The 15 Best Port Arthur & Convict History Tours

1.Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $127Our pick

From the Tasman Island Cruises office near Port Arthur, you’ll take a short transfer to a fast, covered boat for three hours along Tasmania’s wild southern coast. Guides such as Tim, Damo, Andrew, and Hamish explain the cliffs and wildlife as you pass Cape Pillar, caves, arches, waterfalls, and seal colonies. Bring serious warm layers.

“Better than expected, Hamish our skipper did a fantastic job with the operation of the boat and his knowledge and enthusiasm was amazing and Benny did a great job looking after everyone and continually checking on everyone to make sure they were ok”

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2.Port Arthur Full-day Guided Tour with Harbour Cruise and Tasman National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 585 reviews · from $121

Spend about nine hours touring from Hobart to Port Arthur with a guide such as Vic, Colin, Mark, or Rod. See Richmond Bridge, Pirates Bay, Tasman Arch, Remarkable Cave, and Maingon Bay, then explore the convict site and cruise around Isle of the Dead. Hotel pickup, transport, admission, and Wi-Fi are included.

“Fantastic trip to Port Arthur from Hobart. Barry, our driver, was very informative and humorous. A trip not to be missed.”

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3.Port Arthur Historic Site Admission and Tour Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 509 reviews · 1 day · from $37

Spend a full day exploring Port Arthur’s convict settlement at your own pace. Your ticket includes an audio experience, expert site talks, a 20-minute harbor cruise, and two days of daytime entry. Add the Essentials, Premium, Isle of the Dead, or Escapes tour for more guided stories.

“We drove so got there early before the coaches. A fascinating place with great historical significance. Restaurant is worth a visit as well! Unfortunately it rained really heavily so we had to curtail some of the trip.”

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4.Tasman Island Cruises and Port Arthur Historic Site Day Tour from Hobart

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 477 reviews · from $236Top rated

Leave Hobart early for a three-hour Pennicott Wilderness cruise past Tasman Peninsula cliffs, caves, seals, dolphins, and seabirds. Then spend three hours at Port Arthur Historic Site, with lunch included. Guides such as Paul, Murray, Phil, and Alan are praised for safe driving and local insight. Waterproof jackets are provided.

“Great day. Bus driver Murray was very friendly and informative of the area. Dress warmly/correctly for the boat ride/sea conditions. It was an adventure and the skipper and deck hand was very knowledgeable with a little human. Port Arthur was wonderful and an eye opener about our Australian History.”

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5.Port Arthur & Tasman Park Full-Day Trip with Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 442 reviews · 8h 30m · from $120

Spend a full day tracing Tasmania’s convict past and wild east coast. Your Gray Line guide, such as Phil, Mark, Colin or Evan, leads the drive to Richmond, Tasman Arch, Pirates Bay and Port Arthur, with a harbor cruise, Remarkable Cave and chocolate stop included. Saturday departures swap several stops for Salamanca Market.

“Mark our driver was amazing, funny, knowledgeable and it was a very enjoyable day!”

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6.Port Arthur Tasman Sights with Harbour Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 358 reviews · 8 hours · from $102

Travel from Hobart in a small air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide such as Mark, Jodie, Skye, or Pascal. Visit Eaglehawk Neck, a chocolate foundry, Port Arthur Lavender Farm, and Port Arthur Historic Site, with entry, audio experience, and a 20-minute harbour cruise included. You can also choose Remarkable Cave.

“Amazing ! Guide was amazing friendly and took us to amazing places”

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7.Port Arthur, Richmond & Tassie Devil – Active Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 351 reviews · 10 hours · from $138

Travel from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula with an English-speaking guide such as Ian, Clinton, Nick, or Peter. Walk the Waterfall Bay clifftops, visit Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen, feed Tasmanian devils and wallabies at Unzoo, tour Port Arthur by land and harbor cruise, then stop in Richmond.

“Ian was a great and informative guide! Loved the Tassie Unzoo! Port Arthur was really amazing but based on the size of it, 3 hours wasn’t enough time there.”

