Tasmania - Port Arthur and the Tasman National Park

Mid-January 2025

A very large area, we were quite surprised: Port Arthur Historic Site, the infamous prison of the former convict colony Australia, to which the British Empire banished serious criminals from 1830 to 1877. A complete town surrounding the prison, relatively well preserved despite various bushfires. The full extent of the size and activity (boat building, mining, clothing manufacturing, ...) is only recognizable in the old photos, as all the wooden structures have completely fallen victim to the bushfires.

The area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, along with 10 other prisons in Australia, showcasing the beginnings of prisons in the world in an impressive way.

• On the drive from Hobart to Port Arthur, take a detour to Eaglehawk Neck to Pirates Bay and view the natural wonder Tesselated Pavement.
• A great tour is the Scenic Route through the Tasman National Park: Eat a delicious lavender ice cream at the lavender farm. Make a detour over Saltwater River to Turners Point: cows and sheep on the hills, black swans in the sea bays. On the way back, stop by for a chat with Rainer and buy oxheart tomatoes for dinner. Enjoy a cheese platter with huge cherries and the view over the hills to the sea at Premaydena Hill Winery. Walk along the beach at White Bay and do some last-minute shopping at the Nubeena Seabreeze Supermarket.
• The Stuarts Bay Lodge offers great cabins in the bush with a view of the beach (No. 36) and is a fantastic starting point for all tours in the area.