One of the most iconic landmark associated with Tasmania was the Port Arthur Historic Site. After originally being sold off after it shutdown down the government has repurchased then renovated some of the historic buildings to recognize Australia's convict history. The parking lot was free and plentiful over three rows plus an overflow lot. The visitor center was modern and contained sit down and casual restaurants, gift shop and the museum. Here they sold all the tickets and guided tours. Every ticket included a cruise around the bay and to the Island of the Dead and full access to the site. The museum itself was small but packed with artifacts, history and profiles of those incarcerated or oversaw the prisoners. A good introduction. Talks were scheduled throughout the day at different buildings and lasted for a few to 20 minutes or so. All except one was well worth catching and all were free. Those definitely helped since we didn't pay for a guided tour. We wandered the ground at our own pace with roughly half restored while the other half just the shells. My recommendations on what to see would be the Commandant's House, Penitentiary, Asylum's Prison, Government Garden and Separate Prison. Tickets were valid for two consecutive days so that added flexibility to our visit since we stayed overnight in the area. read more

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With the assistance of our guide Rob, we unveiled the dark past of the Port Arthur historic site visiting the site of the mill and tiered prison (Level 1, 2 or 3 convicts) and the horrific separate prison before a ferry to Point Puer and The Isle of the dead rounded out the story of Port Arthur (1830 through to 1870). Robs incredible knowledge base and ability to make Port Arthur come to life and reflect on its impact at the time and since was amazing. His explanation of the conditions that existed in England via industrialization of London, Manchester and Birmingham and the 4 main cogs of control - Religious coercion, Punishment, Separation and classification and industry and training utilised to control the prisoners was particularly enlightening. read more

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For those of you who are interested in the criminal justice system, Port Arthur was one of the most notorious penal colonies of the 19th century. Established in 1830 as a timber station, it quickly evolved into a harsh prison that housed the British Empire's most vicious convicts. You can walk around the grounds and listen to the audio guide. Often compared to infamous prisons like Alcatraz, Port Arthur's conditions were arguably far worse due to its brutal punishment regime, isolation, and sheer psychological torment. The prison adopted practices designed to break the human spirit, including solitary confinement, deprivation of light, and forced silence. The Separate Prison, a facility built later in Port Arthur's history, was modeled after the infamous Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. Like its American counterpart, it implemented the "separate system," which emphasized complete isolation. It's very grim and almost unbelievable. read more

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Really interesting UNESCO historic site to understand the convict past of Tasmania. WE HIRED A PRIVATE guide for a day trip from Hobart so had a deluxe tour walking around the expansive site and poking in a number of the buildings. It was really amazing seeing the tiny cells and building ruins and understanding a bit about shipping people off to a remote part of the world for seemingly minor offenses like stealing toys or bread. We were lucky enough to visit on a very quiet day free from cruIse ship hordes so had no issue with crowds or lines. Our tour also included a short narrated boat cruise past the island cemetery as well as the island that housed young boys (age 7-16) also shipped off to penal colonies. We spent a couple of hours and had a decent lunch at the cafe. It was REALLY a fascinating place-much better than I expected and I wOuld consider it a must do if you are in the area. Just be sure to check the cruise ship schedule for BOTH Hobart and Port Arthur-especially Port Arthur as the big ships moor near the site and disgorge their mobs directly into the site. read more

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This was my least favorite experience while in Tasmania. I'm not sure why but I didn't really get an authentic feel from it . I know many of the buildings were destroyed in the bush fires but it still was a bit too museum like for me. I also saw people posing with the chains in the actual museum part and that was just odd to me. The bathrooms need more attention. Some were just plain filthy. The harbor cruise lasted but a second lol . The information was good but I could have skipped that part. Overall the maintenance of the grounds were spectacular. read more

