Port Arthur Off The Beaten Path

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Located 26ks from Hobart, this is a service town for the surrounding grain, dairy, and sheep farming district. In 1874, the causeway was completed. Its situated on a large expanse of water called the Pittwater, looked good for water sports. There seemed to be a lot of holiday homes near the water.

One good attraction to see, is the Sorell Fruit Farm. November to May is the best time of the year to visit. Lots of different berries are grown in this cooler climate, theres also other fruit and vegees that you can pick yourself. Yummy berry ice-cream is nice, or have a Devonshire afternoon tea at the Cafe. Located at 180 Pawleena road, Sorell.

You will pass through Sorell & Midway Point on your way to Port Arthur.

Buckland is a small town located quite close to Port Arthur.

St John the Baptist Church is a stopping off point because of the history of its East window. We stopped and went inside and had a look, and the stained glass windows are lovely.

The Church was built in 1846, and the East window may have been originally designed for Battle Abbey in England, a church which dates from 1094.
It is thought that when the church was pulled down during the Reformation, it is possible that the window may have found its way out to Australia.
The other story is ...it was sometime in the fourteenth century (some 300 years after the Battle of Hastings) that the window was made.

What ever way you look at it, it is an old window in a church built in the 1800's! I like old graveyards, find them interesting, and there is a good one here.

The cave is tunnel carved through the
rock face by erosion from the Southern Ocean. A walkway of about 100 steps will take you to a viewing platform. It is called Remarkable Cave because at low tide, it looks like a map of Tasmania. I just drew a line on my photo so that you can see what I mean.

Located at the end of Safety Cove Road, it is 12kms south of Port Arthur.

This is a narrow strip of land before you reach Port Arthur. There were constant patrols here, day and night. Eleven dogs were chained at the narrowest part to form a barrier to stop Convicts from escaping. One prisoner tried to escape by hiding under a Kangaroo skin, he had to give himself up, when the guards decided to shoot the roo for meat. How unlucky was he!

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Tasman Arch is located near Remarkable cave. Over the years, waves have eroded the bottom layers and the stronger ones on top are still standing. The Blowhole is also here, when the waves build up pressure, they spurt water through the hole.

Port Arthur is worth the visit, and when you are there pay respect to those who died at the shooting.
Mount wellington is also worth a visit, but bring a sweater because it will be cold up there. You will have a great view of the Hobart casibo, the oldest casino in Australia.
Lune River is also nice, not too much to do if you are not in to outdoors, hiking and all those activities, but it might sound nice if you can say that you have stayed at the most southern hostel in Australia.