Step inside Port Arthur’s convict stories of survival, punishment, defiance and escape.
Experience Port Arthur’s history in greater depth on a guided 90-minute Premium Tour. This small-group experience is led by a Port Arthur Tour Guide who’ll take you beyond the ruins to uncover the stories, people, and events that shaped one of Australia’s most significant heritage sites.
Walk through iconic locations including the Penitentiary, Separate Prison, and Convict Church, and gain deeper insight into the lives of convicts, soldiers, administrators, and families who lived and worked here.
Set on the edge of Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula, the Port Arthur Historic Site is known for award-winning cultural tourism experiences. Walk through towering ruins and quiet cells, hear stories of punishment, reform, escape, and endurance, and lend your breath to the embers of history.
“What a magnificent place. We did the premium tour and I feel like it made our trip. The cruise was a lovely addition to the day. I highly recommend this site as a must when visiting Tasmania.”
– Jodi
“Excellent! Probably the best historical activity we’ve done in Australia!”
– Pat
“A great day out from Hobart. Very pretty drive to the site, suggest you prebook. A short cruise around the bay is included. It’s well worth it. Allow enough time to walk around the grounds and see all the buildings and gardens. Information boards and tour guides make it all the more meaningful. The history of the site is tragic, but what a beautiful setting.”
– Fiona
“Port Arthur is one of those places you need to experience and not just read about or watch on a screen. Allow a full day there and arrange a guided tour to learn about its history and the people who lived there, both convict and others.”
– TripAdvisor
“This historic gem never disappoints me. It had probably been 15 years since I last visited. From the entry point where you are issued a playing card, briefly outlining a prisoner’s particular circumstances, and from there onwards I feel very connected. The numerous buildings, including the penitentiary, asylum, churches, and police station, have many installations and much information assisting the interested visitor to make sense of the history of the place. I thoroughly enjoyed the boat tour (included in site entry). The boat travels alongside point puer and circumnavigates the isle of the dead (where 1000 are believed buried)… It won’t be 15 years before I return to this beautiful site, located in what is (at least now) a strikingly beautiful part of the world.”
– TripAdvisor