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There is something haunting and captivating about wandering around this site, a place of so much history. Port Arthur has seen many lifetimes, but it was originally a penal colony where many "secondary punishment" (repeat offender) prisoners were sent. Once the convict era was over, Port Arthur was renamed "Carnarvon" for a while, and free men bought the land and settled in the area, trying to leave the past behind. Eventually the site was repurposed. At Port Arthur Historic Site, many of the colony's original buildings are still standing, and ongoing conservation work is being conducted to either keep or return buildings to their original states. Enough of a history lesson in this review, because that's part of the adventure of a visit to PAHS. I've been there twice now and both times I've spent at least a couple of hours wandering around and exploring. I highly recommend taking advantage of the harbour boat cruise that comes bundled with every ticket type--it only goes for 40mins or so, but be warned, if you bought the cheapest ticket type, it will make you wish you'd bought a more expensive entry ticket when it pulls up at Point Puer and the Isle of the Dead and you aren't allowed off the boat. Then there's the Ghost Tours, run in the evenings once it gets dark. They don't have any special effects involved, it's just a guided tour through some of the buildings, with some stories thrown in. This is enough to really creep you out, trust me. Even if you've already been through the buildings during the day (and then maybe had dinner at Felons restaurant on site while waiting for night to fall), everything is eerier in the dark. If you're touring through Port Arthur on holiday, it's important to note that EVERY ticket type at the Historic Site is valid for two consecutive days. If you're a Tassie local, it's definitely worth picking up a Ticket of Leave on your way out for a measly extra fee, as the Ticket of Leave will grant you free return at any time over the next twenty-four months. Two years of free visits! Think of all the visitors you can (and should) bring back here! I'm looking forward to my own return visit, when maybe I'll finally splurge and get off the boat, because gosh it's a tease. There's plenty of free parking on site, and there's plenty of accommodation around Port Arthur if you're planning to stay overnight (not on site, but just up the road). Alternatively, it's only around an hour and a half's drive from Hobart. I can't recommend a visit to the Historic Site enough as part of your time in Tasmania. read more

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Anyone visiting Hobart needs to spend a day at Port Arthur. Trying to figure out ticketing online, I found confusing. There are different package deals, all depending on what you want to do/see. I found it easier just calling them up the day before and talking to the person, they helped us out and told us what time to get there and the tour times, and set up an itinerary for us with ample time to stroll around and see everything we wanted. We ended up with the Bronze Pass ($35 adults) and added on the Isle of the Dead Tour and the Ghost Tour. It's about an hour and twenty driving from Hobart. We left early and made it to Port Arthur by 11 am. We went on a 45 minute guided introductory tour of the grounds, a boat harbor tour, got off, had a Isle of the Dead tour on the island ($15). That tour is meant to be "one of the best tours at Port Arthur"-one of the guides. We still had time to stroll around, see the different buildings, and eat before our 5:30 pm 90 minute ghost tour ($25). Also well worth it, the tour tells stories and takes your to places that aren't accessible in the day time. It's so creepy, and scary, the whole tour is by lantern, in a large (over 15) people group. Port Arthur was my first day in Tasmania, but knowing the history really helped me get background insight that I put towards the rest of my Tasmania experience. read more

Wow. Everything was fantastic - the site, Felon's restaurant and the ghost tour. The site is beautiful and staff friendly. It was great to wander around for a few hours. Felon's restaurant - AMAZING! You'd think a place like that would be mediocre, but the food was so good, some of the best I had on my trip! The ghost tour was great - a bit short, but scary enough. Very glad we went! read more

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On port day, I took one of the shore excursion tours with p&o which involved a day out in port Arthur. Port Arthur is approximately a two hours drive from the dock in Hobart. On the way, we passed pirates bay with beautiful seacliff views, mt Wellington enveloped in fog, and the Tasman peninsula. We arrived at port Arthur visitor centre and were given yellow lanyards and a playing card. We then went downstairs into the discovery centre and used our card to find more about our prisoner's life. This was followed by a short walk to the ferry from which we took around a 30 minutes cruise around the dead man's isle and pt pauer (the boys prison).. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the cruise moved uber slow. There's a bar and snacks on board. This was then followed by a 40 minutes guided walking tour. I found this quite disappointing as we stood in one spot for over 30 minutes listening to the guide chatter on, barely audible, over the howling wind. She told us about the penitentiary, the asylum, the houses built by the convicts and the separate prison where prisoners lived in solitary confinement and conversed using sign language. For one hour a day they were allowed exercise which was to be done while wearing felt slippers to allow for minimal noise. Post guided "walking tour", our ravishing tummies were insulted with sandwiches and tomato soup. Sorry gluten intolerant people. We then had some time to walk around the grounds. You can enter a number of houses that were built by hand by the prisoners out of brick and sandstone. You can also check out the post office, the guard's watch tower,the church,enter the prison cells and even see archaeologists carrying out excavation. This time they were unearthing the laundrette. I think the tour was quite disappointing and would prefer audio guide. Don't bother with the cruise. It's a waste of money. The site is well preserved. read more

