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Port Arthur Outdoor activities

Our most recommended Port Arthur Outdoor activities

From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

1. From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

Embark on a cruise that sails beneath the highest vertical sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere at Cape Pillar. Discover waterfalls, rock formations, archways and deep-sea caves. Cruise along the coastline which is part of the Tasman National Park. Discover the home of a diverse range of wildlife including hundreds of seals, migrating whales, and abundant sea birds in their thousands. At any time of year, you're likely to see the feeding frenzy of diving gannets, albatross and sea eagles wheeling on the wind, cliff-nesting cormorants and peregrine falcons, or a pod of playful dolphins surfing the bow wave of the boat. Enjoy a cruise on a vessel that has covered open-air tiered seating for an excellent all-round view and connection with the environment.

Port Arthur Historic Site Entry Ticket

2. Port Arthur Historic Site Entry Ticket

Explore the award-winning iconic attraction, the Port Arthur Historic Site. Just a short 1.5 hour drive from nipaluna / Hobart in turrakana / the Tasman Peninsula, the Port Arthur Historic Site has over 30 buildings, ruins and restored period homes set in 40 hectares of landscaped grounds. Allow plenty of time to fully experience all that Port Arthur has to offer. Site entry tickets are valid for daytime entry for two consecutive days and includes a harbor cruise, a self-guided audio experience, and complimentary site talks by expert guides throughout the site. Start your experience in the Port Arthur Gallery where you can select a character card to connect with one of the convicts, soldiers, or free settlers that spent time in this secondary punishment station. Listen to personal histories of the people of Port Arthur and explore the collections of artifacts that have been uncovered there. Stream the Port Arthur Experience as you venture through the convict ruins and lush gardens at your own pace. Wander through meticulously curated house museums and engage with expert guides with free presentations throughout the day. A short harbor cruise will present the site to you as the convicts would have experienced back in the 1800s. Enjoy historical commentary as you cruise around the Isle of the Dead and past the Dockyards and Point Puer the site of the first Boys Prison in the British Empire.

Tasman Peninsula Tour, Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site

3. Tasman Peninsula Tour, Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site

Experience the best of the Tasman Peninsula on an informative and entertaining day trip from Hobart.  Journey 1.5-hours from Hobart to Port Arthur by comfortable coach. Enjoy morning tea on the Tasman Peninsula. Climb aboard a custom-built boat for an unforgettable 3-hour wilderness cruise. Explore the spectacular coastline between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck. Look for seals, migrating whales, seabirds, or even dolphins.  At the end of your cruise, spend 3-hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site. You will have time for lunch on site and to explore before the return journey to Hobart. Be dropped back to Hobart or your hotel around 6 pm.

Port Arthur: Tour with Isle of the Dead Cruise

4. Port Arthur: Tour with Isle of the Dead Cruise

Cross the Tasman Bridge, and head out on the Tasman Highway over the Pittwater Causeway onto Forestier Peninsula. Admire the pristine beauty of Pirates Bay, Eaglehawk Neck, and Norfolk Bay. Visit Abel Tasman National Park, where you’ll marvel at the spectacle of the Tasman Arch and enjoy superb views of the rugged coastline. You’ll be amazed at the magnitude of the Devil's Kitchen. Explore Port Arthur, where you’ll take a guided walking tour of the historic convict site, with access to over 30 restored buildings and ruins. See the penitentiary, the separate prison, the commandant's house, and the church.

Tasman Peninsula Day Trip with Cruise & Devils from Hobart

5. Tasman Peninsula Day Trip with Cruise & Devils from Hobart

Experience the highlights of the Tasman Peninsula on a day trip from Hobart. Journey 1.5 hours from Hobart to Port Arthur by a comfortable coach. Enjoy morning tea on the Tasman Peninsula. Climb aboard a custom-built boat for an unforgettable 3-hour wilderness cruise. Explore the spectacular coastline between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck, from rugged sea cliffs to waterfalls, rock formations, archways, and deep-sea caves. You might see seals, migrating whales, seabirds, or even a pod of playful dolphins surfing the boat's bow wave.  At the end of your cruise, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park. Spend part of the afternoon at the Park before the returning journey to Hobart for hotel drop-off.

