Checklist you can tick

Accommodation in Port Arthur and on the Tasman Peninsula

Summary

Accommodation in Port Arthur ranges from the holiday park's cabins and safari tents to lodge cabins on Stewarts Bay, with camping at Lime Bay or Fortescue Bay.

Stay essentials

  • Studios, cabins, safari tents and campsites at the holiday park3
  • Lime Bay: $18.00 per site per night6
  • Fortescue Bay: $24.00 per site per night7

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An overnight checklist

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For campers
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Accommodation in Port Arthur turns a rushed day trip into two relaxed days with a ghost tour between them. Here are the main bases, the campgrounds and what each costs.

Editorial team, portarthurtour.quest · Updated November 8, 2026 · ~7 min read

Facts at a glance

  • Why stayYour entry ticket covers two consecutive days, and the Ghost Tour runs in the evening.1,2
  • Holiday parkStudios, cabins, safari tents, caravan sites and a bunkhouse near the site.3
  • Lodge cabinsLog cabins of one to three bedrooms on Stewarts Bay.4,5
  • CampingLime Bay costs AUD 18 and Fortescue Bay AUD 24 per site per night.6,7
  • Free campingBoth official campgrounds near Port Arthur in this guide charge a fee.6,7

Why stay overnight instead of driving back

Accommodation in Port Arthur is what turns the visit from a sprint into a proper stay. The site ticket is valid for two consecutive days, and the authority notes that many visitors stay overnight on the peninsula to see more, including the Ghost Tour.8 That evening walk does not fit a coach day, and it sits awkwardly with a late drive back.

The road itself argues for a bed. The drive from Hobart takes about 1.5 hours, most marsupials come out at dawn and dusk, and the peninsula's service stations mostly close before 6:00pm.9,10,11 Staying close removes all three worries and lets you see the coast in the gentle light of early morning and evening. It also spreads the cost of the drive over two full days instead of one long one.

A night also unlocks the morning boats. The Tasman Island cruise checks in by 9.15am for a 10am departure, a time that is hard to make from Hobart without a very early start.12 Discover Tasmania suggests a second morning that begins with early light at Remarkable Cave and a walk of 4hr return to Crescent Bay.13

Where to sleep

Bases near the historic site

PlaceTypeWhereGood to know
Holiday parkCabins, tents, sites3Garden Point Road21Bunkhouse by the bed22
Lodge on Stewarts BayLog cabins46955 Arthur Highway23Nine hectare property5
VillasSelf-catering villas2452 Safety Cove Road25Full kitchens24
Fortescue BayNational park camping2612km unsealed road27AUD 24.00 per site7
Lime BayReserve camping66.5km unpaved road28AUD 18.00 per site6

Camping fees are the official per-site, per-night prices in Australian dollars; confirm rates when you book.7,6

Can you stay at Port Arthur itself?

Can you stay at Port Arthur? Yes, in the small township around the historic site. The site itself is a day attraction whose gates open at 9:00 am, close again at 5:00 pm, and reopen after dark for the Ghost Tour.16,2 The beds are around it and along the Arthur Highway, several of them close to the gate. Book a room before you book anything else in summer, and only then fix the evening tour and the morning boat around it.

The authority describes plenty of choice close by, from convict-era cottages and caravan parks to stargazing tents, beach retreats and spa cabins.17 The Parks and Wildlife Service adds that the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas have numerous places to stay and eat.18 In short, you are not short of options, but in busy months the good ones go early.

Only people registered on the Three Capes Track may use long-stay parking at the historic site, and caravans and large campervans may use the large vehicle area only during business hours and Ghost Tour times.19 Plan to sleep at a park or campground, not in the car park. Walkers heading out on the track can store luggage at the historic site, which is worth knowing if you stay a night before setting off.20

Nights on the peninsula

Daylight and temperatures 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 2020.57

The holiday park on Garden Point Road

The NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park is the all-rounder in town. Discover Tasmania places it on the Tasman Peninsula 1.5 hours by car from Hobart, close to the historic site, and lists studios, one and two bedroom cabins, glamping-style safari tents and grassy caravan and camping sites.32,3 Its address is Garden Point Road, Port Arthur.21

Groups have their own option: the bunkhouse can be booked by the bed or as a whole dorm.22 Shared facilities in the park include a camp kitchen, barbecue areas, a kiosk, free wifi and amenities.29 That mix makes it a practical base for families, campervans and walkers who want a comfortable night before the Three Capes Track.

If you are cooking for yourself, shop before you arrive. The camp kitchen helps, but the peninsula is not a place for late-night supermarket runs, and the nearest groceries to Fortescue Bay, for example, are a 45-minute drive away at Nubeena.29,33 Bring breakfast for the first morning at the very least, and something hot for the evening if you plan to stay out late on the Ghost Tour.

Choose a base

Which stay suits your trip

Pick the line that matches you and see where to look first.

