Hobart > Port Arthur

The residents of Tasmania are the friendliest we encountered in Australia, eager to help in any way possible they constantly offered helpful advice as to where to go and what to see. However this could be in part due to their short working week; many businesses open at 10am and close at 3pm on the island. For those who are camping/campervanning the receptions for the sites generally close at 6pm, however they are generally relaxed if you arrive late, stay and then pay in the morning – a way round this is of course to book in advance via the internet or phone. Day 1 Hobart > Port Arthur Most visitors arrive in Hobart, it is both the most populated city in Tasmania and it has the only international airport on the island. Port Arthur is located a 1 hour 30 mins drive from Hobart, a historic site of Tasmania it was a British penal settlement throughout the 1800s. Housing convicts and young offenders it became a place of rehabilitation and various industries – the most successful being ship building, however it was by no means a pleasant place. Tickets are $37 per adult, they provide access for two consecutive days, a 20 minute boat tour and a 1 hour guided tour of the site. From Port Arthur it is worth continuing the historic journey to the coal mines, a 25 minute drive away and free entry it is the final destination of many of the colony’s worst convicts. There are a range of walks available but be sure not to miss viewing the main mine shaft!