We visited Port Arthur for 2 days in August. Torrential rain and wind with small dry spells. It lent an amazing atmosphere to our tour around the site and the cruise making it seem somewhat surreal. The mists and the winds through the trees almost made you feel there were others present that couldn't be seen. I don't believe in... more

Not only was this a great visit to a historic site, but it was also beautiful. The prison is located right on a bay overlooking the ocean and the grounds are well kept. It is truly a beautiful site. I walked with a friend through all the ruins and some of the buildings that have been kept up. It was... more

An excellent place to learn about the history of Tasmania and enjoy some beautiful scenery at the same time. Bronze pass admission gives you a 40 minute walking tour with background info on many of the buildings and their builders. You also get a 20 minute ferry ride around the harbour. Although you only go out around the two islands... more

We drove to Port Arthur via Richmond (checked out the jail there too as well as the old bridge that the convicts built and the oldest Catholic Church in Australia) which was great in itself. We were staying at Stewarts Bay Lodge which is very close to the Port Arthur Historic Site (about a 15 min walk along a beach... more

It doesn't feel like a tourist site, more of an educational historical site. You can easily spend a day there. Quite beautiful, but eerie. The contrast between the beauty and the reality of 'hell on earth' is quite amazing. Everyone should go there once. more

Sorry but unless you like to pay top dollar for tacky tourism and you have a real intersest in the history of this place, don't go. I know I'm going to be the worst person in the world for knocking poor old Port Arthur but once again it is another Tassie tourist site that is just not value for money.... more

One has to see,listen and feel the "Ambience " of Port Arthur especially Australians who have Genetic ties with the History of the First Convicts etc.We arrived about 9am and the place was full of tourists from all over the world,we took the Cruise and walking tour of the Settlement with a running commentary of Port Arthur. But to me... more

Perhaps the UK visitor (earlier review) was a little too far removed to fully appreciate the Port Arthur settlement site. I am an Aussie form the mainland, have visited Port Arthur twice, and both times have felt awestruck. The atmosphere and memories of violence are close at hand, and many of these are from recent events, not of days long... more

I did not enjoy my day but i feel it is not a location where you are meant to enjoy! There's too many horrific memories clinging to the place. Some of the convicts were probably not even guilty. Some had done as little as steal bread! The place depressed the hell out of me,it was a cold rainy day too... more