Port Arthur

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Port Arthur is a small town and former penal settlement in Tasmania, the island state of Australia, about one and a half hours drive from the state capital Hobart. A magnificent site preserving a rich slice of the former British colony's rich convict heritage, Port Arthur is today an amazing assemblage of colonial ruins and restored buildings, set amid 40 hectares (100 acres) of English oaks and open space.

Table of contents
	port arthur Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By car 2.2 By bus 2.3 By boat 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Learn 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Sleep 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Contact 11 Stay safe 12 Cope 13 Get out 14 External links

Understand

Port Arthur was first established as a timber station in 1830, supporting the infant colony of Van Diemen's Land. It became the site of a major penal (prison) colony for male convicts from 1833, a place of secondary punishment for re-offenders, in the 19th century era of convict transportation to Van Diemen's Land (the former name of Tasmania). It very quickly gained a reputation as a "hell on earth". At its peak in the late 1840s, Port Arthur became a near self-sufficient settlement, driven by the labour of its tormented inmates. Ultimately, after a couple of decades of decline in the 1850s and 1860s, Port Arthur finally ended its days as a penal settlement in 1877.

Get in

Port Arthur is located about 100 km south-east of Hobart on the Tasman Peninsula. Motorists should allow at least 1.5 hours to enjoy the scenic drive along the Tasman and Arthur highways. It is recommended that you allow 4-6 hours, preferably an overnight stay to fully appreciate the Historic Site and the many visitor services on offer.

By car

By bus

By boat

Port Arthur can be accessed by boat on cruises and tours out of Hobart, returning by coach. http://www.portarthurcruises.com.au/

Get around

Having arrived at Port Arthur, most people view the ruins on foot.

A ferry can take you to the Isle of the Dead. Well worth it if you make one of the tours of the island.

For the less mobile traveller, Visitor Centre facilities allow for independent access, including the Café?, Restaurant, Gift Shop, Interpretation Gallery and Rest Rooms. The remainder of the Historic Site comprises a variety of areas, some of which provide independent access, and others which require assisted access. Disabled parking is provided adjacent to the Visitor Centre entry. A courtesy, 6 seat, electric buggy provides a regular drop off and pickup service around the site for disabled visitors. (Enquire on arrival, at the information counter, for times of operation).

See

The grounds and ruins at Port Arthur are open from 8:30am until sunset. The Visitor Centre is open from 8:30am until the conclusion of Historic Ghost tours at night.

Do

• Go on the Historic Ghost Tour 1 (http://www.portarthur.org.au/things.htm) of Port Arthur. (1.5 hours). Each night except 24th and 25th December, departing from the Visitor Centre. Adult $14.00, child $8.60, family $36.30. Bookings essential.

Learn

• Visiting Port Arthur will allow the traveler to gain an incredible insight into Australia's convict heritage

Buy

Eat

• Felon's Restaurant 2 (http://www.portarthur.org.au/felons.htm)

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Contact

Stay safe

Cope

Get out

External links

• Port Arthur Historic Site (http://www.portarthur.org.au/) - the official web site for Port Arthur

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