Our Port Arthur day tour from Hobart

Some places will instil fear in most people, and the Port Arthur prison must have done that back in the day when it was a fully functioning convict prison in the largely unknown country of Australia. I can tell you that because even as it stands now in ruins on the tip of a little bay, it still has the power to make you feel a slight shiver of fear on your Port Arthur day tour

Standing in the sun, you could feel beautifully warm, but as soon as the wind picked up, it could cut you to the bone with its iciness. I can only imagine how much the Port Arthur convicts would love the beauty of this place but hate it at the same time. Port Arthur is one of the best-known Dark Tourism sites in Australia.

Port Arthur, Australia is one of the country’s top attractions

We boarded our day trip to Port Arthur from Hobart at the docks area of the city. We arrived at 10.45 after making the trip from Hobart to Port Arthur with Gray Line. I made a beeline to get my first look at the Port Arthur Historic site after taking the girls to the toilet after we first arrived.

We made our way quickly down to the oval to take some pictures before the Port Arthur Historic Site got too busy with visitors for the day. We then made our way back up to a small balcony just inside the entrance so we could join the free tour which started at 11.00.

The tour was conducted by an employee of the Port Arthur Historic Site and the knowledge he had was amazing. We were taken to the majority of the main buildings or a central point where they would tell us about what had gone on there.

As you toured more of the Port Arthur historic site the harsh conditions that the Port Arthur convicts had were made more and more evident. From harsh working gangs that built so much of Tasmania to the brutal punishment of the separate prison where Port Arthur convicts were sent into solitary confinement.

The tour only goes for about 45 minutes and gives you a taste of what to expect as you tour the actual buildings yourself. After the tour, you can ask the guide as many questions as you like and the girls found this time with the guide fantastic. Not only could they ask about the Port Arthur Historic site but they could also ask about the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre that took place here.

It was something that I remembered being on television, but I was not sure of the exact details that took place here. It was great for us all to learn what exactly happened on that day, even though it was harder for them to understand how something like this could happen in our modern times.

It also reminded us that Port Arthur Tasmania, Australia was again the source of so many people’s pain but to a whole new generation of people.

Port Arthur Convicts had a hard and horrible life

From there we took out our map and plotted a course around the Port Arthur Historic Site. We decided that we should go and get some lunch before it got too late and before we headed off on our Isle of the Dead tour. We headed up to the Asylum to have lunch so we could maximize our time wandering the Port Arthur prison site.

The Main Buildings of Port Arthur Tasmania.

There are many buildings within the Port Arthur Historic Site but there are some that you should not miss as they have so much information about the colony back in its early days,

The Visitor Center (The entrance)

You enter the Port Arthur Historic Site here. Downstairs you will find a small gallery that will show you.

The Penitentiary (Ruins)

This is the large sandstone building that dominates the Port Arthur Site. Now in ruins, it was originally the flour mill and granary but it was converted into a 4 story prison as the prisoner numbers increased at Port Arthur Tasmania. The two lower floors had cells that held 136 prisoners and the upper levels held around 480 better-behaved convict prisoners in bunks.

The Law Courts, The Guard Tower, and The Commandant’s House

As you make your way from the penitentiary you pass the ruins of the law courts and the guard tower before you pass through the beautiful gates to the Commandants House. The beautiful gardens that surround it must have been such a tease for the convict prisoners that had to look at it every day.

Inside you will be taken back in time to see what life would have been like for the Commandant and his family. There is a bedroom, a sitting room, and a kitchen where you can see what items were like back in those times. You can also get a beautiful view from the verandah over to the Isle of the Dead

*It is also said that here is where the spirit of a little girl likes to show herself to some people. She actually passed away as a young lady but seems to appear now as much younger in age. There was a Port Arthur Historic Site worker our ion the verandah the day we were there and she was able to share some of her knowledge with us about the young girl.

The Asylum and the Separate Prison

In the Asylum now houses a small museum displaying convict artifacts. This is where we ate lunch. we then headed over to the separate prison where prisoners were sent for solitary confinement. It was a new way of reforming some of the Port Arthur convicts that hard labour was no longer working on. It was believed that through isolation and contemplation, they would be better. You can tour the cells and the outside areas, where the convict prisoners were able to go for only one hour a day.

Other buildings around the Port Arthur Historic Site 

There are many other small cottages spotted around the site that you will see on your Port Arthur day tour. If only these historic building could talk, they would surely have a tale to tell. When you visit Port Artur Tasmania it is a great idea to make sure you have plenty of time to be able to see all of them.

They all have different information inside the homes. Many were destroyed in fires, but they have now been restored to tell the story of how the Port Arthur site ran and what the free occupants did there. Also save some time to wander the Government Gardens and spend some time in the ruins of the Church.

There are two places inside the Port Arthur Historic Site where you can get lunch:

• The Asylum
• The Visitor Centre. (That is where you enter the Port Arthur Historic Site)

At these places, you can get a quick bite to eat or drink. Items available are.

