Port Arthur

Port Arthur Hospital

The second prison

Port Arthur

Port Arthur Church...spooky.....

Before heading over to Tasmania we knew Port Arthur was a definate place to visit. Convicts, haunted houses and dangerous tales of inmates! We hired a car for the day and set of early doors from Hobart, along the beautiful coastline of southern Tasmania. Crossing Eagle Neck, the only little strip of land now connecting us to the mainland - we were now in prime convict territory! We purhased our tickets which included an introductory guide, boat trip and ghost tour for when the sun set and the full moon rose above the dilapitadated church...

The site was really beautiful in a wierd way. You really felt like this place had a lot of dark secrets especially when walking around the main prison and govenors residence. The second prison - the revoluntionary site where solitary confinement was realised had an even spookier atmosphere. After locking overselves in one of the cells and turning the lights off, we really got a feel of what it was like - it would drive you insane, which is why the asylum was located right next door...

After a 20 minute boat ride to take us out and around the port we headed further our and admired the other natural coastal features.

We arrived back around 9pm, dark, cold and ready to feel the presence...the tour took us around the disection and post-mortem table located under the hospital (remember only by candle-light!) and into a few houses that have had several sightings of a wondering little girl! We ended the evening back at the second prison to experience the true silence of this place but with a cold chill blowing through - crreeeepy!

We left the site with mixed feelings - had we taken anything out with us that we didn't go in with!!!??! We manged to dodge a few kangaroos (just) on the way back to our hostel and looked forward to our first double bed in a shared dorm!