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Tasmania Culture & history

Our most recommended Tasmania Culture & history

Port Arthur Historic Site Entry Ticket

1. 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.

From Triabunna: Maria Island Cruise & Guided Walk with Lunch

2. From Triabunna: Maria Island Cruise & Guided Walk with Lunch

Embark on an immersive and educational guided tour of Maria Island National Park and the Ile Des Phoques Nature Reserve. Enjoy a scenic cruise with lunch in a remote bay, a guided walk among historic buildings, and a visit to Maria Island to spot wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, and Cape Barren geese. After departing Triabunna, see fascinating geological sites, mountain-fed waterfalls, secluded bays, sea caves, and white beaches on your way to the Fossil and Painted Cliffs. Enjoy expert commentary from the crew as you cruise to Maria Island's isthmus for a lunch stop on the anchored boat.  Take in the views of Maria Island, the cliffs, waterfalls, limestone sea caves, cliff-top stalactites, and mountains. On the way to the remarkable granite island, Island of Seals, see if you can spot albatrosses, dolphins, fur seals, and whales. Swim and dive alongside the island’s marine life. Dock at Darlington in the afternoon. Stretch your legs and enjoy a guided tour through Darlington’s collection of preserved buildings that once belonged to the convict population. Learn about the town’s remarkable history and come face-to-face with Maria Island’s resident wombats.  If history is not for you, then simply soak up the sun on Darlington’s white sandy beach or swim and snorkel in the waters of Maria Island’s marine reserve.

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.

Hobart: Bruny Island Gourmet Sightseeing Day Tour

4. Hobart: Bruny Island Gourmet Sightseeing Day Tour

Discover Bruny Island’s spectacular landscapes, gourmet produce, and inspiring locals on a guided tour with a knowledgeable local guide. Tours depart daily from Hobart and local accommodation. Relax and enjoy this fully inclusive experience showcasing the best of Bruny Island. Try cheeses, oysters, fudge, premium wines, honey, and mead. Meet some of the island’s artisan producers, people who put their energy and spirit into handcrafting these renowned products. Stop for a delicious lunch at Pennicott’s beachside restaurant with sweeping views of Adventure Bay.  Throughout the day you'll see incredible scenery. At The Neck, see the narrow isthmus stretch away south in graceful curves. Take a stroll and leave your footprints in the sand of a deserted beach. The light bush of the northern island gives way to the dense rainforest of the south's Mavista Rainforest - a pristine environment home to diverse wildlife including rare white wallabies. Board the ferry for a return crossing to Kettering, followed by a short drive back to Hobart, where hotel drop-offs are available on request.

Hobart: Historic Lunch Cruise

5. Hobart: Historic Lunch Cruise

Starting from Murray Street Pier, the cruise heads south to Battery Point and Sandy Bay, passing by the oldest casino in Australia. You'll then cruise across the Derwent River to the Eastern Shore, Bellerive, and Kangaroo Bluff, before travelling under the Tasman Bridge. You'll head back via the Royal Botanic Garden and Government House. The boat trip will take about 1.5 hours, with the captain providing an interesting live commentary to tell you what to look out for. Onboard, you'll enjoy a one-course meal. Choose from steak, crumbed fish, chicken schnitzel or a veggie patty.

Hobart: Full Day Tour to Port Arthur with Admission

6. Hobart: Full Day Tour to Port Arthur with Admission

Embark on a tour full of contrasts — compelling tales of the harsh lives of convicts combined with the breathtaking scenery of the Tasman Peninsula. Your passionate Tasmanian driver guides will entertain you with personal insights and information about wildlife and other points of interest during the bus tour and are on hand to assist you throughout the day. From Hobart, cross the Tasman Bridge and head into the Coal River Valley, an award-winning wine region, through the historic town of Richmond with a short photo stop at the famous convict-built Richmond Bridge. Visit Tasman National Park, where you’ll marvel at the spectacle of Tasman Arch and enjoy superb views of the rugged coastline. Be in awe of the wonderful views from Pirates Bay Lookout. Arriving at Port Arthur, join the 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, the church, and more. Visit the interpretation center with its interactive exhibits and displays, and follow the harrowing life of a convict. Enjoy a cruise on Carnarvon Bay around the Isle of the Dead. Purchase lunch with plenty of time for quiet contemplation in the beautifully maintained gardens and to explore the many restored historic buildings of Port Arthur. Ask your driver about the optional, included remarkable cave tour. On Saturdays, the tour includes a visit to Hobart’s Salamanca Market. Delight in a shopping experience at this popular, colorful outdoor marketplace. You'll have time to explore the market at leisure for approximately 2 hours. Then, you will need to meet your bus at 11:00 to continue on with the Port Arthur tour and get a sense of Australia’s convict era and the early settlement of Tasmania. The Saturday tour does not include the cave tour or a visit to Richmond.

