Night only
The ghost tour
Evening walk only
- Length1.5 hours
- WalkAbout 2km
- Age advice14 and over
Cost for your party
The Port Arthur ghost tour: a lantern walk through the ruins
Port Arthur Historic Site Ghost Tour
★ 4.2 · From 197 reviews
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- Ghost tour1.5 hours · for each guest from $25
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View - Coach day from Hobart9 hours · for each guest from $126
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Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
The Port Arthur ghost tour starts once the day visitors have gone. Here are the start times by season, the price, who it suits and how to plan the late drive.
Editorial team, portarthurtour.quest · Updated November 8, 2026 · ~7 min read
Facts at a glance
- What it isA 90-minute, lantern-lit walk through the grounds after the public leaves.1
- WhenWednesday to Sunday, with later starts from October to March.2,3
- PriceThe site charges AUD 35 for an adult and AUD 18 for a child.4
- Age adviceThe site recommends the Ghost Tour for ages 14 and over.5
- DistanceAbout 2km on foot, and not suitable for wheelchairs.6,7
What happens on a lantern-lit night at Port Arthur
The Port Arthur ghost tour begins when the day crowds have gone home. You gather at the historic site after the public leaves and follow a guide with lanterns for 90 minutes through some of the more infamous buildings and ruins, listening to accounts of things that have puzzled and frightened convicts, settlers, soldiers and visitors.1 The ticketing desk in the Visitor Centre is the meeting point.
It is a walking tour first and a ghost story second. The route covers about 2km of the grounds in the dark, and the site keeps it running in most weather.6,8 Umbrellas are not allowed, which means a proper rain jacket, and the buildings are reached through dark, narrow spaces that rule out wheelchairs and anyone with restricted mobility.8,7
Do not expect actors leaping out of doorways. The authority does not dress its staff as convicts and calls Port Arthur a real place with a dark and difficult history rather than a theme park.9 The tension comes from the setting: stone walls without roofs, gravel underfoot, a lantern that lights only the next few steps, and a guide who tells you what was reported in this exact spot.
Start times
Ghost tour departures by season
| Season | Days | Listed departures |
|---|---|---|
| October to March | Wednesday to Sunday2 | 7:00pm, 8:20pm, 9:00pm2 |
| April to September | Wednesday to Sunday3 | 6:00pm, 8:00pm3 |
| Date and time panel | Wednesday to Sunday20 | 7:00pm, 8:15pm, 9:00pm20 |
The official page shows both sets of times; extra tours may be added, so confirm your slot when you book.2,20
Why Port Arthur is called haunted
Why is Port Arthur haunted, in the stories at least? The answer starts with the numbers. The site says more than 1000 people died there in the 47 years it ran as a penal settlement, and that some believe their souls never left.14 By Discover Tasmania's count, roughly 12,500 convicts served their sentences there in the years 1830 to 1877.15
The ghost stories are old. The site traces documented accounts back to 1870, and says many more people have added their own reports of strange events since then.16 Discover Tasmania notes that Port Arthur has been called the most haunted place in Australia, and its evening tour is the official way to hear those tales on the spot where they were told.17
Keep the history in view while you listen. The Isle of the Dead in the harbour holds the graves of over 1,000 people from the convict era, 1833 to 1877, many of them unmarked.18,19 The guides tell their stories with care, and a respectful group gets far more out of the night than one hunting for a fright.
Light and dark
Daylight and weather at Port Arthur by month
- Jan9.0 h
- Feb10.2 h
- Mar11.5 h
- Apr13.0 h
- May14.3 h
- Jun15.0 h
- Jul14.7 h
- Aug13.7 h
- Sep12.3 h
- Oct10.8 h
- Nov9.4 h
- Dec8.7 h
Sunless hours around mid-month and the count of days with 2.5 mm or more of precipitation. NOAA, station Port Arthur (Palmers Lookout), 1991 to 2020.23
Ghost tour times through the year
Ghost tours run from Wednesday to Sunday only, and the times move with the seasons.22 From October to March the site lists departures at 7:00pm, 8:20pm and 9:00pm; from April to September it lists 6:00pm and 8:00pm.2,3 Extra tours can be added on busy evenings, so the exact slots on your date appear when you book.
