Wondering how to get from Hobart to Port Arthur?
Not sure of the transport options available?
If you said yes, read on because this guide has all the answers!
Hobart to Port Arthur tours are extremely popular for those visiting Tassie’s capital city. But with so much to do in Port Arthur with kids, it’s well worth considering making your own way there so you can explore at your own leisure.
If you want to explore Port Arthur on your own, the obvious answer is to hire a car so you can self drive from Hobart to Port Arthur. But if you’re not overly keen on hiring a car, the good news is you can also take a private bus to Port Arthur from Hobart.
To help you plan your trip, this guide will detail how to get to Port Arthur from Hobart – covering all three transport options – self drive, bus and tour. After reading each option, you can choose which option is best for getting to Port Arthur from Hobart that best suits your budget and family needs.
So let’s get into it and find the best way to travel from Hobart to Port Arthur.
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How to get from Hobart to Port Arthur?
Firstly – how far is Port Arthur from Hobart? The distance – Hobart to Port Arthur is around 95kms, with a travel time of approximately 75 to 90 minutes.
Given the remoteness of Port Arthur, there are no public transport options, so you are limited in modes of transport when getting from Hobart to Port Arthur. As stated above, you will need to either drive, take the private Hobart to Port Arthur bus or join a Port Arthur tour.
Which is the best way to get from Hobart to Port Arthur depends on things like your budget, how many are travelling in your group, what attractions you want to see in Port Arthur and whether or not you’re short on time.
To help you decide which transport from Hobart to Port Arthur is best, below we’ve provided in detail the different options.
Self Drive: Hobart to Port Arthur by Car
If you’ve got the time and budget for it, the best Hobart to Port Arthur transport is to hire a car. This will give you the ultimate flexibility to explore Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula at your own leisure and over as many days as you like.
As mentioned above, the Hobart to Port Arthur drive takes about 90 minutes, and there are plenty of great stops you can make along the way too.
The Tasman Peninsula starts at Eaglehawk Neck – about a one hour drive from Hobart, and then it’s a further 30 minutes from here to Port Arthur.
Buses: Hobart to Port Arthur Transfers
If you’re not keen on the drive to Port Arthur from Hobart, and you have the time to spend at least two days exploring, then the next best option is to take the bus from Hobart to Port Arthur.
The Hobart to Port Arthur shuttle departs outside the Pennicott Wilderness Journeys office at the Franklin Wharf. They arrive in Port Arthur at the Port Arthur Historic Site.
Buses depart daily at 7.45 am, arriving in Port Arthur at 9.45 am. They then depart Port Arthur at 4.45 pm, arriving in Hobart at 6.45 pm.
A same day return ticket is $60 per person or $35 for a one way bus ticket. Click here to book your bus tickets.
If you were looking at the same day return ticket – you’re much better off looking at one of the tours from Hobart to Port Arthur for $99 per person. Click here to book.
Day Tour: Hobart to Port Arthur Tours
For those super short on time and not keen on hiring a car – the best option is to book a Port Arthur day tour from Hobart.
There are so many different Port Arthur day trips to choose from. Some simply take you to the Historic Site, while others also include wildlife cruises or stops at other attractions along the way.
My only advice though is to remember there is so much to see at the Historic Site alone that you really need a full day to see it all – so a tour with additional stops is really going to eat into your time to explore the Historic Site itself.
Also, a day trip to Port Arthur from Hobart is not cheap, particularly if you have a large family. So do consider this cost against the cost of hiring a car for the day.
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Hopefully you’ve found this guide on travelling from Hobart to Port Arthur helpful. We have other guides to help plan your trip to Port Arthur, including things to do in Port Arthur.