  • If We are a family with a car

    The holiday park

    It has cabins, a camp kitchen, a kiosk and free wifi.3,29

  • If We want a quiet cabin by the water

    The lodge on Stewarts Bay

    It offers log cabins in bushland on Stewarts Bay.4,5

  • If We are camping on a budget

    Lime Bay

    A site costs AUD 18.00 a night for up to 6 people.6

  • If We want beach camping with showers

    Fortescue Bay

    It has two campgrounds and token showers.26,30

  • If We want the coast as much as the ruins

    Eaglehawk Neck

    It is a 1hr drive from Hobart, near the coastal sights.31

Three ways to stay

Park, cabin or campsite

Something for all

The holiday park

Garden Point Road

  • RoomsStudios to cabins
  • AlsoSafari tents, sites
  • GroupsBunkhouse
See this stay

Close to the gate

A cabin on the bay

Stewarts Bay

  • CabinsOne to three bedrooms
  • SettingBushland
  • DriveAbout 90 minutes
See this stay

Lowest cost

A campsite

Lime Bay or Fortescue Bay

  • Lime BayAUD 18.00 a site
  • Fortescue BayAUD 24.00 a site
  • BookingsFortescue only
See this stay

Cabins, lodges and villas near the gate

For a cabin by the water, Stewarts Bay Lodge sits on a property of nine hectares on Stewarts Bay at Port Arthur, about 90 minutes from Hobart.5 Discover Tasmania lists log cabins of one, two or three bedrooms in bushland, and its address is 6955 Arthur Highway.4,23 The Tasman Island Cruises booking centre sits at 6961 Arthur Highway, 100m short of the historic site entrance.39

Amadiya Port Arthur Villas, at 52 Safety Cove Road, offers villas with full kitchens, gardens and shared outdoor spaces.25,24 Self-catering suits a two-day visit: a picnic on the grounds one day, a long dinner the next. The site itself sells picnic packs at AUD 39 for 1 guest and AUD 52 for 2, booked by 2pm the day before.40,41

Wider afield, Eaglehawk Neck is a 1hr drive from Hobart and closer to Tasman Arch, the Devils Kitchen and the Tessellated Pavement.31 It is a good base if the coast matters as much as the convict site, and the morning drive down to Port Arthur is a scenic one. Compare the drive with the evening plan before you book: a ghost tour ends late.

Price the two days

What to book around your stay

Choose your group size and add up the paid parts of a two-day stay.

Weigh up 4 options

What to book around your stay

Choose your group size and add up the paid parts of a two-day stay.

2 people
  1. Entry ticketSelf-drive entry · for each guest from $39

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    View
  2. Ghost tour1.5 hours · for each guest from $25

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    View
  3. Tasman Island cruiseAbout 3 hours · for each guest from $133

    ≈

    View
  4. Our coach day8.5 hours · for each guest from $112

    ≈

    View

Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.

Two days, one ticket

An overnight plan that works

  1. First afternoon

    Grounds and harbour cruise

    Your ticket includes the grounds and a 20-minute cruise.14

  2. First evening

    Ghost tour

    Lantern walks run Wednesday to Sunday after dark.15

  3. Night

    Sleep nearby

    Choose a cabin, a safari tent or a campsite.3

  4. Next morning

    Check in for the cruise

    The morning Tasman Island cruise checks in by 9.15am.12

  5. Or, at first light

    Or Remarkable Cave

    Catch early light at the cave and walk to Crescent Bay.13

  6. Next afternoon

    Back on the grounds

    Your entry ticket is still valid on the second day.1

Camping at Fortescue Bay and Lime Bay

For campers, the Parks and Wildlife Service runs Fortescue Bay inside Tasman National Park. A site costs AUD 24.00 per night for up to 6 people, bookings open 180 days ahead, and the longest stay is 28 days.7,34,42 There are two campgrounds, Banksia and Mill Creek, showers that need a token from the office, and a national parks pass is required to enter.26,30,35

The road in is 12km of unsealed track, suitable for 2WD vehicles, and Mill Creek allows generators until 9pm.27,43 Tasman National Park is a fuel-stove-only area apart from designated fireplaces at Fortescue Bay, and seasonal campfire bans started on reserved land on 26 October 2026, so pack a stove.44,36 Check the fire status again on the morning you travel, because the rules can change at short notice in a dry summer.

Lime Bay State Reserve, near the Coal Mines Historic Site, is cheaper at AUD 18.00 per site per night for up to 6 people.6 It takes no bookings, so arrive early on long weekends, and it has four pump-flush toilets and camp fireplaces.38,45 The last 6.5km is unpaved, pets are banned, and the tank water should be boiled for 3 minutes.28,46,37

Video

Hobart to Port Arthur with an overnight stay

oko_adventures on YouTube · The clip loads only after you tap play.

