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Tassie Tours Tasmania · Hobart

Port Arthur and the Tasman sights, with the harbour cruise

A small coach leaves central Hobart at 9:30, stops at Pirates Bay and the Dog Line at Eaglehawk Neck, then gives you three or four hours inside Port Arthur Historic Site with entry and the harbour cruise paid. Pick it for the price: it is the cheapest day trip that includes site entry, and the four-hour option matches the longer tours.

Port Arthur, Tasman Sights & Harbour Cruise

About this experience

Tassie Tours Tasmania runs this as a classic peninsula loop. Pickup starts at 9:30 from eight points in the Hobart CBD, and the first stops are scenic: Pirates Bay Lookout above the coast, then Eaglehawk Neck, the narrow isthmus where soldiers and a line of chained dogs once stopped convicts walking out. A chocolate foundry and an optional lavender farm fill the rest of the morning.

Port Arthur takes the middle of the day, roughly 12:00 to 4:00pm. You choose three or four hours on site when you book, and your ticket includes General Admission (A$55 for an adult if you bought it yourself), the 20-minute harbour cruise and the free guide talks that run through the day. On the way back there's an optional stop at Remarkable Cave (a Parks Pass costs extra) and oysters at Dunalley before you're dropped in Hobart around 5:30pm.

The catch is the clock. The timetable is strict, and the listing says there is no refund if you miss the pickup or the departure from a stop. The coach is not suitable for wheelchair users. And take the four-hour option if the site is why you're going: three hours covers the Penitentiary, the Separate Prison and the cruise, with little left for the houses on the hill.

  • Lowest price of any day trip that includes Port Arthur entry: $108
  • Choose three or four hours inside the site
  • Harbour cruise and free guide talks included
  • Pirates Bay Lookout and the Dog Line at Eaglehawk Neck
  • Oysters at Dunalley on the drive home

How the day runs

  1. 9:30Pickup in central Hobart

    Eight pickup points around the CBD. Be at yours early: the coach keeps to a fixed timetable.

  2. MorningPirates Bay and the Dog Line

    The lookout over Pirates Bay, then Eaglehawk Neck, where guards and dogs once sealed the peninsula. A chocolate foundry stop and an optional lavender farm follow.

  3. About 12:00Port Arthur Historic Site

    Three or four hours, by the option you booked. Take the harbour cruise early, then walk the Penitentiary, the Separate Prison and the Convict Church.

  4. AfternoonRemarkable Cave, if you like

    An optional stop at the sea cave south of the site. You need a Tasmanian Parks Pass, paid separately.

  5. Late afternoonOysters at Dunalley

    A stop at an oyster farm shop on the isthmus at Dunalley.

  6. About 5:30pmBack in Hobart

    Drop-off in the city.

A sandstone building with an arcade and a small tower at Port ArthurA tour group walking across the lawn towards the Penitentiary ruins, seen from behind

What's included

Included

  • Port Arthur Historic Site entry
  • The 20-minute harbour cruise
  • Pickup from 8 points in central Hobart
  • Driver commentary
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Not included

  • Parks Pass for Remarkable Cave
  • Lavender farm and food purchases
  • Refund if you're late for the coach
  • Wheelchair access

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You want entry, the cruise and transport for the lowest price
  • You'd like four hours at the site without paying for a premium tour
  • You enjoy short scenic stops as much as the history
  • You're staying in central Hobart

Skip it if

What guests say

★★★★★

Andy was our tour guide and honestly he did such an amazing job he was so knowledgeable and informative!

Larrissa · Guest review
★★★★★

Had such a great time! Tour guide Andy was incredible, and so knowledgeable.

Emma · Guest review
★★★★★

Gerard was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and well informed.

Jeanine · Guest review
★★★★★

Absolutely fabulous day trip this was - thank you. Highly recommended!

Jenny · Guest review

Tips before you book

  • Pick the four-hour option. The extra hour goes to the houses, the church and the gardens.
  • Choose your harbour cruise time as soon as you arrive. It's the easiest way to see the Isle of the Dead and Point Puer.
  • Lunch isn't in the inclusions. Pack something, or eat at the Port Arthur Cafe as soon as you arrive.
  • Remarkable Cave means 115 steps down to the viewing platform and a Parks Pass. Skip it if your knees complain.
  • Your entry is valid for two consecutive days, but the coach isn't. Don't plan on using the second day without a car.

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Frequently asked questions

How long do you get at Port Arthur on the Tasman Sights tour?

Three or four hours, depending on the option you book. The coach arrives around midday and leaves around 4:00pm on the longer option. Four hours is enough for the main buildings, the harbour cruise and a guide talk or two.

Is Port Arthur entry included?

Yes. Entry and the 20-minute harbour cruise are in the price. Bought at the gate, adult entry is A$55, and it includes the same cruise and free guide talks.

Is the Tasman Sights tour wheelchair accessible?

No. The listing says it isn't suitable for wheelchair users. The Gray Line day trip is wheelchair accessible, and the site's Visitor Centre, Gallery and harbour boat are too.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. There is no refund if you miss the coach on the day.

Ready to book

Book Tasman Sights day trip

Port Arthur entry, the harbour cruise and up to four hours on site, with Pirates Bay and an oyster stop on the way. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

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Plan your date before you go

Port Arthur entry, the harbour cruise and up to four hours on site, with Pirates Bay and an oyster stop on the way. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check dates for the Tasman Sights day trip