Port Arthur Day Tour from Hobart: Convict History & Coastal Walks

The harbour cruise circles the convict ruins while you're standing inside them.

A full-day guided tour from Hobart to Port Arthur Historic Site on Tasmania's Tasman Peninsula, with entry, a scenic harbour cruise around Carnarvon Bay, and four coastal stops showcasing natural rock formations and clifftop ocean views. The tour runs 10.5 hours with a local guide, small-group format, and hotel pickup from Hobart; lunch is not included, so plan accordingly or bring food.

Step-by-step itinerary

Port Arthur tour and coastal highlights

• Travel from Hobart to Port Arthur
• Guided walking tour of Port Arthur Historic Site
• Free time to explore Port Arthur ruins
• Scenic harbour cruise around Carnarvon Bay
• Visit Tessellated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck
• View Tasman Blowhole from platform
• Hike Waterfall Bay Cliff Top Walk
• Visit Remarkable Cave viewing platform
• Return to Hobart

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Hobart accommodation and a drive to the Tasman Peninsula. Port Arthur itself takes up the bulk of the morning and early afternoon: you get a guided walking tour of the UNESCO-listed convict settlement, learning about Tasmania's colonial past and the lives of those imprisoned here, then free time to wander the preserved ruins—the Penitentiary, Separate Prison, Asylum, and landscaped gardens—at your own pace. The harbour cruise departs from the site and circles Carnarvon Bay, giving you views of the buildings from the water and commentary on the Isle of the Dead. Entry to all of this is included.

After Port Arthur, the tour hits four natural landmarks in quick succession. Tessellated Pavement at Eaglehawk Neck is a coastal rock platform where erosion has carved geometric patterns into the sandstone, resembling a tiled floor; you walk the shoreline and photograph it. The Tasman Blowhole is a short, easy walk from the car park to a viewing platform where waves crash into a sea cave and send water skyward. Waterfall Bay Cliff Top Walk is a guided coastal hike along the clifftop with panoramic views of the Southern Ocean and the chance to spot seabirds or marine life. Remarkable Cave, the final stop, is a dramatic rock arch carved by the ocean; another short walk gets you to the viewing platform.

The guide is a local who knows the geology and history of each stop and leads the walks. The vehicle is air-conditioned. You'll get bottled water throughout the day. Because the tour is 10.5 hours and lunch is not included, you'll need to bring food or eat before or after—there's no restaurant stop built in. The itinerary assumes at least moderate fitness; the walks are described as easy to light, but they involve coastal terrain and ocean views from clifftops.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Hobart.
• entrance fee to Port Arthur Historic Site.
• guided walking tour of the convict settlement.
• scenic harbour cruise around Carnarvon Bay.
• guided walks at Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Blowhole, Waterfall Bay Cliff Top, and Remarkable Cave.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• parking fees.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Safe Travel and Tour Services

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day away from Hobart exploring the peninsula's natural and historical sites with a guide who can explain what you're seeing—not if you're planning to spend time in the city itself.

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Top questions

How much time do you actually spend at Port Arthur itself?

Port Arthur Historic Site is the centrepiece of the day and takes up most of the morning and early afternoon. You get a guided walking tour first, then several hours of free time to explore the ruins, buildings, and gardens at your own pace before the harbour cruise departs from the site.

What are the Tessellated Pavement and Remarkable Cave actually like?

Tessellated Pavement is a natural rock platform at Eaglehawk Neck where erosion has created striking geometric patterns in the sandstone that look like a tiled floor; you walk along the shoreline to see them. Remarkable Cave is a dramatic coastal arch carved by the Southern Ocean, reached by a short walk to a viewing platform where you can see the rock formations and crashing waves up close.

Do I need to be very fit for the coastal walks?

The walks are described as easy to light exercise. Waterfall Bay Cliff Top Walk is the most active part of the day—a guided coastal hike along the clifftop—but it's designed for travellers seeking outdoor scenery rather than serious hiking. The other stops involve short walks from the car park to viewing platforms. You should have at least moderate fitness; the tour is not recommended for travellers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

Is lunch included, and where do you eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour. There is no restaurant stop built into the itinerary, so you'll need to bring food or eat before departure from Hobart or after the tour ends.

What time does the tour start and finish?

The tour runs 10.5 hours total and includes hotel pickup from Hobart at the start. The exact departure time depends on your accommodation location, but the full day is allocated to the drive, Port Arthur, the harbour cruise, and the four coastal stops.

Will I see wildlife or seabirds on the coastal walks?

The guide will point out native flora along Waterfall Bay Cliff Top Walk and occasionally seabirds or marine life in the waters below the cliffs. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, but the clifftop location and ocean views make spotting possible.