Port Arthur: Explore Historic Convict Site

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
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.
Visitors can choose to enhance…

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
(255 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Legendomundo
Apr 27, 2025
Port Arthur Historic site - Great educational experience. Entry includes a 20min tour of bay on a ferry. We only had 2 hrs there which was not long enough. Bit expensive entry. Older kids did not come along (not interested despite our encouragement), wish they did, but we saved $46/person! Free Audio tour available, so take your AirPods. Good history lesson, done in a very interesting way. Congrats to the team that runs and manages the facility.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patrizia_p
Apr 27, 2025
Great experience - Amazing guide Carl that took us through Port Arthur and gave us great insight into life and hardships
Review provided by Viator
Keyoorpatel
Apr 25, 2025
Old historical tour - A powerful and moving experience. Walking through the ruins and learning about the stories of the people who lived here gives you a deep sense of history and emotion. The site is beautifully preserved, and the guided tour adds so much meaning. It’s peaceful yet haunting, and it made me reflect on how far we’ve come. A must-visit for anyone who appreciates history, especially with family—it’s a journey through time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelandanne
Apr 16, 2025
Awesome ! - We spent some time here. A lovely set-up and very friendly staff. Food was quite good - all laid out and easy to choose. Watch for tour groups though - you might get a line up :) Great souvenir shop and toilets. Nice indoor and outdoor sitting area - and easy parking. You do have to pay to get into the "historic" spots.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B6850yrmiak
Apr 10, 2025
Great day - Port Arthur Historic Site far exceeded our expectations — it’s much bigger and more interesting than we anticipated. There’s so much history to take in, and the grounds are beautiful to explore. We only budgeted about 2 hours for our visit, but honestly wish we had allowed 3 hours or more to really take our time and see everything properly. There are so many fascinating stories and well-preserved buildings — it’s a really engaging and unique way to spend the day. Highly recommend visiting — just be sure to give yourself plenty of time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suiling_t
Apr 8, 2025
Great attraction - Fantastic attraction. A lot to see, requires at least half a day. Great audio tour and free in person tours. Highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
Angelaft4509nw
Apr 2, 2025
Do not miss - The experience lay out was well done. Beautiful grounds. Spooky stories - very sobering. Not sure about the cruise as we did not do it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
I6012vjgrantp
Mar 28, 2025
Awesome place not to be missed. Be prepared to take lots of photos. - An amazing well presented, and not to be missed insight into history. Very well preserved, detailed information, and easily accessible across the site. Bonus boat ride in the bay with audio of the history of the various areas was awesome.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
0503yves
Mar 25, 2025
Top! - Very informative and restored with a lot of effort. You should allow at least 6h time. Open-air museum. Only in good weather!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer34144871040
Mar 22, 2025
Interesting activities! - We got the Port Arthur Historic Site 2 day pass. The site is huge, and there's so much to see! There are multiple cafes, resteraunt, and a bar for food and drink options. The 20-minute cruise around the area was completely packed. You also had the option of being dropped off at the Isle of the Dead (where Port Arthur used to bury their dead) for a tour of the island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $31
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).