Things To Do at Port Arthur

Port Arthur provides various activities, such as ghost tours, harbour cruises, and ruins investigations. The settlement possesses a distinctive ambience that enables visitors to engage with its historical importance.
When travelling to Port Arthur, it’s crucial to come prepared and acquaint yourself with the different activities and experiences. We offer details on what to anticipate upon reaching, the assortment of activities at Port Arthur, and advice for optimising your trip. Moreover, the Tasman Peninsula features a range of additional attractions, as outlined in our guide on things to do at Port Arthur.

Is a trip to Port Arthur worthwhile?

Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage convict settlement of Port Arthur is highly suggested, irrespective of your enthusiasm for history. The settlement is excellently conserved, affording visitors a singular experience of entering a different era.

Activities available at Port Arthur

Port Arthur presents various tours, activities, and experiences for visitors to examine and value its historical and UNESCO World Heritage-designated convict location. Guests can immerse themselves in its abundant history or relish the ambience of the ancient structures and impeccably kept gardens.
Numerous activities come with your entry ticket, and these alone can contribute to a gratifying day at Port Arthur, even if you opt to partake only in these.

Port Arthur Gallery

The Port Arthur Gallery is located in the main Visitor Centre/entrance. It can serve as a starting or ending point for your day. If you visit it first, the interactive displays will excite you about what’s ahead. There is also a fun activity involving playing cards, but we don’t want to spoil it for you.

Explore Port Arthur Settlement

After leaving the visitor Centre, you enter the world of old Port Arthur. There are buildings everywhere, including the church, old law courts, and asylum. The Penitentiary and Guard Tower were our favourites, and you can visit all of them. The buildings have varying degrees of completeness, and there are signs throughout. Walking through the old buildings is an excellent activity at Port Arthur.

Free Guided Trip

The admission also includes a gratis 40-minute guided tour and a superb introduction to the location. The tour helps in acquainting visitors with the environment and imparts a comprehensive comprehension of the historical importance and narratives linked to the site. It is advantageous to undertake the tour before venturing independently, though it can also be an enjoyable interlude if conducted later.

Free Harbour Cruise

An extra perk that comes with your admission ticket is the Harbour Cruise. This voyage takes roughly 20 minutes and offers a snapshot of the Isle of the Dead Cemetery and the Point Puer Boys’ Prison. The commentary shared during the cruise is captivating and enlightening. Moreover, alighting at the settlement provides a charming perspective of the region from the water.

Port Arthur offers additional activities, including paid trip

The complimentary Harbour Cruise and Guided tour provides informative experiences and may spark a desire to explore further. Other paid tours are available for those interested in further exploration.

The Wheel of Fate Taste & Tour is an attraction

This premium offering includes a guided behind-the-scenes tour of select buildings in Port Arthur, where visitors will learn about the area’s most famous residents. The tour lasts for 2 hours and is followed by a lunch and drinks in the beautiful Visiting Magistrates House.

There is a cemetery tour called Isle of the Dead

The tour operates three times a day and allows visitors to visit the small island encircled during the free cruise. Visitors can learn about the 1000 convicts buried on the island, as well as the officers and free settlers buried in a separate area. Visiting the Isle of the Dead provides a one-of-a-kind and intriguing experience.

Port Arthur offers a tour for those looking to escape

Escape attempts were common at Port Arthur, as evidenced by the one-hour tour that runs once daily. The convicts’ desperate efforts to escape, only to find themselves in harsh conditions like dense forests or freezing water, highlight the brutality of Port Arthur.

Go on the Port Arthur Ghost Tour

Curious about the nighttime atmosphere of Port Arthur? Experience it on this ghost tour. Guided by lanterns, you will hear eerie stories about the inmates. This tour is not suitable for young children. You can also choose a dinner package at the onsite 1830 Restaurant and Bar.

Consider these activities on the Tasman Peninsula

When travelling to Port Arthur, it is advised to set aside time to explore the remainder of the Tasman Peninsula. This region features a breathtaking coastline deemed one of the most incredible in Tasmania. If you dedicate half a day to Port Arthur, you can explore many of these attractions. Conversely, if you opt to remain overnight, you will possess sufficient time to appreciate the splendour of this portion of Tasmania fully.

Tasman Blowhole

To witness the full effect of a blowhole, timing is crucial. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with the worst possible conditions. The tide was low, and the sea was calm, resulting in a disappointing sight. Instead of a powerful burst of water, we mainly saw an empty hole. The experience had potential, but we still needed to meet our expectations. Watching the water flow into the channel was still enjoyable despite lacking the excitement we had anticipated.