Read the times with care, because the same official page also shows 7:00pm, 8:15pm and 9:00pm in its date and time panel.20 The difference is small, but it matters if you are timing a drive. Treat the booking page as the final word, and plan to arrive 15-30 minutes early to check in and walk to the start.10
The light changes the mood. At the Palmers Lookout weather station near the site, the sun is up for 15 hours at mid-January and only 9 hours at mid-June.23,23 In summer the first tour can start in fading daylight, while in winter even the earliest walk is fully dark, and the average low in July is 5.9 °C.23
Should you go
Is the ghost tour for you
Answer honestly and see whether the night walk fits your trip.
If I love history and a good story
Book it
It is a 90-minute guided walk with stories told on the spot.1
If I am travelling with a young child
Probably skip it
The site advises ages 14 and over for the Ghost Tour.5
If I use a wheelchair or walk slowly
Choose a daytime tour
The night route is not suitable for restricted mobility.7
If I have no car and no room booked
Rethink the plan
The listing says you make your own way from Hobart.
If I want the ruins without crowds
Book it
It starts after the public has left the grounds.1
Ways to do the night
Night only, or day and night
Two visits
Day ticket and night
Entry plus ghost tour
- Day ticketHarbour cruise
- NightSeparate ticket
- Best withAn overnight stay
No late drive
A night on the peninsula
Stay close by
- Drive savedAbout 1.5 hours
- Car parkOpen to 10:30pm
- Next dayTicket still valid
The Port Arthur ghost tour price and how to book
The Port Arthur ghost tour price on the official site is AUD 35 for an adult and AUD 18 for a child.4 Bought direct, a ticket can be refunded, less a 25% fee, if you give 48 hours notice or more, and not at all within 48 hours.27,28 The GetYourGuide listing starts from $25 with free cancellation up to 24 hours before and the option to reserve now and pay later.
That listing holds 197 reviews averaging 4.2, with 4.4 for the guide and 4.3 for value. That sits below the daytime tours we compare, and a night walk leans heavily on the group, the weather and the guide on the evening. Expect a story walk, not a show, and you are far more likely to enjoy it. Read the newest reviews before you book: they tell you more about recent guides and evenings than an average built up over years.
The evening ticket is its own product. The site says it does not include daytime entry, and the tour listing says a separate site entry ticket is not required for the night.24,29 If you want both, buy a general admission ticket as well: it covers two consecutive days, which pairs neatly with an overnight stay.30
The evening in order
From check-in to the drive home
Before the start
Check in at the desk
Arrive 15-30 minutes early at the Visitor Centre desk.10
Start time
Lanterns are handed out
The guide leads the group through the grounds.1
On the walk
About 2km in the dark
The route covers about 2km of the historic site.6
90 minutes later
Back at the start
The tour runs for about 90 minutes.1
Until 10:30pm
Car park open
The car park stays open until 10:30pm Wednesday to Sunday.11
About 1.5 hours
Drive to Hobart
Is it too scary for children
The site recommends the Ghost Tour for ages 14 and over.5 It adds that the tours are popular with older children but may not suit a child who is very young, very active or prone to nightmares, and that anyone disrupting a tour may be asked to leave.21,31 The official child price exists, so younger teens are not barred, but the call is yours.4 A useful test is how your child handles a scary film or a dark room: if either ends in a sleepless night, the daytime tours are the better plan.
Think about the walking as much as the stories. A 2km route in the dark, on gravel and grass, at the end of a long day, tires small legs fast.6 For families with younger children, the gentler choice is daytime: the Escape from Port Arthur tour covers breakouts and pursuits in daylight, and the site says children enjoy those tales.32
For adults the fear factor is mild. Nobody grabs you, and the tension comes from atmosphere and storytelling. If you are nervous, the group and the lantern are good company, and if you are a sceptic you still get a guided walk through the ruins at an hour when almost nobody else is there. Bring a sense of humour and a willingness to stand still in the cold while a story is told, and the walk works for almost any adult.
