Port Arthur

Port Arthur sits on the Tasman Peninsula in southeastern Tasmania. Ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to a small dock. The main attraction is the Port Arthur Historic Site, a former convict settlement that operated from 1830 to 1877 and is one of Australia's most significant heritage sites. The prison ruins, the asylum, and the separate prison (where silence was enforced as punishment) are spread across well-maintained grounds overlooking the harbour. The site includes a museum, a harbour cruise that passes the Isle of the Dead (the settlement's burial ground), and guided tours of the ruins. A ghost tour runs in the evenings but isn't practical during a port call. The surrounding area is bush and coastline, with walking trails along the cliffs. Tasmanian produce is excellent: look for local cheese, whisky, and seafood at the site's café. Australian dollars are the currency.