Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Tasman Island Cruise - Full Day + Port Arthur Historic Site

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A full Tasman Peninsula day tour from Hobart: a return guided bus tour, the 3 Hour Wilderness Cruise, morning tea, and lunch as part of three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site.

Days

Full day, 10 hours

Group size

Max 66

Start / finish

Hobart / Hobart
Hobart hotel drop-off, 6pm

Return

Hobart hotel drop-off, 6pm

Transport

Guided bus from Hobart and a yellow cruise boat

Meals

Morning tea at a local cafe, lunch at Port Arthur

Route

Map of Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Tasman Island Cruise - Full Day + Port Arthur Historic Site

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Included experiences

Tasman Peninsula — 3 hour wilderness cruise
Port Arthur Historic Site — three hours, with lunch
Morning tea on the Tasman Peninsula

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Tasman Island Cruise - Full Day + Port Arthur Historic Site

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

EARLY MORNING: HOBART TO THE TASMAN PENINSULA

You check in on Franklin Wharf in Hobart and the bus leaves at 7.30am, heading east through Sorell, founded in 1821, and down onto the Tasman Peninsula. Your guide fills in the convict history as you cross Eaglehawk Neck, a strip of land about 100 metres wide where guards kept a line of chained dogs to stop prisoners escaping Port Arthur. You reach the peninsula at about 9.15am, and morning tea is at a local cafe before the cruise.

LATE MORNING: THE CLIFFS AND SEA STACKS

The yellow boat runs along the coast of Tasman National Park, and the skipper picks the route each day by the sea, somewhere between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck. At Cape Pillar the dolerite cliffs rise nearly 300 metres, the highest sea cliffs in Australia, made of columns of rock that cooled from molten magma about 180 million years ago. Off Cape Hauy the Totem Pole, a column 65 metres tall and only about four metres wide, stands beside The Candlestick and Cathedral Rock. Where the sea allows, the boat slides right into sea caves.

MIDDAY: TASMAN ISLAND AND THE WILDLIFE

Rounding the cape you meet Tasman Island, a turning point for the Sydney to Hobart yachts. Its lighthouse, first lit in 1906, stands 276 metres above the sea, the highest working lighthouse in Australia. The keepers' supplies once came up the cliff by flying fox. Around the rocks below, fur seals sprawl and bark. The crew watches for dolphins, gannets, albatross, sea eagles, shearwaters and peregrine falcons, and humpback and southern right whales on their migration. Sightings are never promised, but there is always something moving.

AFTERNOON: THREE HOURS AT PORT ARTHUR

From about 1.30pm you have three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site, including lunch. Founded as a penal station in 1830, it held some of the British Empire's hardest convicts until 1877, and it is now one of eleven Australian Convict Sites on the World Heritage list. Walk through the shell of the Penitentiary, built as a flour mill and granary in the 1840s, and the Separate Prison, where silence was the punishment. Across the harbour lies the Isle of the Dead, the settlement's cemetery. At 4.30pm the bus leaves for Hobart, with hotel drop-off at about 6pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Booking Centre, Dock Head Building, Franklin Wharf on Hobart's waterfront, next to the Constitution Dock Lifting Bridge.
Departure time: Check in by 7.15am for a 7.30am departure.
Finishes: Back in Hobart at 6pm, with hotel drop-off.

What to bring

Warm jackets, scarves, beanies and gloves for the cruise
Camera

What is included

Return guided bus tour from Hobart
3 Hour Wilderness Cruise
Morning tea at a local cafe
Lunch at the Port Arthur Historic Site
Three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site
Hotel drop-off in Hobart

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 1 review

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

I really enjoyed the three-hour cruise, always on the move with fresh sea air and fur seals. The transfer ran right on time, and we spent three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site, which isn't nearly enough for such a big place.

Вероника Кравченко Verified· Travelled 29th June 2026

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