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As someone who is not much of a history fanatic, when my travelling partner said we have to check out Port Arthur Historic Site while we were on our trip through Tasmania, I rolled my eyes slightly. When I got to the venue and had a look at the entry prices, I rolled my eyes even more. "$35 minimum entry fee to see some old convict buildings? You've got to be kidding!" I thought. Alas, it was totally worth it, and the higher priced tickets are probably worth it too! If you're travelling through the area, or if you've hired a car in Hobart and you have a few hours to spare, it is probably worth stopping at Port Arthur and having a look at this historic convict settlement site. For me, the included boat trip as a part of the entry fee (for all tickets) really makes this destination a pleasure. The cruise goes for about 45 minutes, with a live vocal tour of the area, a brief discussion of the history of the settlement and its islands, and a few fascinating stories about life as a convict at Port Arthur. On the day we visited, "James" was our tour guide, who was absolutely exceptional and had incredibly insightful stories into the lives of the some of the convicts who were located at Port Arthur. During the ferry tour, the boat stops off at the Isle of the Dead island, and if you have one of the premium tickets, you can get off the boat to enjoy a 45 minute tour of the island. There's also a ghost tour available if you're here in the evening. As Sascha K. mentioned, unless you're with Telstra, don't expect any kind of phone reception here - we had a Telstra device and an Optus/TPG device here, and only the Telstra one had any reception at all. You can absolutely spend an entire day here if you're really keen on history. Each ticket allows you entrance for two days, so if you're staying in the area you can come back for a second look! Overall, I arrived at Port Arthur Historic Site with a skeptical mind, but I am definitely a converter. A great experience and well worth the trip. read more

If you are visiting Tasmania, I recommend you spend a day at Port Arthur. You will need a day as it is a bit of a drive to get there and there are tourist stops along the way. The grounds are quite large so there is a lot to see and take photos of. Overall I found it really good value for the price, and definitely worth a visit. Make sure to get there early as some of the tour packages also include lunch, although you can buy your own lunch at the cafe if you miss these tours. The staff are friendly and knowledgable and tell you all about the history of this site. The ghost tour was silly but still good to do at the end of the day and you can package that with dinner if you like. There is also an island to visit if you pay extra for the ferry. If you are not with Telstra, you will not have any reception, so apart from taking photos, your phone is useless. This is good as you won't have any external distractions while you visit. read more

What a serene and beautiful setting for a place of so much pain and suffering. Your admission includes a guided tour and harbor cruise, which I think are integral starting points for you before you begin to wander the property. If you have more than 3-4 days in TAS, this is not to be missed. read more

VERY TOURISTY!! And of course it should be. Coz it's for tourists. The ticketing system is set up so you'll purchase a ticket for $35 with 2 very short tours included. However, you can purchase a ticket for $18, and have a look around yourself. Normally I'm all for a tour. I'm happy to sit back whilst taken around. Unfortunately the boat cruise was a waste of time. The woman running the tour who was yelling "DON'T PUSH ON THE BOAT, then in a few seconds "QUICK QUICK" (make up your mind already!) and the commentary was full of up selling tours and recommending the various restaurants. The walking tour was good. Our guide both knowledgeable and engaging. I've been to Port Arthur about 8 years ago and found the whole experience amazing. Unfortunately, now it's turned into a tourist trap. ****(I did not see any mention of the massacre - maybe my oversight or PA, have deliberately have chosen to give it some time). read more

