Welcome to Hobart, a city of yachts and spinnakers, gardens and galleries, sandstone cottages and stately Georgian homes, a city built on the pain and toil of yesteryear English convicts.

Your tour begins as you join an experienced and knowledgeable local driver guide, who will share tales of life in Hobart. Pass through Salamanca Place with its restored sandstone warehouses, now repurposed as cafes, galleries and shops. Continue then through Battery Point, an area filled with historic quaint cottages, Georgian mansions and cafes.

Proceed on through the suburb of South Hobart to the Cascade Gardens at the foot of the historic Cascade Brewery building. View the outside of this unique example of early architecture in a lovely garden setting. Your next stop at the ruins of the Female Factory, a one-time prison for female convicts and mentioned in Bryce Courtenay’s novel, “The Potato Factory.”

Your journey returns to the city streets before heading across the Tasman Bridge, which spans the Derwent River and stops at Rosny Park Lookout. Views of Hobart from the Eastern Shore with Mount Wellington as a backdrop make for a great photo opportunity. The next stop will allow you free time to explore the exquisite Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, before returning to the Hobart waterfront and your ship.

This excursion is rich in visual history and will teach you about Tasmania’s convict heritage. The day will give you a compelling and dramatic insight into Tasmania’s convict past and early settlement. Interpretive and interactive presentations at the Port Arthur site help bring to reality the harrowing life of the convicts sent to Van Diemen’s Land.

The journey into this fascinating part of history and heritage begins when you meet your knowledgeable driver guide and board your vehicle to head out across the Tasman Bridge and onto the Coal River Valley, which is a renowned area known for its production of wine and surrounds the historic town of Richmond. You’ll have the opportunity to drive through this quaint town and make a short picture stop at the famous Richmond Bridge. Passing through suburbs and towns bordering on picturesque bays and inlets, you will head onto the Forestier Peninsula, home to pristine Pirates Bay and Eaglehawk Neck. You’ll make a stop at Pirates Bay to admire the wonderful views, rugged coastline, and striking rock formations.

Play “The Lottery of Life” at the interpretation center at Port Arthur, and follow the life of a convict. Take a guided walking tour of the site, with access to over 30 restored buildings and ruins. See the penitentiary (once a granary and flour mill), a separate prison, the Commandant’s house, the church, and more. Your experience includes a harbor cruise around the Isle of the Dead on Carnarvon Bay, the burial place for those who died while in Port Arthur.

Sitting tranquilly amongst English oaks and gardens, Port Arthur is a harsh contrast to the beauty of the Tasman Peninsula. At the end of the tour you will be dropped dockside in Hobart with memories and a personal insight into Tasmania’s settlement and their convict ancestors.

This excursion will provide you with an insight into the city of Hobart and its lifestyle, the history of Richmond village, and some unique and unforgettable wildlife experiences.

The day starts when you meet your local and experienced driver-guide and board your vehicle to see some of the highlights of Hobart City. Hear some of the histories of Hobart’s beginnings before heading north through the suburbs towards Bonorong Wildlife Park. Here you can wander amongst the wildlife and get up close to the resident wallabies and kangaroos. See the Tasmanian devils being fed and learn about the habits of these native animals.

Your next stop is Richmond, one of Australia’s most unique and historic towns, dating back to the 1820s. Arriving in this quaint township, you will cross the Coal River on the historic Richmond Bridge, the oldest convict-built road bridge in Australia. It is a beautiful setting, overlooked by the oldest operating Australian Catholic Church. You will also have an opportunity to wander along the riverside and see the local ducks.

Step back in time and enjoy some free time to explore the village, a mixture of convict-built homes, classic Georgian mansions, small cottages, unique shops, galleries, and restaurants. Visit the Richmond Gaol, chat to a local, or simply enjoy the cozy ambiance of the many coffee shops and restaurants.

Your native animal experience and historical tour of Hobart and Richmond Village will come to an end as you are dropped dockside at the end of the day.