Port Arthur Historic Site
UNESCO-listed convict ruins
The waterfront setting may be bucolic, but this World Heritage drawcard represents dark chapters in Tasmania’s history. Over 30 buildings and ruins constitute what is Australia’s best-preserved convict site, a 19th-century penitentiary that gained further notoriety in 1996 as the site of modern Australia’s worst mass shooting.
The 40-minute guided tours (included in the admission fee) bring the ruins back to life, offering a porthole into the trials and tribulations of the convicts imprisoned here. Visitors after more spine-tingling thrills can book a 90-minute, after-dark Ghost Tour, which delves into Port Arthur’s paranormal side.
Arthur Hwy, Port Arthur
Opening hours: Daily 10am-5pm
Admission: Adult/child $45/20
portarthur.org.au
How to get there
Port Arthur Historic Site is located 96km southeast of Hobart.
Car: From Hobart, head west on the Tasman Hwy (A3) and change to the Arthur Hwy (A9) in Sorell.
Bus: Tassie Tours runs a twice-daily shuttle service between Hobart (eight city stops) and Port Arthur Historic Site. See the website for stops and times, as well as to book.