Tasmania, Australia | Port Arthur Classic Day Tour

Historic Port Arthur is a must-see destination in Tasmania, boasting a picturesque coastline and picturesque English villages. A day trip to Port Arthur will explore the renowned Port Arthur Historic Site and Gaol, as well as renowned natural wonders including the Blowhole, Tasman Arch, Checkerboard Road, Devil's Kitchen, and Eagle Neck Bay.

The Port Arthur Classic Day Tour awaits you as you journey to the Tasman Peninsula to experience four natural wonders: the Blowhole, Tasman Arch, Checkerboard Road, and Devil's Kitchen and Eagle Neck Bay. Then, you'll visit Port Arthur Gaol, located on Tasmania's Tasman Peninsula. This site was once a place where convicts were exiled during Australia's colonial era and is now a world-renowned tourist destination. Separated from Tasmania by a narrow strip of land and surrounded by shark-infested waters, Port Arthur is known as the "inescapable prison." Take a boat trip to the surrounding islands, explore historical sites, and see some of the remaining prison buildings. On the return trip, visit a honey farm and taste the sweetness of natural honey.

- About the Attraction | Port Arthur Classic Day Tour -

▲Port Arthur
Port Arthur is located on a peninsula approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. The peninsula boasts a rich history and a beautiful coastline. Its history as a penitentiary is a dark part of Australia's early 19th-century history. Originally a logging camp in the 1830s, Port Arthur became a place of detention for the most severely sentenced prisoners from Britain and Ireland from 1833 to around 1850. Port Arthur was chosen for its location because it was surrounded by water on three sides and infested with sharks. The only access point from the mainland to Port Arthur was through the Eagle Neck Pass in the north. Two major fires in 1895 and 1897 ravaged the area, destroying the remaining buildings. The land was subsequently put up for public sale. Following the sale of Port Arthur, the Australian government acquired the site in 1979 and began developing it into a tourist attraction. In 1987, the site was taken over by the Port Arthur Historic Authority, which is financially supported by the Tasmanian government. Today, Port Arthur is a must-see attraction in Tasmania.

▲The Blowhole
Located at the southern end of Eagle Neck Bay, the Blowhole is famous for its spectacular gushing water and the throbbing sound of the sea. Along the coast, columnar basalt forms a dense formation, and years of wave action have carved narrow sea trenches and sea caves. When huge waves crash against the cave's entrance, and when the wind is strong, the direction is right, and the tide is high, the spectacular gushing water can be seen.

▲Tasman Arch
Tasman Arch is a natural sea cave or arch formed by erosion. Gradually eroded by tidal forces, it was finally carved out by wind and waves, forming a cavern. This natural feature, forged over millions of years, rises 52.7 meters above the sea. Here, the rugged coastline merges into a quiet canyon, extending into the forest park.

▲Tessellated Pavement
Located north of Eaglehawk Neck, the Tessellated Pavement resembles a smooth, rectangular grid, creating a unique, gridded landscape. This area was once a depression below sea level, but the accumulation of various materials, including mud, sand, rocks, and shellfish, formed a platform. Crushing from various directions, the tide left salt crystals on the platform. The continuous accumulation and erosion of these salt crystals deepened the cracks, creating the current chessboard-like appearance.

▲Eaglehawk Neck
Eaglehawk Neck is a place most closely associated with Port Arthur Prison. In the past, escaping Port Arthur was only half the battle; escaping through Eaglehawk Neck was the only way to truly achieve success. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the Tasman Peninsula is the only narrow strip of land connecting it to the mainland of Tasmania. The road is only about 100 meters wide. At the time, officials took advantage of this unique terrain and stationed numerous soldiers and guard dogs here to prevent prisoners from escaping to the main island.

▲Devil's Kitchen
Wave erosion caused the coastline to recede, forming sea cliffs. Further waves carved a recessed cave at the base, creating the cave. Legend has it that during centuries of piracy, the reckless pirates would capture crew members and throw them to the bottom of the sea, where Tasmanian devil beasts would gather for a feast.