Where:

Tasmania, Australia

1.5 hours drive from Hobart along the Tasman and Arthur Highways.

Last Visited:

Last visited in October 2006

Why Go:

• Port Arthur is one of Australia's premier tourist attractions, telling the convict history of Australia.

Highlights:

• Guided Tour: included in your entry ticket is a a free guided tour by very informative guides which tell you the story of Port Arthur and is very worthwhile taking to get an overview of the area before you start exploring on your own.
• Boat Cruise: also included in your entry ticket is a 25 minute cruise of the harbour with the option of taking a tour of the Point Puer Boy's Prison island and Isle of the Dead (which you must pay extra for).
• Point Puer Boy's Prison: this island was used to house young boys between 9-18 between 1834 and 1949. You can only get here by the ferry, which you must book at the visitor centre.
• Isle of the Dead Cemetery: optional extra tour of the island where all convicts, soldiers and civilians were buried.
• Historic Buildings: The chilling old convict buildings and houses for the guards and others are well marked with information panels describing their history.
• Gardens: well maintained English gardens make a good backdrop of the decaying buildings, and are nice for a stroll around.
• Massacre Memorial: Port Arthur was the site of one of the world's worst mass killings when a crazy man Martin Bryant went on a shooting sprees and killed over 30 people here. There is a simple memorial at the burnt out cafe where many people perished.
• Ghost Tour: there is a evening lantern-lit tour that starts at sunset, which gives an atmospheric account of myths and ghost stories from the histopry of Port Arthur.

Eating & Drinking:

• there are a couple of coffee shops around the site, and the main entrance has a cafe and Felon's Restarant, a more expensive a la carte restaurant.

Other things you should know about:

• Visitor Information is available from the main entrance building of the Port Arthur Historic Site
• Your entry ticket is valid for two days. It is suggested to take at least four hours to see the site.

More information:

• see the photo gallery from Port Arthur

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