The grounds are beautiful, certainly worth a visit. Well preserved buildings. We bought the bronze package. One tip I learned: you don't have to wait for the time of your introductory tour printed on your ticket. So jump onto an earlier one if that fits better with your schedule. The introductory tour info is useful and helps you plan your time here. The boat ride was a short tour of the bay with some narrative included. We spent about 5 hours here. I think I got more out of the penitentiary chapel tour in Hobart in terms of information, but this place was far larger. read more

Port Arthur Historic Site is an early penal colony and was quite an interesting stop during our lovely week in Tasmania. We believed it would be museum-like . . . and boy were we wrong! We didn't know what to expect and being surprised by the size and the attraction of it all we certainly wished we had more time. The entry fee includes 2 days admission to give time to see it all! Let that be your warning to allow enough time to see this incredible place. We got a late start and driving from Hobart, made stops along the way -- mistake. My advice is get there early and spend the entire day and hopefully take advantage of the admission for a second day. The grounds are lovely and there are so many buildings to walk through. There are 2 other sites accessible by a short boat ride; ferry ride is included in admission but entrance for the other sites is additional and night tours are an extra charge. Even though the sunset wasn't for a few hours, buildings close at 5pm, with the grounds open until dusk. On our drive back to Hobart we stopped at The Dog Line, Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site, which is associated with Port Arthur. Here guards formed a line with dogs across the isthmus to catch escapees. There is a statue of a Bull Mastiff and we walked the short trail to the beach and saw how narrow this part of the peninsula is. It would be possible to stay in Hobart and visit the site 2 days, but staying at a B&B that is closer would be a better idea. There is not too much near Port Arthur so bring a picnic, and put fuel in the car before. The Port Arthur site has a typical museum cafe and we ate there, but wished we brought our meal along. read more

We visited the Port Arthur Historic Site prior to undertaking our Three Capes Track hike. If you love history (or even like history), Port Arthur is incredible. The walking tours and stories as you walk around the site are fantastic. Ensure you allow at least 3-4 hours, as it is a large site with a lot of history. read more

Port Arthur Penitentiary. Great for an all day tour. The penal colony is such a part of Australia history and this was one of the original locations. There is a lot to see and someone for everyone. Fascinating stories. We met descendents of some of the Port Arthur inmates who are current docents. There was a real pride in their family history and a treat to speak with them. Pretty site. Haunting. Would recommend. read more

Amazing! There's really no other words to describe it. The ghost tour is breathtaking, spine tingling fun.

This was a really solid experience in general. It is quite beautiful and there are lots of buildings to walk through. It is too bad that the buildings have not been maintained a bit more pristinely, but it is still worth visiting. Part of the reason is for the sheer beauty of the location and the diametrically opposing struggles that a prison, especially one where many people were dragged half-way around the world to serve at. The main building where you purchase tickets is set up incredibly well. The check-in area provides a welcoming environ and is adjacent to a cafe that has a variety of food catering to a diverse audience at decent prices for Australia. As you tour the building, you will learn an exceptional amount about the historical backdrop of Port Arthur as well as meaningful narratives of individuals who resided there. That part was particularly resonant for me. The grounds themselves are a bit shorn and while there may be a number of reasons (from fire to wind/salt, etc) for the buildings to be rundown, it is still worth touring. The low point was when Liz (an older woman with pink and purple dyed hair) led the jetty/ferry boat ride as the tour guide on the water. The views are incredibly stunning from the water and the boat itself is more than serviceable; however she was 1000% inaudible the entire time. She was whispering into a microphone in a monotonous tone with no facial expressions. I asked if she could speak louder and she blamed the fact I couldn't hear on the food service folks in the back of the boat. Even when I moved up much closer to her I could literally not understand a word she said- nor could other patrons. An entire boat full of people missed out on the important details of Port Arthur. If it was not for the beauty of the views, I would be even more frustrated. She clearly did not care from her attitude and body language and that was an enormous shame because I really would liked to have known what she talked about for 20 minutes. As long as you do not get Liz, you will have an all-around positive experience. While there could be some better signage within the actual prison portion of the grounds it is still quite amazing and a lot to take in. I would definitely visit if you are coming from abroad. read more

Definitely go here fantastic history just awesome. Give the ghost tour a miss unless it was just the fact our guide was no tone and boring but I was almost asleep read more