Port Arthur is a quaint village about a 1-hr drive (93 km) south-east of Hobart in Tasmania.  Best known for the well-preserved penal colony buildings of the nearby Port Arthur Historic Site.  Set on the tip of the Tasman Peninsula, Port Arthur is a great base to explore the historic site and the area’s natural attractions including dramatic coastal rock formations and towering cliffs.  The Port Arthur Historic Site was established in 1830 as a timber station and was soon built into a small town to house and punish over a thousand of Tasmania’s most notorious convicts. This dark history contrasts with the beauty of the surrounding area. Full of powerful stories of hardship and loss, it’s one of Tasmania’s most rewarding travel experiences.