Pennicott Wilderness Journeys · Port Arthur
A 90-minute boat trip from the Port Arthur Historic Site jetty, past Point Puer and the Isle of the Dead, out to the dolerite columns of Cape Raoul. It's the shortest cruise on the peninsula and fits into a day at the site, but you need site entry, which is paid separately.
Pennicott runs this one from inside the historic site. You check in at the site entrance and walk about 300 metres down to the jetty. The boat crosses Mason Cove past Point Puer, the boys' prison that the site calls the first purpose-built juvenile prison in the British Empire, and the Isle of the Dead, then heads out past Safety Cove and Crescent Bay.
The destination is Cape Raoul, where dolerite columns rise more than 250 metres from the sea. Seals haul out on the rocks below, and guests report albatross and dolphins too. At 90 minutes it's half the length of the Tasman Island cruise and less exposed, which suits anyone wary of three hours on open water.
The fine print matters. Because the boat leaves from the site, you need site access, and Pennicott confirmed in a reply to a review that the entry fee is charged separately. Budget A$55 per adult for General Admission on top of the $98. That ticket also covers the site's free 20-minute harbour cruise and two days of entry. The listing marks this cruise wheelchair accessible, and the site's courtesy vehicle runs to the jetty from 10:30am to 3:30pm.
Show your cruise booking and your site entry, then walk about 300 m to the jetty.
Past the Penitentiary, Point Puer and the Isle of the Dead.
Beaches and sandstone headlands south of the site.
The dolerite columns, sea stacks and seal rocks.
Return to the site with the rest of your day ahead.
★★★★★The crew was very welcoming and kind.
★★★★★Very worth it, the crew was very nice and the cruise was beautiful
★★★★★We saw albatross dolphins seals and got very close to the rugged cliffs
★★★★★The whole trip was great, perfect weather, great guides, heaps of albatross.
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No. The cruise leaves from the site jetty, so you need site access, and the entry fee (A$55 adult) is charged separately.
90 minutes, from the Port Arthur Historic Site jetty to Cape Raoul and back.
The listing marks it wheelchair accessible. The site's courtesy vehicle runs to the jetty between 10:30am and 3:30pm, longer in summer.
Cape Raoul is 90 minutes, $98 and leaves from the site. Tasman Island is 3 hours, $136, goes to the higher cliffs of Cape Pillar and is rougher. See our cruise guide.
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A 90-minute cruise from the Port Arthur jetty to the dolerite columns of Cape Raoul, with seals at the base of the cliffs.
Tasman Island Wilderness CruiseThree hours under the highest sea cliffs on the peninsula, with seals and dolphins. Cruise only: no site entry.★ 4.9 · 3 hours · from $136
Tasman Island Cruise & Port Arthur DayThree hours at sea under Cape Pillar's cliffs, then about 3 hours in the ruins. Morning tea, lunch and entry included.★ 4.9 · 10.5 hours · from $246
Port Arthur, Tasman Sights & Harbour CruiseThe cheapest day trip with entry included: Pirates Bay, the Dog Line, then 3 or 4 hours in the ruins and an oyster stop.★ 4.8 · 8 hours · from $108