Port Arthur Convict Connection Day Cruise

Travel the sea route of convicts transported from Hobart to the penal settlement at Port Arthur. Leave a port that once reverberated to the sound of whalers, rowdy sailors and the clank of convict chains and come face to face with the stunning coastal beauty made by nature's hand, unchanged since early exploration and convict settlement. Then disembark at the historic site to explore the stories of the men who endured harsh imprisonment and punishment in pursuit of reformation.

Unlike the crew and convicts, you'll be accompanied by an expert nature guide who will introduce you to the local marine life. Watch
seabirds swoop, stop to enjoy the antics of a playful pod of dolphins, spot a penguin surfacing and if you're lucky, hear a pair of humpback whales blow as you farewell them on their way to the Antarctic.

Feel your heart shift in awe at the wild beauty of Cape Raoul and it's needles rising in rocky spires into the sky, then 30 metre sand dunes at Crescent Bay as you head towards Safety Cove. Pass Point Pier, for your first full view of Port Arthur, the first view the convicts had from the water in the 1800s.

Step ashore, where you'll be guided to the Visitor Centre, the starting point for your exploration of the penal settlement. Walk amongst the 40 hectares of ruins, restored buildings, gardens and rolling lawns. Visit the Penitentiary and the Separate Prison and see where convict discipline changed from physical to psychological terror.

Return to Hobart by coach, passing the Eaglehawk Neck dogline then Pirates Bay lookout for a view over Tasman National Park before completing your day's journey back at Hobart's waterfront.