TLDR: One day covers both of the Tasman Peninsula's headline attractions: a three-hour wilderness cruise under Cape Pillar's sea cliffs, then three hours at the UNESCO-listed Port Arthur Historic Site, with coach transfers from Hobart, morning tea, and lunch included. Expect a 7:30am start and a return to Hobart around 6pm, priced at $330 through Touring Tassie. If you're happy to drive to Port Arthur yourself, the cruise-only Tasman Island Cruise from $180 may fit better.
The Tasman Island Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site tour is a full-day trip from Hobart. A coach leaves Franklin Wharf in the morning, a small open-air boat takes you along the cliffs of Tasman National Park, and the afternoon is yours to explore Port Arthur before a hotel drop-off in the early evening. It's bookable through Touring Tassie for $330, with no driving on your part. Prefer to make your own way to Port Arthur (about 90 minutes from Hobart by car)? The Tasman Island Cruise on its own is listed from $180.
This tour at a glance
- Departs: Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Booking Centre, Franklin Wharf, next to the Constitution Dock lifting bridge, Hobart
- Check-in and departure: check-in from about 7:15am, coach departs 7:30am (confirm the exact time on your booking confirmation)
- Duration: roughly 10 hours, back in Hobart around 6:00pm with hotel drop-off
- Includes: return guided coach transfer, three-hour wilderness cruise, morning tea at a local cafe, lunch at Port Arthur, and three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site
- Runs: daily all year, except Christmas Day
- Price: $330, bookable through Touring Tassie
The day, hour by hour
Knowing how the day unfolds makes it much easier to decide if the pace suits you. This timeline follows the operator's published itinerary.
7:15am: Check in at the Franklin Wharf booking centre, on Hobart's waterfront beside the Constitution Dock lifting bridge.
7:30am: The coach departs Hobart for the Tasman Peninsula, with a guide on board.
9:15am: Arrive on the peninsula for morning tea at a local cafe.
10:00am: Board the boat for the three-hour wilderness cruise.
1:00pm: The cruise ends and you head to Port Arthur.
1:30pm: Three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site, with lunch built into the time.
4:30pm: The coach leaves Port Arthur.
6:00pm: Arrive back in Hobart, with hotel drop-off.
What you'll see on the Tasman Island cruise
The cruise is the reason many people book this tour, and it's easy to see why. The route follows the Tasman National Park coastline between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck, and the skipper adjusts the exact path each day to suit sea conditions, so no two cruises are identical. Wherever the boat goes, it starts and finishes at the Tasman Island Cruises booking centre in Port Arthur.
Along the way, the boat travels beneath the highest vertical sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere at Cape Pillar. Expect waterfalls spilling straight off the cliff edge, rock formations, archways, and deep-sea caves that the boat can nose into on calmer days. The boats are custom-built for this coastline: open-air, bright yellow, and designed for close viewing rather than distant photos.
Wildlife is a regular bonus. Seals hauled out on the rocks and pods of dolphins turn up often enough that past guests single them out in reviews, and seabirds follow the boat along the cliffs. During whale migration season, sightings along this coast are possible too, though never guaranteed.
One practical note for anyone prone to motion sickness: this is open coastline rather than a sheltered harbour, so the ride can be bumpy when there's swell. If seas affect you, take your usual remedy before boarding.
Three hours at Port Arthur: how to spend them
Port Arthur was established in the 1830s and is now one of the most visited sites in Tasmania, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict settlement set on a sheltered harbour. With lunch included in your three hours, you'll have roughly two to two-and-a-half hours to explore, which is enough for the highlights if you plan it rather than wander.
A sensible approach: eat lunch first while you get your bearings, then head straight for the main ruins and the harbour-side paths while your energy is highest. Save the quieter gardens and smaller buildings for the last stretch, when you're happy to slow down. Wear comfortable walking shoes, since the grounds are large and slope in places, and bring a hat and sunscreen as much of the visit is outdoors.
Extra experiences inside the site, such as guided walks or a harbour cruise, are booked separately with Port Arthur Historic Site, so if there's something specific you want to add, check their options before your trip rather than on the day.
Full-day tour or cruise only: which should you book?
Touring Tassie lists two Tasman tours, and they suit different travellers. Here's how to choose.
Tasman Island Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site ($330). This is the complete day. Someone else handles the driving, morning tea and lunch are covered, Port Arthur entry is part of the package, and you're dropped back at your hotel. It's the better fit if you don't have a hire car, if you'd rather not drive 90 minutes each way, or if this is your first visit to the peninsula and you want both attractions in one go.
