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Port Arthur Historic Site

UNESCO-listed convict ruins

Port_Arthur_Harbour_2

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.

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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.

History

Kids & Families

Tasmania

Text © Cristian Bonetto

Image by Travis