Port Arthur 

With all the historical relevance and natural beauty in Port Arthur you may want to consider staying for a few days to soak up the atmosphere. Located approximately 60 km south east of Hobart, Port Arthur is considered to be one of Australia's prettiest harbours.

Despite the current outlook it was the site of the harshest penal colony in colonial Australia. On three sides Port Arthur was naturally secured by shark-infested waters and the 30m wide isthmus that connected it to the mainland was guarded by prison guards and dogs.

Nowadays Port Arthur has easily become Tasmania's number one tourist destination. The Port Arthur Historic Site houses the poignant remains of prison buildings, a fascinating museum as well as reputed cases of spirits and haunting.

The Island of the Dead is also another popular destination within Port Arthur. There are 1646 graves recorded of convicts who died in the prison camps and out of those only 180 are recorded as prison staff and personnel.

Things to do

• See the historic site
• Visit the penal colony site
• See quirky DooTown
• Surfing, sea kayaking and bushwalking are popular along this spectacular coastline
• Explore the Remarkable Caves
• Walk to Crescent Bay, a secluded curve of striking beauty backed by huge sand dunes
• Visit the Coal Mines Historic Site, where repeat offenders were forced to work underground extracting coal
• Participate in a guided tour, including late night "ghost tours"
• See the curiosities left over from convict tmes in the museum