Tasman Island Cruise ($180). This is the cruise on its own. Per the operator's schedule, cruises depart from the Port Arthur booking centre at 6961 Arthur Highway, 100 metres before the Historic Site entrance, with a 10am departure daily and an extra 2pm cruise from December to April (check the tour page for the departures available when you book). It suits self-drivers, travellers already staying on the peninsula, and anyone who has been to Port Arthur before and only wants the coastline.
Here's a way to compare value. The cruise alone is $180, and that's before adding Port Arthur entry, fuel, and around three hours of return driving on winding roads. For a solo traveller or couple without a car, the full-day tour usually works out as the simpler and often better-value option. For a family with a car already planning a peninsula overnight, the cruise-only route can be the more flexible choice.
Who this tour suits
The full-day tour works well for first-time visitors to Tasmania, travellers without a car, couples and small groups who want a full day handled for them, and anyone who likes history and coastline in the same itinerary. It's a long day, so it suits people comfortable with about ten hours of touring.
It's less suited to anyone who wants a slow, hours-long deep dive into Port Arthur's history. Three hours covers the highlights but not every building and exhibit. If history is your main interest, our Port Arthur day trip guide covers how to get more from a longer self-drive visit.
What to wear and bring
Reviewers repeat the same advice, and it's sound. Layer up for the cruise, since it's cooler on the water than on land, and a windproof outer layer makes a big difference on a moving open-air boat. Pack sunscreen and a hat for Port Arthur, closed comfortable shoes for the grounds, and a small bag for a camera, water bottle, and any seasickness remedy. Both morning tea and lunch are included, so there's no need to carry food.
Best time of year to book
The tour runs daily all year except Christmas Day, so there's no closed season. Summer (December to February) offers the warmest weather and the longest daylight, though it also draws the biggest crowds. Autumn and spring are quieter, and spring brings the chance of whales along the coast. Winter is cooler and the water can be rougher, so pack an extra layer, but the dramatic cliff scenery and smaller groups appeal to many travellers.
How to book, and what to check first
Pre-booking is essential, as the tour is popular and departure capacity is limited. Book through Touring Tassie and confirm three details on your booking confirmation: the check-in time at Franklin Wharf, the coach departure time, and your hotel pick-up or drop-off arrangements. If anyone in your group has access needs, let the operator know at the time of booking so they can arrange pick-up and drop-off appropriately.
Turn it into a longer Tasman Peninsula trip
If one day feels tight, the peninsula rewards more time. Our guide to the best day trips from Hobart compares the Tasman Peninsula with Bruny Island, Maria Island, and Cradle Mountain, so you can build a multi-day itinerary. If a wilderness cruise appeals but you'd like a different coastline, the Bruny Island Cruise offers a similar boat-based experience closer to Hobart, and our guide to guided wilderness tours in Tasmania covers more options.
FAQ
How long is the Tasman Island Cruise and Port Arthur day tour?
Roughly ten hours: a 7:30am coach departure from Hobart and a return around 6:00pm, including a three-hour cruise and three hours at Port Arthur.
Where does the tour leave from?
The Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Booking Centre at Franklin Wharf on Hobart's waterfront, next to the Constitution Dock lifting bridge. Check in from about 7:15am.
What's included in the price?
A return guided coach transfer from Hobart, a three-hour wilderness cruise, morning tea at a local cafe, lunch, and three hours at the Port Arthur Historic Site.
How much does the tour cost?
The full-day tour is $330 through Touring Tassie. The cruise-only Tasman Island Cruise is listed from $180.
Does the tour run every day?
Yes, daily throughout the year, except Christmas Day.
How long is the drive from Hobart to Port Arthur?
About 90 minutes by car. On the coach tour, the trip is spread across the morning with a morning tea stop before the cruise.
What will I see on the Tasman Island cruise?
Sea cliffs at Cape Pillar (the highest vertical sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere), waterfalls, rock formations, archways, and sea caves, plus regular seal, dolphin, and seabird sightings.
Is the cruise rough?
It's open coastline rather than a sheltered harbour, so it can be bumpy in swell. If you're prone to motion sickness, take your usual remedy before boarding.
Is Port Arthur entry included?
Yes, entry to the Port Arthur Historic Site is part of the full-day tour. Extra experiences inside the site, such as guided walks or a harbour cruise, are booked separately.
Is the full-day tour better than booking the cruise on its own?
It depends on your transport. Without a car, the full-day tour is usually simpler and better value. With a car, or if you're staying on the peninsula, the cruise alone from $180 gives more flexibility.
The bottom line
If you want one day that captures Tasmania's dramatic coastline and its convict history without the logistics, this is the tour to book. Choose the full day if you don't have a car or want everything handled, and the cruise-only option if you're driving and only need the coastline.
Ready to book? Reserve the Tasman Island Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site full-day tour, or the cruise on its own with the Tasman Island Cruise, both bookable through Touring Tassie.
