The Port Arthur Penal Settlement The Alcatraz of Australia
If you’ve had the pleasure of visiting Alcatraz prison in California (as a tourist, not a criminal guest), you’ll know it’s impressive. The Port Arthur Penal Settlement in Tasmania is the Aussie version of Alcatraz – and a premier tourist attraction.
Top attractions
Ghost Tour
The Ghost Tour is a popular nocturnal option at Port Arthur, but make sure you wear the right clothing – winters can be super-cold here.
Convict Water Supply Trail
Away from the prison buildings, this walking trail takes you into bushland to see convict-build water wheels, aqueducts and reservoirs.
Cemetery Tour
The Isle of the Dead Tour takes you to the cemetery island across the harbour, which holds the remains of over a thousand people. Spooky…
The massacre
Port Arthur is a truly beautiful part of Australia, so it is a shame that when so many people hear the name, their thoughts stray to the mass shooting that occurred there in April 1996. Out of tragedy can sometimes come something good, and the Port Arthur Massacre led to changes in Australia’s gun laws that have helped prevent similar atrocities from happening in the future.1
