Major city · Australia
Port Arthur
Give Port Arthur one full day for the historic site and sleep one night on the peninsula, or run it as a 10-hour day trip from Hobart; two nights only if you add the Tasman cruise and a walk.
Port Arthur is a 40-hectare former convict settlement and one of the eleven Australian Convict Sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, about 100 km south-east of Hobart. The site alone takes 4–6 hours; the peninsula around it holds the Tasman Island cruise, the Tessellated Pavement and the national park. Most travellers come for a day from Hobart, but one night here removes the 1.5-hour drive back in the dark.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- AUD
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (long daylight, milder days); Dec–Feb is warmest but busiest
- avoid Jun–Aug (cold, wet, short days; some tours run reduced schedules)
- Airport
- HBA
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Port Arthur000 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance000
- From a mobile112
- Port Arthur Historic Site (general enquiries)1800 659 101
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Port Arthur, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$).Australia-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.Australia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps.Australia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.Australia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Australia-wide
- SafetyThe peninsula is quiet and safe; the real risks are fast-changing weather, wildlife on the highway at dusk and unlit rural roads.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.Australia-wide
- Emergency numbers000 police, fire, ambulance · 112 From a mobile · 1800 659 101 Port Arthur Historic Site (general enquiries)
- Sundays & holidaysChristmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 15:00; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 3:00 PM; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Australia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHBA Hobart Airport (About 1 h 15 min by car via the Tasman and Arthur highways; no public bus to Port Arthur from the airport.).
- Getting aroundNo public transport on the peninsula: you need a car, a tour bus or a taxi.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeA$5–7 (≈ US$4–5)
- Street or quick mealCafé sandwich or light mealA$12–22 (≈ US$8–15)
- BeerBeer in a bar / bottle-shop six-packA$9–14 (≈ US$6–10)A$18–25 (≈ US$12–17)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$15–35 (≈ US$10–25)
- Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedMotel or motor-inn double room, a night, per roomA$190 (≈ US$130)
- High-end bedMotel or motor-inn double room, a night, per roomA$320 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$160 (≈ US$110) · High A$280 (≈ US$190)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HBA Hobart Airport (About 1 h 15 min by car via the Tasman and Arthur highways; no public bus to Port Arthur from the airport.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Feb
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Mar
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Jul
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Aug
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Sep
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Oct
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Nov
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Dec
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jul (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Jul (14 rain days), driest Feb (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Port Arthur: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Feb
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
8 rd
Mar
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
10 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
11 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
12 rd
Jun
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
13 rd
Jul
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
14 rd
Aug
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
13 rd
Sep
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
Oct
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Nov
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No public transport on the peninsula: you need a car, a tour bus or a taxi. The historic site itself is walked, with a free courtesy buggy for limited mobility and a 30-minute harbour ferry included in entry. Distances between the site, Eaglehawk Neck and Nubeena are 10–25 km on the Arthur Highway.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Eaglehawk Neck and the Tessellated Pavement
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Drive north on the Arthur Highway, about 15 min
Free coastal geology and the Dog Line story; combine with the Blowhole and Tasman Arch.
Tasman Island cruise
goDoor to door: Half a day
Departs from the Port Arthur area, 3-hour boat trip
Book ahead; seasick-prone travellers should take medication before boarding.
Nubeena
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
Drive south-west on the B37, about 20 min
Small town with a shop and jetty; not a destination on its own.
Taranna
cautionDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive north on the Arthur Highway, about 10 min
Useful for beds and the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo; otherwise a pass-through.
Door to door: 1.5–2 h
Drive the A9 and A3 via Sorell, about 100 km (62 mi)Drive the A9 and A3 via Sorell, about 62 mi (100 km)
Fine as a day trip out, but the return in the dark after a full site visit is tiring.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Port Arthur township (Safety Cove Rd and Arthur Hwy)
Closest beds to the historic site gate, 2–5 min drive; motels, villas and a handful of self-contained cottages.
