Hobart to Port Arthur drive
Hobart to Port Arthur is 92 km and about 1 hour 30 minutes by road, and you can do it as a day trip in a hire car. The Historic Site has free parking, though the car park fills quickly in peak periods. Fill the tank before you leave, because most Peninsula service stations close before 6pm, and note that the road to Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen is unsealed with limited parking.
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Key facts
- Distance and time
- Hobart to Port Arthur: 92 km, 1 hour 30 minutes
- Route
- About 90 minutes on sealed roads from Hobart via Sorell on the A3, then the A9 (Arthur Highway)
- Port Arthur Historic Site hours
- Open every day from 9am to 5pm, closed Christmas Day
- Ticket validity
- Site entry tickets are valid for two consecutive days
- Parking
- Free parking is provided, but the car park fills up quickly during peak periods
- Fuel
- Fill up before departure, because most Peninsula service stations close before 6pm
- Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen
- Reached via Blowhole Road (C338), which is unsealed with limited parking
- Parks pass
- A valid parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania's national parks, including Tasman National Park
Hobart to Port Arthur
92 km · 1 hour 30 minutes
Sorell
The route leaves Hobart via Sorell on the A3, then joins the A9, the Arthur Highway that runs through farmland and forest to Port Arthur.
Eaglehawk Neck
Electric vehicle owners: Tesla destination chargers (open to all EVs) are at the Lufra hotel here. The C344 turn-off for Fortescue Bay is on the A9 towards Port Arthur.
Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen
Via Blowhole Road (C338): unsealed, with limited parking. Check your rental agreement's unsealed-road clause before you turn in.
Port Arthur Historic Site
Open 9am to 5pm daily. Free parking, but the car park fills quickly at peak times, so arrive early.
Remarkable Cave
Reached via Safety Cove Road at Port Arthur township.
- Port Arthur
How long is the drive from Hobart to Port Arthur?
The drive is 92 km and 1 hour 30 minutes. Port Arthur is described as a 90 minute (95 km) drive south-east of Hobart, and the Historic Site puts it at a 90-minute drive and almost 100 km. Whichever figure you use, plan on about 90 minutes each way without stops.
The route is a sealed road via Sorell on the A3, then the A9. A return trip is under 200 km, well inside the official advice of no more than 300 km a day.
Is Port Arthur worth a day trip from Hobart, and how long do you need?
It works as a day trip. Allow 3 hours of driving, then time on site: the Historic Site is open from 9am to 5pm daily, and its entry ticket stays valid for two consecutive days, so an overnight in the area lets you split the visit rather than rush it.
Leave Hobart early. The site's car park fills quickly in peak periods, and most Peninsula service stations close before 6pm, so fill the tank in Hobart before you leave.
Where to stop on the Tasman Peninsula
Tasman National Park holds the coastal sights. Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen are off Blowhole Road (C338), which is unsealed with limited parking. Remarkable Cave is via Safety Cove Road at Port Arthur township. Waterfall Bay Road gives access to the Tasman Coastal Trail, and Fortescue Bay is a 12 km drive on an unsealed road that is suitable for 2WD vehicles, reached from the C344 off the A9.
A valid parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania's national parks. If you buy it online for a hire car and do not know the registration yet, select the HIRE option in the registration section.
Hire car for Port Arthur: pick-up and what the agreement allows
Hobart Airport has 16 rental companies, seven of them in the forecourt in front of the terminal.
The gravel roads above are the point to check. For example, Europcar's terms prohibit taking the vehicle on any unsealed road unless it is a well-maintained road of no more than 500 metres used only to reach accommodation or an official camping area at no more than 40 km/h, or unsealed road cover has been purchased. A 12 km road to Fortescue Bay or Blowhole Road would fall outside that wording. Other companies word this differently, so the rental agreement decides.
Compare cars at Hobart Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
How far is Port Arthur from Hobart?
92 km and about 1 hour 30 minutes by road. The Port Arthur Historic Site describes it as almost 100 km and a 90-minute drive.
Can you do Port Arthur as a day trip from Hobart?
Yes. It is under 200 km return. Leave early, fuel up before you leave (most Peninsula service stations close before 6pm) and allow time at the site, which is open 9am to 5pm.
Is there free parking at Port Arthur?
Yes. The Historic Site provides free parking, but the car park fills quickly during peak periods.
Can I drive to Port Arthur in a hire car?
Yes, the Arthur Highway is a sealed road. The gravel roads to Tasman Arch, Devils Kitchen and Fortescue Bay are the parts to check against your rental agreement.
Is the road to Tasman Arch and Devils Kitchen sealed?
No. Blowhole Road (C338) is unsealed and has limited parking.
Where can I hire a car for Port Arthur?
Hobart Airport has 16 rental companies. Compare your dates in the search box above.