• Sausage rolls, pies
• Sandwiches. Cold or toasted
• Hot and cold drinks
• Snack food like chips, chocolate bars, muffins, and packets of cheese and biscuits
• Fresh fruit (seasonal)

There are other hot food items available at the Visitor Centre but we did not eat there so I am unsure as to what they were. If you are pressed for time during your visit I would suggest that you bring a packed lunch with you so you can walk and eat.

We did not have any wait times as we ate early and the site was not very busy on the day that we visited but if you do come on a busy day this would seriously cut into your time here at the Port Arthur Historic Site.

Inside the Asylum is a museum that shows you items that were found there and some history behind the site and its surroundings. We found it to be very informative and it was a great way to get started on the rest of our tour.

The Memorial Gardens

In 1996 Port Arthur Tasmania was again the source of immense pain for so many people. A gunman opened fire on visitors and workers alike as they sat in the Broad Arrow Cafe (where you used to buy your entry tickets) or walked around the prison site, killing 35 innocent people and injuring 19 others. To never forget what happened here the Memorial garden was erected around the area where the Broad Arrow Cafe was.

The garden is sheltered by a hedge and is a beautiful quiet place where those 35 people can be remembered. We spent some time in the gardens and we stood by the ruins of the cafe as we discussed what had happened with the girls. It was a little confronting for them to be there and neither wanted to go inside the ruins of the cafe, which we respected. We did not take any pictures in the gardens but it is a memory that will not fade easily for any of us.

We spent as much time as we could wandering and taking in as much as we could. I could have been there for a lot longer looking into every building and reading every sign that gave you more information as could have Willow. For Mark (who has been before) and Marley, it was enough for them.

We were supposed to visit the Isle of the Dead for a tour of the cemetery but unfortunately, we were unable to disembark from the boat due to high winds and a king tide.

Port Arthur Tasmania Top Tips: 

• The Port Arthur weather can be unpredictable. If you are visiting Port Arthur in winter please dress accordingly as well as in the summer. Layers are always a great idea
• If you can get a ticket for the Isle of the Dead cruise. (It is inc=cluded in your ticket price on some tours so double check if when you are entering) It is a great way to see the Port Arthur rison site from the water.
•  If you can arrive early to beat the crowds.
• There are free walking tours so take advantage of them. You will find out plenty of extra information on that gyuided tour.
• If you can bring lunch especially if you are on limited time. You can eat and walk or eat on the cruise.
• Bring some water to start and then you can get more. As we said there is only two place to get lunch and snacks so you do want to come prepared.
• There are plenty of toilets around the site.

Next time I hope we can do the Isle of the Dead tour to find out more about how the convicts and free people were treated in their passing. A Port Arthur ghost tour is also high on the list for Willow when we visit next time. I am unsure what a ghost tour is for me so it might be just her and her Dad for that one.

Port Arthur Website: https://portarthur.org.au/

Audio tours are also available at an additional cost. The audio guides can be hired from the visitor’s centre when you arrive.

Port Arthurs’s coastal location in Southern Tasmania means that the weather can be very cool and wet in winter and warm in summer. You should be prepared for 4 seasons in one day sometimes, sun, rain, wind, cold, and warmth!

Things to bring to your Hobart to Port Arthur day tour

• Dress in comfortable, layered clothing
• Bring a raincoat  and an umbrella
• Wear comfortable shoes, suitable for walking
• Pack sunscreen and a hat
• Lightweight Backpack
• Drink Bottle
• Digital Camera 
• Check the weather forecast before your visit and dress for the conditions

Things to consider when planning to visit Port Arthur:

You should check the Port Arthur website, What’s on Page where you will find information about events and programs. I would look to avoid days when cruise ships are visiting the waters of Port Arthur. On these days when cruises visit Port Arthur anywhere between 1200 and 200 extra people will be onsite.

Gray Line Port Arthur Day Tour Details

Our day trip to Port Arthur from Hobart was with Grayline and we thank them for taking us there. We left Hobart at 9 am arriving at 10.40. We had roughly 4 hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site before heading home.

Tour Duration: 8.15 / 9.15 am departure (depending on the time of the year) 5.00 / 5.30p, return

The tour Includes an Introductory walking tour by Port Arthur guide (40mins), harbour cruise, Port Arthur admission, and free WiFi* on the coach.

Highlights of this Hobart to Port Arthur day tour

I hope you have found our article about Port Arthur Tasmania helpful for your visit. Port Arthur is a must-visit Tasmania destination. There is no easier way to visit than door-to-door from downtown Hobart to Port Arthur day tour with Gray Line.

We hope this article from us here at Wyld Family Travel has you inspired to visit Tasmania for a holiday. This area is an absolute hidden gem and you will want more every time you visit Tasmania will always deliver. For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Australia click through to our Australia Destination Guide page for more brilliant inspiration.

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