Eaglehawk Neck and Taranna
15–25 min north on the Arthur Highway; cheaper and closer to the Tessellated Pavement and the national park.
Nubeena
About 20 min south-west; small town with a shop and basic lodgings, useful if Port Arthur itself is full.
Hobart
Day-trip base, 1.5 h each way; only sensible if you leave by 07:30 and accept a long day.Day-trip base, 1.5 h each way; only sensible if you leave by 7:30 AM and accept a long day.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- A$150–230 (≈ US$100–160) excl. bed
- High
- A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or motor-inn double room1 × 1 night × A$190 | A$190 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$160 | A$320 |
| Historic site entry, adult2 × A$50 · check | A$100 |
| Isle of the Dead or Point Puer guided tour2 × A$35 · check | A$70 |
| Ghost Tour, adult2 × A$40 · check | A$80 |
| Tasman Island cruise2 × A$175 · check | A$350 |
| Fuel, Hobart return, small car1 × A$45 · check | A$45 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | A$116 |
| Trip total≈ A$636 per person per day, bed included | A$1,271≈ US$850 |
2026 estimate in Australian dollars; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | A$5–7 (≈ US$4–5) |
| Café sandwich or light meal | A$12–22 (≈ US$8–15) |
| Restaurant main | A$28–45 (≈ US$19–30) |
| Beer in a bar / bottle-shop six-pack | A$9–14 (≈ US$6–10) / A$18–25 (≈ US$12–17) |
| Fuel, unleaded | A$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) per litre (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | A$15–35 (≈ US$10–25) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Weather changes fast: 10–15 °C (50–59 °F) is normal even in summer, so bring a rain shell and layers.Weather changes fast: 50–59 °F (10–15 °C) is normal even in summer, so bring a rain shell and layers.
- Book the Isle of the Dead, Point Puer and Ghost Tours ahead; they sell out in peak season and cannot be self-guided.
- The 1996 massacre memorial is on site: visitors are asked not to raise the subject with locals.
- Fuel and food are limited on the peninsula after about 20:00; fill up in Sorell.Fuel and food are limited on the peninsula after about 8:00 PM; fill up in Sorell.
- Wildlife on the road at dusk and dawn: drive slowly between Eaglehawk Neck and Port Arthur.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 000
- From a mobile
- 112
- Port Arthur Historic Site (general enquiries)
- 1800 659 101
Pocket card
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Port ArthurPort Arthur
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance000
- From a mobile112
- Port Arthur Historic Site1800 659 101
Embassy
No consulates on the peninsula; embassies and consulates-general are in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. US citizens: US Consulate General Melbourne (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Hobart → Port Arthur by car: about 100 km (62 mi), 1.5 h, fuel roughly A$15–25 (≈ US$10–17) each way (check)about 62 mi (100 km), 1.5 h, fuel roughly A$15–25 (≈ US$10–17) each way (check)
- Historic site entry, adult: about A$50 (≈ US$35), includes the 30-min harbour ferry (check)
- Tasman Island cruise: about A$175 (≈ US$120) per adult, 3 h (check)
Say or show
- Excuse me — Excuse me (ik-SKYOOZ mee)
- Thanks — Thank you (thanks)
- How much is it? — How much is it? (how much is it)
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (can I pay by card)
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet? (where is the toilet)
- Is it far? — Is it far? (is it far)
English is the only language you need here.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Port Arthur. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Apr (long daylight, milder days); Dec–Feb is warmest but busiest · avoid Jun–Aug (cold, wet, short days; some tours run reduced schedules) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for HBA: hire-car pickup times, last sensible departure for the peninsula, taxi fallback.
- Four walking clusters inside the site with rescue anchors: Visitor Centre, Penitentiary and Commandant's House, Church and Government Gardens, Separate Prison.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (historic site, Isle of the Dead, Point Puer, Ghost Tour) and eat pages with last orders.
- Weather and ferry fixtures so gates A–D can go green.