Getting There -- Port Arthur is a 1 1/2-hour drive from Hobart on the Lyell and Arthur highways. Tassielink (tel. 1300/300 520 in Australia, or 03/6230 8900) runs trips from Hobart to the former penal settlement on Tuesday, Wednesday (in summer only), Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Tours cost A$90 (US$72/UK£36) for adults and A$54 (US$43/UK£22) for children 4 to 16. The trip includes a guided tour of the Port Arthur site.

Derwent River Cruises, Brook Street, Pier (tel. 03/6233 1914), runs an exceptional tour to Port Arthur. Travel the sea route of convicts transported from Hobart to Port Arthur. The all-day journey includes a 2 1/2-hour cruise along the coastline to Port Arthur, entrance to the site and another 20-minute cruise, and a return by bus to Hobart. It costs A$149 (US$119/UK£69) for adults, A$110 (US$88/UK£44) for kids, and A$434 (US$347/UK£174) for a family. The cruise runs on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from October 1 to May 31.