Video
On the Port Arthur ghost tour
Tasmanian Wanderlust on YouTube · The clip loads only after you tap play.
Ghost Tours are popular with older children however if your child is very young, very active or susceptible to nightmares, then Ghost Tours may not be suitable.
Before the night
A ghost tour checklist
Book and plan3
Wear and bring3
Getting back to Hobart after dark
The tour listing is clear that you make your own way from Hobart, and the wilderness cruise day tour drops you back in Hobart around 6 pm, so it cannot fit an evening ghost tour. The Pennicott bus back to Hobart leaves Port Arthur at 4.45pm, also well before dark in summer.33 The drive takes about 1.5 hours each way.12 In practice that means driving a hire car back late at night, or staying on the peninsula.
If you drive, take the road seriously. The site warns that most marsupials are active at dawn and dusk and that wildlife is often on the roadside then.13 Most service stations on the peninsula close before 6:00pm, so fill the tank on the way down.25 Mobile service at the site is limited to Telstra and Optus customers.34
Staying overnight is the easier plan. The site notes that a lot of visitors base themselves on the peninsula for more time, the Ghost Tour included, and the car park is open as late as 10:30pm, Wednesday to Sunday.26,11 Our accommodation guide covers the holiday park, cabins and campgrounds a short drive away, and an early night there leaves you fresh for the second day of your ticket.
Making a day and a night of it
A good way to use a ghost tour is as the second half of a full day. A general admission ticket works on two consecutive days, and the site says plenty of people spend the night nearby to fit in the Ghost Tour.30,26 Spend the afternoon on the grounds and the harbour cruise, step out for dinner, then come back for the lantern walk.
Discover Tasmania sketches exactly that kind of plan: dinner at the restaurant of the historic site, then the ghost tour into the dark.35 Check the hours before you count on it, because the 1830 Restaurant & Bar lists lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm daily and takes reservations only.36,37 For an evening meal, the Parks and Wildlife Service notes numerous eating options across the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas.38
The next morning still counts. Discover Tasmania suggests catching early light at Remarkable Cave and walking 4hr return to Crescent Bay, with its high dunes facing Cape Pillar and Tasman Island.39 Your entry ticket is still valid that day, so a last look at the Penitentiary in daylight, after hearing its night stories, closes the visit neatly.30
FAQ
Fast answers to common questions.
How long is the Port Arthur ghost tour?
What time does the ghost tour start?
How much is the Port Arthur ghost tour?
AUD 35 for an adult.
The official price is AUD 35 for an adult and AUD 18 for a child, set by the site itself.4
Does the ghost tour include day entry?
No, it is separate.
The site says a separate site entry ticket is needed for daytime entry.24
What age is the ghost tour for?
14 and over is advised.
The site recommends the Ghost Tour for ages 14 and over, and parents decide.5
Is the ghost tour wheelchair accessible?
No.
Dark, narrow access makes it unsuitable for restricted mobility or wheelchairs.7
Does the ghost tour run in the rain?
Yes, in most weather.
Tours run in most weather, and umbrellas cannot be taken on the walk.8
Can I get to the ghost tour from Hobart by tour bus?
Not on the listing.
The listing says you make your own way from Hobart to the historic site.
Sources
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Travelling with Kids ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Port Arthur ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Port Arthur ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Isle of the Dead Tour ↩
- Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Port Arthur ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- NOAA · Global Summary of the Month, Station Port Arthur (Palmers Lookout) (NOAA GHCN ASN00094157), 1991 to 2020 ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · What is on: guide talks and tours ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Travelling with Kids ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Travelling with Kids ↩
- Pennicott Wilderness Journeys (operator official site) · Port Arthur Bus ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
- Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · 2 days at Port Arthur ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
- Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · 1830 Restaurant & Bar ↩
- Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Tasman National Park ↩
- Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · 2 days at Port Arthur ↩