, many of which we can see around the site today! They will examine historical examples of convict-made bricks and then create their own quarter-size version to take home.

Maximum 20 students per session. Accompanying teachers and supervisors are complimentary.

TOUR: ISLE OF THE DEAD

Recommended level: Years 5 – 12
Duration: 60 minutes (approx., includes harbour cruise to and from the island)
Cost: $8.50 per person (min. 15 students)

The Isle of the Dead was used as a cemetery for convicts, soldiers, civilians and children from 1833 to 1877. At least 1,100 people were buried there. Students will explore the island with one of our experienced guides and hear unique stories of the people who lived, worked, and died at Port Arthur.

Maximum tour capacity including teachers and supervisors is 40. Groups of more than 25 may be divided into two smaller groups for the tour.

Port Arthur is a large site with many historic building and ruins to explore. We recommend that you allocate at least 2 hours in your itinerary to allow students the opportunity to see everything Port Arthur has to offer.

Download copies of our site map to help plan your visit and visit our Plan your excursion page for other useful information.

Group bookings are subject to date/time availability. Please book at least six weeks in advance using our online form.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to get the most out of your visit to Port Arthur, please contact our Education team.