Discover Port Arthur: Hotels and UNESCO World Heritage
Accommodation in Port Arthur
The Port Arthur Historic Site is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Historic sites, different tour formats and Stewarts Bay, a beach in Port Arthur, offer various ways to shape your stay. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, you can first consider which of these interests matter most to you, then compare hotel offers for your travel dates.
UNESCO World Heritage and historic sites
The Isle of the Dead is the final resting place of more than 1,000 people who lived and worked at the Port Arthur Historic Site between 1833 and 1877. These dates refer to these people and place the island’s historical connection within a specific period.
The Government Gardens in Port Arthur are a reconstruction of the original gardens. This means the current garden layout should be understood as a reconstruction. The Penitentiary, in turn, was converted from a flour mill and granary between 1854 and 1857. Its history therefore includes the repurposing of these buildings during the stated period.
These sites represent different aspects of the cultural heritage: the Isle of the Dead as a final resting place, the reconstructed Government Gardens, and the Penitentiary converted from earlier buildings. If you are interested in the site’s history, these differences can help you decide what to focus on during your visit.
Admission, opening hours and tours
With a Port Arthur Entry ticket, you can explore the Port Arthur Historic Site at your own pace. In addition, 10- to 15-minute tours are offered to all day visitors with Port Arthur Entry or a tour. The Port Arthur Historic Site is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and closed on Christmas Day.
There are also tours of different durations. The lantern-lit Ghost Tour lasts 90 minutes. The Isle of the Dead Tour begins with a trip aboard the MV Marana and is a guided 60-minute experience. When planning, you can therefore choose between a short tour, a one-hour tour and the longer Ghost Tour format.
Opening hours, admission conditions, and tour locations and times may change. Check the latest information before your visit, especially if you are planning a specific tour.
Getting there and other interests
Regular transport services run between Hobart and Port Arthur. If you are planning your trip from Hobart, check the latest connections before setting off and factor them into your schedule.
Stewarts Bay is a beach in Port Arthur. This means the range of travel interests includes a beach as well as cultural heritage.
Discover more destinations: Kayena, Weegena, Tinderbox, Petcheys Bay, Scamander, Winkleigh, Sorell, Moina
For the main travel overview: Tasmania.