From Hobart: Port Arthur, Richmond, & Tasman Peninsula Tour

6. From Hobart: Port Arthur, Richmond, & Tasman Peninsula Tour

Visit Port Arthur Historic Site, part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Australian Convict Sites, on this day trip from Hobart. Learn about the site’s history as a convict colony on a walking tour, visit ruins and restored buildings, and appreciate the coastal scenery of the Tasman Peninsula. Get picked up from your Hobart hotel and start with a visit to the well-preserved colonial village of Richmond. See Australia's oldest bridge and take the chance to grab a coffee from the Richmond bakery. Head south to the Tasman Peninsula and admire Pirates Bay lookout and Tessellated pavements. Upon arrival at the Port Arthur Historic Site, learn the story of the convict settlement and the terrifying realities of life as a prisoner among the preserved jail ruins. Take a cruise of the harbor to see the site from a different perspective, and enjoy extra time to explore on your own. During your return to Hobart, stop at the Port Arthur Lavender Farm for an opportunity to taste lavender ice cream and explore the lavender fields. Finally, discover the geological formations of the Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen, and Blow Hole before riding back to your hotel.

Hobart: 2-Day Bruny Island and Port Arthur Experience

7. Hobart: 2-Day Bruny Island and Port Arthur Experience

Day 1: Bruny Island Your tour departs Hobart at 7:30AM, from where you make your way to Mavista Falls. Step into this temperate rainforest and smell the clean crisp air as you take in mother nature’s provisions. This 20-minute round-trip walk gives you an idea of the many environments on this magnificent island. Following your rainforest walk, travel to the Cape Bruny Lighthouse to spend 30 minutes exploring the picturesque Cape Bruny, home to the second-oldest original tower in Australia. You then travel to the Neck to capture the iconic Bruny Island image from atop the 360-degree lookout. From there, receive views of the Tasman Sea, Tasman peninsula, North and South Bruny Island, and Mt. Wellington. Time for lunch at a Bruny Island pub is then provided, with options for all diets available. Alternatively, you can bring your own food and drinks. Following lunch, there is the option to travel to Bruny Island Premium Wines to enjoy $5 wine tastings. You then advance to Adventure Bay - the largest little seaside town on the island. Spend some time on the famous local beach, which has seen some of the world’s most famous explorers land. Get Shucked Oyster Bar is next on your agenda, where you have the chance to purchase what Tasmania is famous for: Oysters. Following that, you arrive back in Hobart at approximately 5:30PM. Day 2: Port Arthur YOn route to Port Arthur, we will stop at Eaglehawk Neck’s Pirate Bay lookout and the Dog Line monument to soak up the scenery and have a photo opportunity or two! The next stop will have the mouths of sweet tooths watering as we visit the Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry. Following the chocolate factory, we will visit the beautiful Port Arthur Lavender Farm. Explore the unique handmade products made from Tasmanian Lavender and take a stroll around the scenic lavender trail. Up next is the Port Arthur Historic Site. Immerse yourself in the fascinating, rich and dark history of the best-preserved penal settlement in Australia. Admission is at own cost and entry fee will include a 35-minute guided walking tour and a 20-minute harbour cruise. If history is what you came for, enjoy the full 4 hours exploring the historic site. If you are up for one more experience, then you can hop back onboard the bus after 3 hours for a trip to the Remarkable Cave. Just a short 8-minute drive away, you will be greeted with the spectacular vista of Maingon Bay. At the lookout you can take in the exceptional views of Penguin Rocks and the bay. You can then descend down the 115 steps to view the Remarkable Cave from a viewing platform where you will be surrounded by ancient sandstone cliffs. We will then return back to the historic site to pick up the remaining passengers and then return to Hobart at 5:30pm.

