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...and we have a great special offer to help you make the most of the season!
As the days lengthen and the weather starts to warm, spring is a great time to get out and about with the family to explore our amazing World Heritage-listed convict heritage.
However money is tight, especially for families, so the Port Arthur Historic Site has a special deal that will give families a great day out, memorable experiences, and save money.
The Port Arthur Historic Site offering FREE ENTRY for kids accompanied by the family (2 adults and up to six children under 18) on Saturdays from 24 September to 17 December.
That’s a saving of $15 off the already-reduced Family ticket price!
Even better, the kids will be able to enjoy the Historic Site’s most popular educational activities and gain some unique insights into the amazing stories and epic history of this incredible place, while having loads of fun.
They will be able to make their very own convict brick or peg doll and learn about how children in the nineteenth century were resourceful by making toys out of everyday objects.
Access to the activities is included in the cost of Site Entry. No bookings are necessary – just make your way to Port Arthur and there will be signage from the Visitor Centre. Children participating in the activities must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Visit www.portarthur.org.au/families for more ideas to help plan and enjoy a great family visit to Port Arthur.
Download our handbill to stick on the fridge - it's got all the details
 
Meet some of the Port Arthur locals
Meet some of the real-life historical characters behind the amazing stories of the Port Arthur Historic Sites. You can read about them on line, or download a fact sheet. Then you can plan your visit to Port Arthur, where you can discover more for yourself.
Meet the locals...
Time capsules from the past
There are a number of historic houses at Port Arthur that have been restored and furnished to offer visitors an insight into daily life at the settlement.
While most date from the convict ere, some date from the post-convict township of Carnarvon.
More about our museum houses...
Isle of the Dead tours not available until October
Tours to the Isle of the Dead are expected to be running again by late-October.
The popular cemetery tour at the Port Arthur Historic Site will not be available for several weeks while a new jetty is being built.
The island is accessed by ferry from the Port Arthur Historic Site.
Work on the replacement jetty is expected to be completed by late October 2011.
The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority apologises for any inconvenience this may cause visitors.
The Point Puer Boys' Prison tour at Port Arthur is not affected by the work and continues to be offered daily.
A place to be feared?
The Coal Mines Historic Site was Tasmania’s first operational mine, established as a much-needed local source of coal, but also as a place of punishment for the ‘worst class’ of convicts.
Along with the Port Arthur Historic Site, the Coal Mines Historic Site is included in the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage property.
A visit to the Coal Mines is a fascinating and rewarding adjunct to any visit to the Port Arthur Historic Site.
It is also one of Tasmania's Great Short Walks, and a site of exceptional natural beauty.
Plan your visit to the Coal Mines...
A place everyone should visit
The Port Arthur Historic Site is a place of national and international significance—part of the epic story of the settlement of this country.
The Port Arthur Historic Site is the best preserved convict site in Australia and one of the country’s most visited heritage attractions.
Along with the Coal Mines Historic Site, Port Arthur was a key part of the colonial system of convict discipline. In its time, it was a groundbreaking attempt to deal with issues of crime and punishment that all societies continue to address today.
Discover more reasons to visit...
Take a look around the region
Port Arthur is located in one of the most dramatic and scenic landscapes in Australia, although if you don't take the time to pause on the way to or from Port Arthur, you may not even notice.
The Tasman Peninsula’s dramatic environment created the ideal natural prison for Port Arthur’s convicts. 300-metre high sea cliffs, deep ocean and thick forests made escape almost impossible.
The only land passage north from Port Arthur was found at Eaglehawk Neck, a narrow strip of land flanked by ocean and forest. For the convicts, this too was impassable—heavily guarded by soldiers and site of the notorious Dog Line.
This extraordinary place, once so forbidding, is now one of the most beautiful and accessible destinations in Tasmania.
The region is rich in scenery, walking tracks, beaches as well as places to stay and amazing experiences related to its extraordinary natural and cultural heritage.
Discover more about the Port Arthur region and plan a short break in the area...
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