Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia

Port Arthur Historic Site

Historic Site, Visitor Centre, Port Arthur, Tasmania

Port Arthur Historic Site is a special place of vivid history, cultural heritage and stories so compelling, you'll want to hear them again and again. It’s a place of global significance – one of the 11 places that make up the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. And it’s one of Australia’s favourite tourist destinations.

The Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) was created in 1987 to preserve and maintain the Port Arthur Historic Site – a major Australian tourism destination and one of the country’s most important heritage sites.

The Port Arthur Historic Site hosts a range of events and programs all year round including theatre performances, exhibitions, archaeological excavations and conservation works. These events and programs can be a great opportunity to expand on your understanding of convict history and the work that goes into protecting heritage values.

Your site entry ticket gives you two consecutive days to explore and enjoy Port Arthur Historic Site’s many sites, tours and activities including:

  • entry to the Port Arthur Gallery, which includes interactive exhibits and displays that tell the story of the Port Arthur Historic Site and its people,
  • a guided Introductory Walking Tour,
  • 20-minute Harbour Cruise.
  • access to more than 30 historic buildings, ruins, restored houses, heritage gardens and walking trails.

Check the ‘events and programs’ pages to find out what’s on during your visit or book a tour. 




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The land of the palawa People, Traditional Owners of Tasmania. 

Tasmania produces elegant cool climate wines at around 200 smaller vineyards and wineries, many of which have restaurants that offer vineyard or water views. Tasmania is renowned for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Tasmania’s food and wine experiences spring from its pristine water and pure air and the skill of its growers and makers. As well as its stunning wines, it produces famous cheeses, premium beef, honey, and some of Australia's best boutique beers.

Australia’s southern island is widely recognised as the home of premium sparkling wine production in Australia. Its mild summers and long autumn days are similar to the climates of famous European wine regions. Tasmania’s vineyards are sheltered by dolerite-capped mountains. The vineyard soils are formed from ancient sandstones and mudstones and also from more recent river sediments and igneous rocks of volcanic origin.

Tasmania has seven wine growing areas - in the north the Tamar Valley and the North East areas in the north, the East Coast, the North West and the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley and Huon/Channel areas in the south.

The Tamar Valley near the northern city of Launceston is a fertile valley of high yielding vineyards famous for their Chardonnays, Sparklings, aromatic whites and Pinot Noir. Many open welcoming cellar doors for tastings. The valley produces 40 per cent of Tasmania’s premium quality wine.

The South Tasmania region comprises the Derwent, Coal River and Huon Valleys - areas that vary in terrain and experiences.

HISTORY

Tasmania has a long viticultural history with records dating from 1823. Tasmania’s first grapevines produced a wine that was shown at a Paris exhibition in 1848. After this early start, however, the island’s wine production nearly disappeared until the 1950s.

Early European migrants recognised the similarities between the soils and climate of Tasmania and those of the great grape growing regions of their homeland.