Port Arthur is located on the Tasman Peninsula. The scenic drive from Hobart, via the Tasman Highway to Sorell and the Arthur Highway to Port Arthur, takes around 90 minutes.
Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the most popular attractions in Tasmania. This World Heritage-listed historic site was one of the earliest convict settlements in Australia back in the 1800s. The Port Arthur Historic Site consists of over 30 buildings, ruins and gardens to explore. The basic entry ticket includes walking and boat tours and there are many other places to explore too. Open from 9:00am until dusk.
A variety of guided tours & transfers to Port Arthur from Hobart are available for visitors to the region. Some guided experiences include entry fees into Port Arthur Historic Site, Lunch and opportunities to visit surrounding atractions on the Tasman Peninsula such as the Remarkable Cave, Unzoo and Lavender farm.
Port Arthur Entry Fees
Entry to Port Arthur is not included in bus transfer only tours. You can purchase entry on the day of travel at Port Arthur
Your site entry ticket gives you two consecutive days to experience the attractions and activities at Port Arthur.
Port Arthur Entry Fees include
This is an overview of the different guided Port Arthur tour experiences available. Please click on the above cards to view more info on each tour.
Tasman Island Cruise Full Day Tour + Port Arthur Historic Site + Lunch | Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
Duration | 10 hours (approx)
This is the ultimate Tasman Peninsula day tour. Your day includes return guided bus tour from Hobart, our award-winning 3 Hour Cruise, morning tea and lunch as part of three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site.
Port Arthur Day Tour | Pennicott Wilderness Journeys
Duration | 10 hours (approx)
Your day includes return guided bus tour from Hobart and Bronze Entry into the Port Arthur Historic Site. The tour departs from the Dock Head Building on Franklin Wharf, next to the Constitution Dock Lifting Bridge on Hobart's Waterfront.
Port Arthur & Tasman Peninsula Tour | Tours Tasmania
Duration | 11 hours (approx)
Enjoy a fun and action packed day out on the Tasman Peninsula. Explore convict history at Port Arthur Historic Site, view amazing scenery and panoramic landscapes from Tasman Peninsula and Pirates Bay Lookout, and some great local specialties.
Port Arthur & Tassie Devils Tour | Tours Tasmania
Duration | 11 hours (approx)
Explore, discover and learn with our guides as we enjoy a variety of activities, walks, sightseeing, history, Tassie Devil Feeding, chocolate tasting and much more!
Port Arthur & Lavender Farm Tour | Tours Tasmania
Duration | 11 hours (approx)
Explore the Port Arthur Lavender Farm & Port Arthur Historic Site, see Tasman National Park highlight, the Tasman Arch,
sample local chocolates made at Federation Chocolate Factory and visit the historic Richmond Village.
This 3 day tour out of Hobart hits 3 of Tasmania’s most popular tourist destinations at a very competitive, generous price. Adventure, history, culture, nature, wildlife and local produce are all included in this magnificent Tasmanian experience.
What makes it Great:
Self Drive to Port Arthur
Port Arthur Historic Site is a 90-minute drive from Hobart, and the journey offers some of the best sightseeing in Tasmania. The Arthur Highway winds through lush farmland and forest, inviting beaches, and the Tasman Peninsula’s famously scenic coastline. Allow enough time to stop along the way and explore places like the Tesselated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck, and dramatic coastal sites such as the Blowhole, Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen and Pirate’s Bay Lookout.
Port Arthur Coach Transfers
There are regular transport services between Hobart and Port Arthur.
Guided Tours to Port Arthur
A variety of guided tours & transfers to Port Arthur from Hobart are available for visitors to the region. Some guided experiences include entry fees into Port Arthur Historic Site, Hotel transfers, Lunch and opportunities to visit surrounding atractions on the Tasman Peninsula such as the Remarkable Cave, Unzoo and Lavender farm.
Three-hour Tasman island boat cruise
This Pennicott Wilderness Journey takes you for a spectacular three-hour cruise along the extraordinary coastline of Tasman National Park, between Eaglehawk Neck and Port Arthur. Close encounters with the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere at 300 metres (328 yards) high, rugged and spectacular coastal landscapes, waterfalls, deep sea caves, amazing wildlife on land and sea like ocean gulls, pods of bottlenose dolphins, migrating humpback whales, as well as Australian and New Zealand fur seals .
Tasmanian Devil Unzoo
The Tasmanian Devil Unzoo on the main way to Port Arthur is a wildlife park where you can visit many Australian animals including the infamous tasmanian devil. There are regular informative sessions and feeding times for the tasmanian devil as well as kangaroo and quoll feeding and bird shows. It has a glass dome that pops up from underneath the devil enclosure, so if you stick your head up into the dome while the devils are nearby, you may get a much closer look!
Blowhole, Tasman Arch & Devil’s Kitchen
You can reach formations like the Tasman Arch, the Blow Hole, the Devils Kitchen, the Tesselated Pavement, Remarkable Cave and Waterfall by car. But, by far the best views of the rugged coastline are from the parks many bushwalks. Take the Tasman Arch walking track around the back of the arch for some stunning views of the rugged coastline. From the arch, it is only a hundred meters walk to the Devil’s Kitchen. At the Devil’s Kitchen, you can look down deep into the gorge and hear the sound of the crashing waves below. A short walk around behind the blowhole will take you to a lookout with views out over the coast.
Tasman Bay National Park Lookout
After driving approximately one hour from Hobart along Arthur Highway, the first stop as you cruise through Eaglehawk Neck is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Tasman Bay just off the main road onto Pirates Bay Drive. With a short walk to the Blowhole you can see waves passing through a tunnel in a rocky point and can spray up like whale spouts in the right conditions. Above the Blowhole, walk out on the point to Fossil Bay Lookout and enjoy views up and down the dramatic coastline. The quick and easy walk to both of these attractions is less then half a kilometer (0.3 miles) long.
Port Arthur Lavender Farm
Port Arthur Lavender situated on the waterfront at Long Bay, just a five-minute drive from the iconic Port Arthur Historic Site is one of the most picturesque, with endless rows of lavender grown beside a reflective lake Stroll down the purple alleys of lavender and enjoy the delicious lavender infused ice cream. Port Arthur lavender season starts from around the middle of November and reaches full glory during December and January.
The Tasman Municipality comprises the Tasman and Forestier Peninsulas; combined they offer the most diverse day walking options in Australia. From easy family walks of only 15 minute to multi-day trails to suit even the most adventurous. Below are a few of the most popular.
Please note: Many of the walks require a National Parks Pass if you wish to enter Tasman National Park. It is best to organise this before you arrive.
Trail Name | Hours Distance | Grade | Parks Pass
As there is a lot to see and do at Port Arthur, site entry passes are valid for two consecutive days, and include a 45 minute guided introductory walking tour and a 25 minute harbour cruise.
If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Port Arthur, the hottest months are from December to February. The warmest time of year is generally late January and early February where highs are regularly around 31.9°C with temperatures rarely dropping below 18.5°C at night. Always carry additional warm clothing, including a waterproof outer layer.
Bring comfortable footwear and clothing for all weather is recommended
A courtesy shuttle service for people with restricted mobility is available on site between 10am and 3pm daily with an extended service offered during summer
