Hobart Battery Point Walking Tour & Convict Stories

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.85 (93 reviews) 89% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/17

Duration2h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · DE

Mobile ticketAccepted

Wander old Hobart streets with stories of convicts and crafts

You’ll wander through Hobart’s Battery Point with a local guide who brings convict stories to life. Expect quiet lanes, quirky tales about old pubs and settlers, and real glimpses into colonial streets. You’ll get personal recommendations for what to do next—and maybe catch yourself imagining those voices echoing off sandstone walls.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Battery Point's convict history

Join history guide in Battery Point
Hear stories of convicts and settlers
Learn about quarrying and whaling
Admire Battery Point architecture

The Experience

Ever wondered what it’s like to touch the stones that built Hobart? I didn’t really expect much when I signed up for this Battery Point walking tour — just thought I’d stretch my legs after too many pastries in Salamanca. But right from the start, our guide (Helen, who grew up here) had us peering at little marks in the sandstone walls. She pointed out initials carved by convicts, said some were probably bored or maybe just stubborn. The air smelled faintly salty from the Derwent river, and there was this weird comfort in how quiet the lanes felt compared to downtown.

I kept lagging behind because every house looked like it had a secret. Helen told us about Mary, a baker’s wife who apparently smuggled letters for prisoners — she laughed when I asked if that was legal back then (“not really!”). We stopped outside an old pub where she swore you could still hear rowdy voices if you listened hard enough. Maybe it was just the wind but… who knows? The main keyword for me was “convict history tour” but honestly it felt more like time travel with someone who actually cared.

At one point we all tried to pronounce “Narryna”, which is harder than it looks — Li from our group totally nailed it, while I got teased for my attempt (in good fun). The walk itself wasn’t tough at all; even a couple with a stroller seemed fine. Helen handed around some old sketches of Battery Point so we could compare them to what we were seeing — the chimneys, odd-shaped windows, even a cat sunning itself on a wall that probably hadn’t changed in 150 years. I still think about that view over the river near Arthur Circus; something about the light made everything feel softer.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walk through Battery Point with a knowledgeable local guide sharing historic photos and drawings of old Hobart. You’ll get personalized recommendations for what else to see in town—plus plenty of stories along quiet colonial streets before heading off on your own adventure.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Peter Lutz