Port Arthur & Richmond: Full-Day Tour with Harbour Cruise

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/18

Duration9h

GroupUp to 100

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Convict stories, wild coastlines and old stone bridges on Tasmania’s edge

You’ll trace convict footsteps at Port Arthur Historic Site, cruise Carnarvon Bay around Isle of the Dead, pause at Richmond Bridge for photos, and feel spray from Remarkable Caves before sweetening your day at a local chocolate factory. This isn’t just history — it’s laughter, weathered stone under your hands, and moments that stay with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Port Arthur tour with scenic stops

Travel across Tasman Bridge
Visit Richmond Bridge for photos
Drive to Tasman Peninsula
Stop at Pirates Bay Lookout
Visit Tasman Arch
Join Port Arthur site talk
Explore restored buildings
Browse Port Arthur Gallery
Cruise Carnarvon Bay around Isle of the Dead
Have picnic or buy lunch
Walk down to Remarkable Caves
Visit Chocolate Factory on return

The Experience

“That bridge is older than your country,” our driver, Greg, joked as we stepped out in Richmond for a quick photo. I’m not sure if he meant it literally (I’m Canadian), but standing there by the convict-built arches, you could almost smell the damp stone and river grass. It was still early — the kind of chilly that wakes up your hands — and a couple of ducks waddled past like they owned the place. We didn’t linger long; Greg had this way of herding us back to the bus without ever sounding pushy.

The drive down to Port Arthur felt longer than it looked on the map. Maybe it was all those sharp turns along the Tasman Peninsula or just my own anticipation. We stopped at Pirates Bay Lookout where the wind whipped so hard my hat nearly flew off (someone else’s did). Our guide pointed out sea cliffs that looked like something from a storybook — but then again, everything here feels layered with stories. At Port Arthur itself, I wandered between ruined walls and neat lawns while an older local named Helen led our site talk. She had this dry humor about “the ghosts” and then got suddenly quiet describing daily life for convicts. That stuck with me more than any plaque.

The harbour cruise around the Isle of the Dead was slower than I expected — in a good way. There’s this silence on Carnarvon Bay except for seabirds and the low hum of the boat engine. Lunch was whatever you made it (I’d packed a sandwich), sitting on damp grass under eucalypts that smelled sharp after last night’s rain. Some people bought pies at the café; honestly, I wish I’d tried one just to warm up my hands.

On the way back toward Hobart, we detoured to Remarkable Caves — which are exactly what they sound like, though I almost slipped on wet steps getting down there (watch your footing). The waves crashed so loud you had to shout to be heard. Last stop: a chocolate factory where I tried saying “thanks” in bad Tasmanian slang and got a laugh from Li behind the counter. I still think about that view over Maingon Bay when we left — not sure why it hit me so much right then.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Hobart, entry fees for Port Arthur Historic Site plus its site talks and interactive exhibits, a 30-minute harbour cruise around Isle of the Dead, stops at Richmond Village and Pirates Bay Lookout, time exploring Remarkable Caves with views over Maingon Bay, plus a sweet visit to a local chocolate factory before heading home.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Experience Tasmania Gray Line Day Tours