Visit the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo

When in Tasmania, one can observe Tasmanian Devils and understand their predicaments. The Unzoo adopts an unconventional method. It doesn’t possess cages or pens like customary zoos. Instead, visitors can stroll through a native botanical garden and watch wildlife in their authentic surroundings.
The zoo conducts presentations, feedings, and escorted tours throughout the day. Guests can approach creatures such as Tassie devils, wallabies, possums, and birds. It is a distinctive type of zoo. The staff’s zeal reflects their pride in the establishment. Come and formulate your perspective regarding this avant-garde zoo.

Remarkable Cave

With enhanced parking facilities and observation decks, Remarkable Cave is a favoured destination on the Tasman Peninsula. It is strategically situated 10 minutes from Port Arthur, permitting visitors to effortlessly explore this magnificent coastal landscape even if they allocate an entire day to the vicinity.
Two viewing spots are available. The first is readily reachable from the parking area. Maingon Bay Lookout offers splendid vistas of the water and atop the cliffs. If you gaze upward, you may observe a sea eagle soaring above. Adhere to the directions to Remarkable Cave. It is a 10-15 minute stroll. The walk culminates with a steep yet sturdy series of steps leading to the observation deck. The extensive caves or passageways through the sandstone are awe-inspiring. They merit the descent and subsequent ascent.

Tasman Arch and Devil's Kitchen are significant landmarks

This area proffers an abundant dramatic coastline featuring accessible landmarks like the Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen. Several brief walks in the vicinity afford diverse perspectives of the Arch and Devil’s Kitchen.
The Tasman Arch is a natural bridge created from a collapsed cavern. Devil’s Kitchen is a profound trench situated between two lofty cliffs. These features captivate due to their magnitude. The display becomes even more remarkable with the large waves from the Tasman Sea.

Experience of Port Arthur Lavender Farm

Previously, individuals might have had reservations about visiting lavender farms, as lavender was traditionally linked with older age groups.
The Port Arthur Lavender Farm presents an extensive array of lavender products, encompassing bath and body items, chocolate, honey, and essential oils, illustrating the adaptability of lavender beyond mere potpourri.
Guests can traverse the lavender fields on a self-directed tour, observing the picturesque landscape. Additionally, a café onsite offers an assortment of snacks, both infused with lavender and standard. Visitors can view the lavender oil distillery, and children may find some lavender-hued sheep.

Tessellated Pavement

This rock structure is unique, with a symmetrical pattern of erosion instead of towering cliffs. It is not only visually intriguing but also a rare sight that can only be found in a few places worldwide.
The pavement in this area comprises raised pillow-like rocks and irregularly shaped rectangles. The rocks appear meticulously arranged, giving the impression that they are not naturally formed. This intriguing location is easily accessible and connects to the beautiful Pirates Bay Beach.

Doo Town

This is a distinctive discovery made during travels. In the 1930s, a shack proprietor christened his abode ‘Doo I’, prompting his neighbours to similarly name their shacks Doo Me and Doo Us.
Subsequently, nearly all dwellings in the vacation shack community embraced a ‘Doo’ moniker. We observed residences named Rum Doo, Doo Little, Xanadoo, Doo Nix, and Doodle Doo. Doo Town is not an expansive place, so pausing for a brief walk to observe the imaginative names residents have bestowed upon their homes is worthwhile. It is a must-do endeavour.

The Wilderness Cruise at the Tasman Peninsula

Witnessing the splendour of the Tasman Peninsula from both terrestrial and aquatic perspectives is an extraordinary method to observe the scenic and rugged coastline. Embarking on a half-day cruise made us admire the breathtaking cliffs and waterfalls more profoundly from the marine viewpoint.
One might encounter marine creatures like seals, dolphins, whales, and avian species on any particular day.

The Dog Line

The Dog Line is a convict tribute situated at Eaglehawk Neck, a slender land stretch linking the northern and southern parts of the peninsula. This region was the sole entry point from the peninsula to the remainder of Tasmania and was monitored by menacing guard dogs. Guests can explore sculptures, walk briefly, and learn about the location via informational signs.

Fortescue Bay

Fortescue, situated in Tasman National Park, is a favoured destination for camping and day excursions. It is accessible via a 12km unpaved road suitable for 2WD vehicles. Seek the turn-off en route to Port Arthur. For day visitors, picnic spots and BBQs are provided. The beach is an ideal location for swimming, wading, or snorkelling, where the forest converges with the sea, offering numerous chances to spot wildlife and birds.
Two camping sites are present here, and securing a reservation during the summer is recommended. The Mills Campground provides drive-on locations, whereas the Banksia Campground, located slightly more distant from the water, necessitates walking, rendering it more fitting for tent camping.

The Tasman Peninsula offers various walking trails

The Three Capes Track is positioned on the Tasman Peninsula. It spans a four-day, 48-kilometre trek from Port Arthur to Fortescue Bay. The trail accentuates the striking coastline and diverse terrains of the region. For those who favour shorter treks, four of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks can be discovered within Tasman National Park.