Tasmania in 6 Days: the Major Highlights and Attractions

8. Tasmania in 6 Days: the Major Highlights and Attractions

Day 1: Salamanca Markets, Tasmanian Devils and Port Arthur We begin by exploring the famous Salamanca Markets in Hobart/nipaluna. At this bustling outdoor market you can buy hand-made Tasmanian goods and sample a range of seasonal produce and gourmet foods. Then we’ll visit a wildlife sanctuary to meet native wildlife like Tasmanian devils. At Port Arthur Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula/turrakana, imagine the harsh convict life of the early 1800’s at Australia’s best preserved convict settlement. Later, see the dramatic coastal scenery of Tasman National Park at the geological wonders of Tasman Arch and the Devil’s Kitchen. We return to Hobart for a night to explore the city at your leisure. Day 2: Freycinet National Park to Bicheno Today's highlight is exploring Freycinet National Park with its pristine beaches and pink granite mountains. Climb to the summit of Mt Amos or walk to Wineglass Bay. We'll visit Cape Tourville Lighthouse then continue to the coastal town of Bicheno, home of the little penguin. Day 3: Bicheno to Launceston via Bay of Fires The Bay of Fires/larapuna is a place with profound cultural significance to Tasmanian aboriginal people (palawa). You’ll love walking along the dazzling white sands with its clear waters and lichen clad boulders. We’ll travel to Launceston and walk within Cataract Gorge, looking for wallabies as we go, before spending the night in Australia's second oldest city. Day 4: Cradle Mountain to Strahan Leaving Launceston, a short drive takes us through Sheffield, the ‘Town of Murals’ and then onto Tasmania’s most famous alpine national park. Cradle is home to an abundance of wildlife such as wombats and echidnas. Choose from a variety of incredible walks such as the Dove Lake circuit or the challenging walk to the summit of Marion’s Lookout. Departing Cradle, we travel to the harbourside village of Strahan on the West Coast, our accommodation for the next two nights. Day 5: Wild West Coast Today’s playground is the untouched wilderness of Tasmania’s West Coast. Walk in the rainforests of the Tarkine/takayna to reach Tasmania’s highest waterfall, Montezuma Falls. You’ll also explore the enormous Henty Sand Dunes. Alternatively, today you have the option of cruising the wildly beautiful Gordon River (own cost). Later at Ocean Beach, you can breathe the world’s freshest air. Back in Strahan, our guide can help you look for platypus. Day 6: Strahan to Hobart Buttongrass plains, mountains, waterfalls, rainforest, and pioneer history are some of today’s highlights. Our first stop is Queenstown, a mining town with a fascinating history. We then travel through the Tasmanian World Heritage Area via the pristine Franklin-Gordon Wild River National Park and Lake St Clair. At Mt Field National Park we'll stroll beneath some of the world’s tallest trees and see the beautiful Russell Falls. We return to Hobart around 5.30pm, the end of an incredible adventure.

3D Tasmanian Highlights: Hobart, Port Arthur & Bruny Island

9. 3D Tasmanian Highlights: Hobart, Port Arthur & Bruny Island

One can’t say that they’ve truly explored Tasmania without visiting the big three: Hobart, Port Arthur and Bruny Island. This three-day tour will make sure you get the full Tassie experience by guiding you on an epic journey around Tasmania's south. Day 1: Start your three day tour by meeting your fun and friendly driver/guide. After a short meet and greet, you will set-off on your Tasmanian adventure. Your first day on the tour aims to show you all of Hobart's key attractions. Some of the highlights are Mt Wellington, Bonorong, MONA, Richmond, a city highlights tour and Salamanca market (Saturday only). Day 2: Bruny island - Arguably Tasmania's best day trip! This magical Island has a little piece of everything Tasmania has: World class beaches, rugged coastline and native wildlife matched with the finest local produce from the ocean and the land, a tour you do not want to miss! You will see firsthand why Bruny Island is fast becoming one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist destinations. Day 3: The Port Arthur tour includes a direct bus trip to the historic site where you will have 4-hours to explore at your own pace. This 7-hour round trip departs Hobart at 10:30 AM, getting back at around 5:30 PM.

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What people are saying about Port Arthur

Gliding along the bays and ocean was fabulous! We were lucky to be blessed with a beautiful day! The driver had been given permission by his boss to take us so very close to the dolerite cliffs called the blade! Magical! Spectacular! We also saw an albatross! A rare sight so near to the coast. We continued to view the seal Colony on Tasman Island playfully arguing about the funniest spot in the rocks. Comical! Then more beautiful natural coast towards Eaglehawk Neck.. on the way we were spoilt by getting very close to the pinnacle of Rock called the Candlestick some people climb! A magical day I’ll always remember!

Prepare yourself for a wild ride! The coastal scenery is absolutely stunning. We loved the peeks into mysterious caves, the soaring cliffs, and spying lazy seals and swooping sea birds. We were not expecting such a heart-thumping adventure upon the giant swells of the Tasman sea. But, we felt safe and enjoyed every minute... even the cold and wet ones.

Very fun and wonderful experience. I saw seals whales and dolphins ! The guides were very informative and funny and I would love to come again! Yan Gao, Bo, Grace

Amazing trip with so much wildlife … dolphins, seals , whales, albatross…. Incredible!! Along with the scenic views of the rugged tassie coastline.

Our guide was amazing and would highly recommend him!!!!