Hobart City Sightseeing Tour including MONA Ticket

7. Hobart City Sightseeing Tour including MONA Ticket

Enjoy the best of Hobart and the Museum of Old and New Art on this intriguing sightseeing tour. See Hobart’s main landmarks in a converted historic tram and then spend your afternoon exploring the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Enjoy a 3-hour introductory city tour, seeing over 40 of Hobart's historical sites aboard the tram and stopping at four locations. Enjoy your experienced guide's expert commentary and in-depth knowledge of the city's history, lifestyle, features and attractions. See Sullivan's Cove, Parliament House, Salamanca Place, Princes Park, Battery Point and much more. Walk to see exterior of the Cascade Brewery and visit the remains of the Female Factory.  Marvel at views over Kangaroo Bay Marina and Bellerive as you cross the Derwent River on Tasman Bridge. Stop at Rosny Hill lookout for stunning views of Hobart, Sandy Bay, Mount Wellington, Tasman Bridge and Glenorchy. View Victoria Dock and Constitution Dock and see the exquisite Royal Tasmania Botanical Gardens.  Enjoy the fascinating collections at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) with your entry ticket in the afternoon. Relax at the end of the day with return ferry transfer to Brooke Street Pier, arriving in Hobart at 17:30.

Port Arthur Shuttle and Tasman Sights Tour

8. Port Arthur Shuttle and Tasman Sights Tour

Take a conveninient shuttle transfer srevice from Port Arthur to Hobart. Travel in comfort on air-conditioned vehicles driven by a friendly local driver. After pickup, set off on the journey to Port Arthur. Along the way, stop at Eaglehawk Neck’s Pirates Bay lookout and the Dog Line monument to soak up the scenery and take fantastic photos. The next stop will have the mouths of sweet tooths watering as you visit the Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry. After the chocolate factory, explore the beautiful Port Arthur Lavender Farm. Discover unique handmade products made from Tasmanian Lavender and take a stroll around the scenic lavender trail. Next, visit 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 your own cost and the entry fee will include a 35-minute guided walking tour and a 20-minute harbor cruise. If history is what you came for, enjoy the full 4 hours exploring Port Arthur Historic Site. However, 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, 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. Descend down the 115 steps to view the Remarkable Cave from a viewing platform where you will be surrounded by ancient sandstone cliffs. Return back to the historic site to pick up the remaining passengers and then return to Hobart in the late afternoon.

Port Arthur Tour & Cruise Day Trip from Hobart

9. Port Arthur Tour & Cruise Day Trip from Hobart

Depart Hobart on a full-day tour exploring Tasmania’s ruthless convict past and experience the rugged landscapes of the Tasman Peninsula. Start with a visit to the well-preserved colonial village of Richmond. Admire sights like Australia's oldest bridge that is still in use. Head south to the Tasman Peninsula and enter the Tasman National Park for some amazing views of the coastline and sea. Upon arrival at the Port Arthur Historic Site, learn the story of the convict settlement. Listen to stories about the chilling realities of life as a prisoner amid the preserved jail ruins on a guided tour. Hear more about the penal colony's terrible past. Take a cruise of the harbor to see the site from a different perspective, and get a look at the Isle of the Dead where those who died at the prison were laid to rest in mass graves. Return to Hobart and benefit from the opportunity to stop by the remarkable geological formations of the Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen and Blow Hole. Get dropped off in Hobart in the early evening.

Port Arthur: Tour with Isle of the Dead Cruise

10. 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.

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What people are saying about Tasmania

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 871 reviews

Great experience from go to whoah! Our bus driver Allen very accommodating, funny and knowledgable. Cruise staff Lily and Kane were fun and pointed out those ancient weathered and craggy cliffs populated in many places by various species of seals. Large pod of dolphins at start of cruise (paid to appear on cue by Pennicotts)? Port Arthur walkabout interesting but spoiled by rain Overall really great value for mony and would do it all again.

We had a great time. Bill, our driver/guide, was informative and personable. The lunch was unexpectedly excellent ("you get a salad roll") with wonderfully fresh ingredients. Port Arthur holds a thrall, but the tour feels rushed after we'd been exploring on our own. We'd prefer to have a longer tour before our own wandering.

Exceptionally good day out. Great guides and very interesting yet flexible outing. E.g. we saw sea birds including Albatros feeding on bait fish so Michael took the boat out to see this more closely - dolphins, seabirds and Albatros - doesn't come much better than this.

Nice relaxed tour of Hobart Harbour with really good commentary explaining its history. Nice meal on board and very helpful crew.

It was interesting to do the guided tour, I don’t think I would have got as much out of the trip if we didn’t do the tour.