Port Arthur: Explore Historic Convict Site

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Port Arthur

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Immerse yourself in history at Port Arthur Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict site. Explore over 30 historic buildings and ruins with a 2-day pass, including a self-guided audio experience and complimentary site talks and harbour cruise.

Duration: 8 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Port Arthur Historic Site - Situated 90 minutes southeast of Hobart, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site vividly showcases Australia’s early convict history.
Spanning 100 acres, the site features gardens and grounds with over 30 historic buildings and ruins to discover.
Entry passes are valid for two consecutive days and…

What's Included

Tours, as selected in options
Self-guided audio experience
Map of the site
Access to the World Heritage Site, gardens, historic buildings, and ruins for 2 consecutive days
20-minute harbour cruise
Talks by expert guides, at iconic buildings, throughout the day

Additional Information

The Port Arthur Historic Site provides an intriguing insight into Australia’s convict history, highlighting the penal settlement, convict labor, and its significant impact on the nation’s growth and colonial life. Designed as a secondary-punishment facility, Port Arthur served as a prison for male convicts who re-offended.
ESSENTIAL DETAILS FOR PRODUCT…

Location

Port Arthur Historic Site

Tours depart from the foyer at the Port Arthur Historic Site Visitors Centre. The Visitors Centre also offers cafe/bistro, free parking, and visitor information.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.5

(304 Ratings)

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Georgi_s

Mar 10, 2026

Afternoon strol of the historic site - I'm really satisfied with this tour, because in about 1:45 hours we were able to visit the most important and learn much from our guide, which was very knowledgable. This was the afternoon we were able to spent at the historic site during our visit to Tasmania and I'm happy that we got it right with the premium tour, which also took us on a boat around the harbor. Greatly recommanded for anyone visiting Port Arthur.

Review provided by Viator

Keith_m

Mar 6, 2026

Well presented historical landmark - This is a very well presented historical and educational experience. The memorial to the 1996 shooting tragedy is very moving, sensitive and appropriate.

Review provided by Viator

Marke20

Mar 2, 2026

Norfolk Island and Tasmania 2026 - Having just been to Norfolk Island which was also a convict transportation destination, it was only fitting we visit Port Arthur. This is a spectacular area with many of the buildings restored and many still in ruins. You will need a few hours, maybe even a day. We bought a 2 day pass with a 20min harbour cruise. I’m not fit but was able to walk around the whole site. There are buggies moving around if you need a lift. Lots to see. Guided tours available and apparently you can listen in if they are near doing a brief. The harbour cruise was on a decent sized catamaran and was very informative and gave you a good view of the settlement from the bay. They had curried scallop pies on board which we just had to try. Good parking. A must do if in Hobart

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jwest

Mar 1, 2026

Layers and layers of history - This site can easily take a whole day (and the tickets are good for 2 days). This history is amazing from convict town prison, to town, to hotels, and finally the historic site. The staff are view friendly, there are plenty of free tours included in the ticket as well as a boat ride. The day we went there was plenty of free parking. The "overflow parking" farther from the entrance suggests that on some days, parking may be harder to find. There are public toilets in different parts of the site away from the main entrance which is very nice. The on premise food options were competitively prices and I felt there was a wide range of choices

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Miranda_m

Feb 26, 2026

There’s so much to walk... - There’s so much to walk around and explore and the preserved history is really interesting. It’s great that you also get free talks about different places included in the ticket, plus a ferry ride to see the islands around Port Arthur

Review provided by Viator

Fk_valemus

Feb 25, 2026

An extensive site with a rich history of convicts. - An extensive site with many information about the convict days. We spent about 3 hours there, and took the cruise around and had a closer look to Puer and Isle of the Dead. Many interesting areas include the Separate Prison, and the Convict Church. Highly recommended if you visit Tassie.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Neale_d

Feb 19, 2026

Great day trip from Hobart - Great all day experience from Hobart. The reconstruction and ruins are really well maintained as well as the grounds. Guided tours and boat trip are a must to find out more about the history.

Review provided by Viator

Peter_t

Feb 18, 2026

n/a - a great day out exploring the ruins and a really good boat cruise . huge grounds to cover. nice restaurant with good food and a good gift shop

Review provided by Viator

Zoe_w

Feb 19, 2026

Wouldn't bother pre... - Wouldn't bother pre purchasing a ticket for Port Arthur as the line was not being serviced when I arrived, and would have been much quicker to just line up in the general ticket line.

Review provided by Viator

Adventure802365

Feb 14, 2026

Disappointed and underwhelmed - half the buildings are not accessible with little to know information, almost felt like I was walking around like a headless chook. Trying to navigate myself around even with a map of the place. Lots of buildings but it is very hard to connect with the buildings when there is no information to go off. Just random blue prints of building and random convicts scattered everywhere with no relation to that place they were. Pricing is way to expensive for basically a town that you have to show yourself around, especially with the amount of walking that is required. Though we had all day to explore, looking at buildings that are barely accessible with no information can get tedious very quickly. I couldn’t tell ya how the staff members were because well there was basically none other than in the main entry and cafes. There was barely anyone to help us around the site and the staff members I did see were uninterested and walked straight past with not even as little as a hello. It’s a great place if you like to look at old stuff but if you have come to learn about the lively hood, what the buildings were used for and anything to do with the history of the convicts and the site I wouldn’t waste your money.

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Check Availability

From $37

up to 9 guests

1 - Adult