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8.Tasman Peninsula Tour, Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 339 reviews · 10h 30m · from $233

Travel from Hobart by guided coach to the Tasman Peninsula, enjoy morning tea, then take a 3-hour wilderness cruise past cliffs, sea caves, waterfalls, and wildlife. Finish with lunch and three hours at Port Arthur Historic Site. Guides such as Phil and Allen add useful local detail, while warm clothing is essential.

“It was informative without being boring 🤗🤗 Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I’m”

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9.Port Arthur Historic Site [official]

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 288 reviews · from $38

Spend up to two days exploring Port Arthur’s convict settlement, with access to more than 30 buildings and ruins, a self-guided audio tour, site talks, museum displays, and a 20-minute harbor cruise aboard the MV Marana. You’ll see the Dockyards, Isle of the Dead, Point Puer, and the Convict Water Supply Trail.

“The history the guides all are very informative And helpful The ghost tour was also a great experience”

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10.Tasman Peninsula Wilderness Cruise from Port Arthur

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 285 reviews · from $129

Leave Port Arthur for a three-hour wilderness cruise toward Eaglehawk Neck and Tasman Island. Expect sharp coastal views, sea caves, towering cliffs, lighthouse history, and commentary from guides such as Tom, Jonty, Lily, or Ashleigh. Waterproof jackets are provided, but warm layers and steady sea legs matter.

“Wear non slip shoes and a beanie. Take a warm jacket. Travel light....you don't need a handbag or backpack on the boat.”

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11.Port Arthur, Richmond & Tasman Peninsula Active Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 225 reviews · 1 day · from $120

Travel from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula with an English-speaking guide, walk the Waterfall Bay clifftop track, visit Tasman Arch and Devil’s Kitchen, then spend about four hours at Port Arthur with a harbor cruise. Finish in Richmond before returning around 6pm.

“Absolutely fantastic day out. So much packed into one day, but nevertheless never felt rushed. Nick was full of useful information - and even his jokes worked. He's a tremendous asset and a day like this with a great guide could gave been a drag. Highly recommended!”

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12.Sydney Convicts, History & The Rocks 2.5-Hour Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 181 reviews · 2h 30m · from $36

Spend 2.5 hours walking from Customs House through Circular Quay, Macquarie Place, and The Rocks with an English-speaking local historian. Expect convict stories, rum trade scandals, street gangs, hidden ruins, heritage buildings, and clear visual aids from guides such as Bec and Max.

“Very informative and well delivered by Rebecca. We learnt so much and she helped us fill in the gaps on what we learned at school.”

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13.Port Arthur Historic Site Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 173 reviews · 1h 30m · from $24Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Visitor Centre and follow a lantern-lit, two-kilometre route through Port Arthur’s ruins and infamous buildings. Over 90 minutes, you’ll hear stories linked to deaths, unexplained events, and reported encounters dating back to 1870. Guides such as Guy and David have brought strong energy and theatrical skill to past tours.

“Our first experience with Port Arthur was at night. Let’s just say the lead lantern bearer gets a more intense experience. All our guides were very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and enjoyable to be around.”

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14.Port Arthur, Harbor Cruise and Isle of the Dead Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 157 reviews · 1 day · from $134

Travel from Hobart to Port Arthur with a driver-guide such as Phil or Victor, stopping at Richmond, Tasman Arch and Pirates Bay. Explore the convict site, cruise Carnarvon Bay, and join a one-hour Isle of the Dead walk. You can also visit Remarkable Cave, with free Wi-Fi and hotel pickup included.

“Great tour guide to and from Port Arthur. his name was Tim nd he was the perfect tour guide, very knowledgeable and passionate about what he was saying. On the Islle of the Dead we were shown around by a very bright woman, I don't remember her name but she was fantastic and smart. Very amazing and wonderful all round.”

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15.Cape Raoul Wilderness Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 80 reviews · 1h 30m · from $92

From Port Arthur Jetty, you’ll take a 90-minute English-language cruise along the Tasman Peninsula to Cape Raoul. Expect sea caves, arches, Safety Cove, Crescent Bay, Point Puer, Isle of the Dead, and towering dolerite cliffs. Local crew members such as Drew and Hayden have added humor and sharp commentary on some departures.

“Very relaxed tour. Skipper and deckhand were very knowledgeable and instilled confidence in those that were concerned about the size of the swell. Fantastic experience.”

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