Touring Tasmania – Port Arthur
The ruins of Port Arthur - once a penal colony
After a good night’s rest in Eaglehawk Neck we were up early the next morning and on our way to Port Arthur, just 19km (12 miles) down the Tasman Peninsula.
A Short History of Port Arthur
The main attraction at Port Arthur is the old penal colony which is inside the Port Arthur Historic Site. This is reputed to be Tasmania’s most popular tourist attraction and is one of the most important heritage sites in the whole of Australia.
The community of Port Arthur was first established in 1830 as a timber station and quickly grew into a near self-sufficient town with the influx of convicts who were put to work on hard labour, constructing the buildings they were to live in. The most famous of the Port Arthur penitentiary buildings (the large one on the waterfront) was initially built as a flour mill and granary, and construction took just one year, starting in 1842. Although the mill was built to cope with the demand of the growing population by producing much needed flour, the process of getting the water through the mill was just too complicated and hence the mill didn’t work at full efficiency. Ten years later the mill workings were stripped out and over the next three years the building was converted into a penitentiary.
Strangely, by the time the mill building was converted, Port Arthur was already in decline and by 1877 the decision had been taken to close the penal colony altogether. But, this wasn’t the end of Port Arthur because within just a few years the site was already becoming a popular tourist destination as locals offered ghostly tours of the buildings!
What to See and Do at Port Arthur Historic Site
Port Arthur Historic Site is open from 8.30am so you have plenty of time to make a full day of it. There are several different entrance packages for visitors to enjoy, depending on how long you have available and whether you want to enjoy any of the additional tours; some packages even include a meal! And remember that your entrance ticket is valid for two days entrance into the site.
Here’s a quick run-down on the tours available:
Harbour Cruise – The 20 minute Harbour Cruise is included in the admission price for everybody at Port Arthur and gives you the chance to see the penitentiary from the water as well as cruising past the Isle of the Dead and viewing the amazing coastline of the Tasman Peninsula.
Historical Walking Tour – The introductory Historical Walking Tour is also included in all admission tickets and is an excellent way to start your day as you’re given information about the site before you explore the ruins and buildings in more detail.
Audio Tours – If you prefer to explore the site in your own time but with the benefit of additional information, rent one of the Audio Tours to hear the sounds of Port Arthur as well as information, stories and more on the 25 stops the tour includes.
Isle of the Dead – An additional tour to the Isle of the Dead can be purchased on its own or is included in some of the entrance packages. This small island in the harbour is where many of the convicts were buried. You can join a guided walking tour to gain more insight into the graves and the people buried here.
Point Puer – Point Puer is another additional tour which you can purchase or is included in your admission for some packages. Point Puer was the boy’s prison, the first one exclusively for boys in the whole of the British Empire. This tour runs just once a day and takes about 2 hours in total.
Ghost Tours – Perhaps the most famous of the tours at Port Arthur is the after dark Ghost Tour! This is a very spooky tour where you might just encounter a convict ghost or two as they wander around the grounds. We recommend you book a night’s accommodation in Port Arthur as we did if you’re going on the Ghost Tour, that way you only have a short journey back to your hotel.
Please note that bookings are essential for the Ghost Tours and are recommended in advance for the other optional tours as well.
There’s lots more to see and do in addition to the above at Port Arthur Historic Site and it’s well worth spending a full two days here and getting the best value from the price of your admission fee. There’s a good range of accommodation in Port Arthur so you should easily find something suitable.
‘Touring Tasmania – Port Arthur’ by Claire Bolgil
