Guide · Tasmania ·
Port Arthur Historic Site visit: tickets and timing
Port Arthur Historic Site visit planning starts with one fact: allow a full day. The site sits about 90 minutes by road from Hobart, and one pass covers two consecutive days. You can see the main buildings in half a day, but most people want longer.
This guide covers the drive, the opening hours, the pass prices and how to spend your time.
Sources for this section: Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA), Getting to Port Arthur and How long to stay.
What the site is
Port Arthur was a convict settlement on the Tasman Peninsula in south-east Tasmania. Today it is a historic site with more than 30 buildings, ruins and gardens. Among them are the Penitentiary, the Separate Prison, the Dockyard, the Convict Church and the Hospital.
It is one of eleven places that together form the Australian Convict Sites. UNESCO placed that group on the World Heritage List in 2010. The Coal Mines Historic Site, a short drive away, is a separate site run by the same authority.
Sources for this section: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Australian Convict Sites; PAHSMA, Plan your visit and Silver Pass.
Getting there from Hobart
Port Arthur is 95 km south-east of Hobart. The authority says to allow at least 90 minutes each way, and longer if you stop on the way. The road follows the Tasman and Arthur Highways and is part of the Convict Trail Touring Route. It passes farmland, seaside villages, studios and vineyards.
- Drive: a car gives you the most freedom. If you drive after dark, watch for native animals on the road.
- Bus: Tassie Link runs a public bus service from Hobart. Its phone number is 1300 300 520.
- Day tours: several companies run daily tours from Hobart. Ask at any Tasmanian Visitor Information Centre.
- Boat: in the warmer months, Navigators offers a cruise from Hobart to Port Arthur.
Sources for this section: PAHSMA, Getting to Port Arthur.
Opening hours
The site is open every day of the year. Here are the times the authority listed.
| Part of the site | Hours |
|---|---|
| Grounds, gardens and ruins | 9am until dusk |
| Museum houses and buildings | 9.30am to 5pm (some open later in summer) |
| Visitor Centre | 9am until the last ghost tour ends at night |
| Introductory tours | Scheduled times, 9am to 4pm daily |
| Shuttle buggy for restricted mobility | 9.30am to 3.30pm daily |
Tour times change, so check with Visitor Services on +61 (0)3 6251 2313. Do not arrive late in the day. You may run out of time to see the buildings and take a tour.
Sources for this section: PAHSMA, Opening hours and tour times; PAHSMA, Silver Pass.
Tickets and prices
Port Arthur sells daytime entry as "experience passes". Every daytime pass is valid for two consecutive days. That means you can split your visit and come back the next morning.
The authority describes the Silver Pass as the best pass for a full day. It includes:
- entry to more than 30 historic buildings, ruins and gardens;
- a 40 minute Introduction to Port Arthur guided walking tour;
- a harbour cruise on the MV Marana, with your choice of the Isle of the Dead Cemetery Tour or the Point Puer Boys' Prison Tour;
- a self-guided audio tour;
- a lunch voucher for the Museum Coffee Shop or the Port Cafe.
The Silver Pass costs $70 for an adult, $65 for a concession and $50 for a child. The authority listed those prices as valid until 31 March 2013. It also sells Bronze, Gold and After Dark passes, and a separate Ghost Tour ticket. Book online or at the Visitor Centre, and read the conditions of sale first.
Pick one cemetery or prison tour and leave time for it. The Point Puer tour does not run from mid-July until mid-September.
Sources for this section: PAHSMA, Silver Pass and Which pass do I need; PAHSMA, Opening hours and tour times.
How long to allow
The authority suggests three plans, and the choice depends on your budget and interest.
| Plan | Timing | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| Half a day | About 10am to 3pm | Introduction tour, harbour cruise, lunch, a walk with the printed map |
| A full day | About 10am to 5pm | Introduction tour, cruise and Point Puer tour, lunch, audio tour |
| Two days | One night in the area | All of the above, plus the Coal Mines site, dinner and a ghost tour |
Many visitors tell the authority that they wished they had planned more time. Because of the 90 minute drive, a two day plan with a night nearby saves you a long round trip. Dinner is served at Felons Bistro from 5pm.
Sources for this section: PAHSMA, How long should I plan to stay; PAHSMA, Opening hours and tour times.
Tips for the day
- Start early. The authority suggests arriving around 10am for a full day.
- Book ahead. The ghost tours need a booking, and the online system also takes day passes.
- Plan for the weather. Much of the visit is outdoors, on the grounds and the harbour cruise.
- Check prices. The prices above ran to the end of March 2013, so confirm the current ones when you book.
The site is smoke free. A printed visitor guide with a map comes with your pass, in English, French, German, Chinese or Japanese. The guide and the audio tour help if you miss a scheduled talk.
If you are planning more of Tasmania, our aurora australis Tasmania guide covers the island's southern skies.
Sources for this section: PAHSMA, Silver Pass, Ghost Tour and Port Arthur is Smoke Free.
Sources
- PAHSMA, Plan your visit: portarthur.org.au
- PAHSMA, Getting to Port Arthur: portarthur.org.au
- PAHSMA, Opening hours and tour times: portarthur.org.au
- PAHSMA, How long should I plan to stay: portarthur.org.au
- PAHSMA, Silver Pass: portarthur.org.au
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Australian Convict Sites: whc.unesco.org