Numerous accommodation and eating options are available on the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas.
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au)18

Free camping near Port Arthur

Searches for free camping near Port Arthur are common, but the official answer in this guide is short: the two Parks and Wildlife Service campgrounds we checked both charge a fee, AUD 18.00 at Lime Bay and AUD 24.00 at Fortescue Bay.6,7 If you see a free site advertised elsewhere, check it with the Parks and Wildlife Service before you rely on it.

Do not count on the historic site either. Its long-term parking is only for registered Three Capes Track walkers, and large vehicles may park only during business hours and Ghost Tour times.19 Sleeping in a car park there is not part of the plan, and roadside bays are no better choice on narrow peninsula roads.

The good news is that the paid sites are modest in price and in a lovely setting. A site at Lime Bay costs AUD 18.00 for up to 6 people, shared between the whole group, and you wake on a sheltered bay a short drive from the Coal Mines Historic Site, which itself has no entry fee.6,47 Bring your own firewood or, better, a stove, take every scrap of rubbish home, and leave the dog with friends: the reserve does not allow pets.46

Food, fuel and signal for an overnight stay

Plan meals around opening hours. The Visitor Centre's Port Arthur Cafe keeps 9am to 5pm, while lunch at the 1830 Restaurant & Bar runs 11:30am to 2:30pm and needs a reservation.48,49,50 Discover Tasmania suggests the Port Arthur Lavender cafe and a tasting at McHenry Distillery as part of a second day.51

Fill the tank early, since stations on the peninsula mostly shut before 6:00pm, and Fortescue Bay has only limited food at its campground office.11,52 You may also carry your own food and drink onto the historic site, which makes a packed lunch an easy saving.53 A cool bag in the car and a stop at a Hobart supermarket on the way out cover most of what a two-day stay needs.

Phone coverage is patchy. Mobile service at the historic site is available only to Telstra and Optus customers, and can be limited in places, but the site has free Wi-Fi throughout.54,55 Download your tickets, maps and the audio experience before you leave Hobart, and save your accommodation details offline.56 Out on the coastal roads and at the campgrounds, assume you will have no signal at all.

FAQ

Fast answers to common questions.

Can you stay overnight at Port Arthur?
Nearby, not inside the site.

The gates are open 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, and the authority lists plenty of accommodation close by.16,17

Where is the holiday park in Port Arthur?
On Garden Point Road.

The NRMA park is on Garden Point Road at Port Arthur, about 1.5 hours by car from Hobart.21,32

Is there free camping near Port Arthur?
Not at the official campgrounds.

Lime Bay charges AUD 18.00 and Fortescue Bay AUD 24.00 per site per night.6,7

Do I need a parks pass to camp at Fortescue Bay?
Yes.

Tasmania's national parks, Tasman National Park among them, need a valid parks pass for entry.35

Can I book a site at Lime Bay?
No, it is first come.

Lime Bay takes no bookings, so arrive early on long weekends to find a site.38

Is one night enough at Port Arthur?
Usually, yes.

One night covers a ghost tour and a second morning on your two-day ticket.1,2

Can I park a campervan at the historic site?
Only during opening hours.

Large vehicles park during business hours and Ghost Tour times; long-term parking is for Three Capes walkers.19

Where can I buy groceries near Port Arthur?
Plan ahead.

Fortescue Bay's nearest grocery shop is at Nubeena, a 45-minute drive away.33

Sources

  1. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Travelling with Kids ↩
  2. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Ghost Tour ↩
  3. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park ↩
  4. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Stewarts Bay Lodge ↩
  5. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Stewarts Bay Lodge ↩
  6. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Lime Bay State Reserve campgrounds ↩
  7. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  8. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
  9. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
  10. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
  11. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
  12. Pennicott Wilderness Journeys (operator official site) · Tasman Island Cruises ↩
  13. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · 2 days at Port Arthur ↩
  14. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Port Arthur Entry (General Admission) ↩
  15. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
  16. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Port Arthur Entry (General Admission) ↩
  17. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
  18. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Tasman National Park ↩
  19. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
  20. Pennicott Wilderness Journeys (operator official site) · Port Arthur Bus ↩
  21. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park ↩
  22. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park ↩
  23. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Stewarts Bay Lodge ↩
  24. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Amadiya Port Arthur Villas ↩
  25. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Amadiya Port Arthur Villas ↩
  26. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  27. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  28. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Lime Bay State Reserve campgrounds ↩
  29. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park ↩
  30. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  31. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · Guide to Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula ↩
  32. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · NRMA Port Arthur Holiday Park ↩
  33. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  34. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  35. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Tasman National Park ↩
  36. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Tasman National Park ↩
  37. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Lime Bay State Reserve campgrounds ↩
  38. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Lime Bay State Reserve campgrounds ↩
  39. Pennicott Wilderness Journeys (operator official site) · Tasman Island Cruises ↩
  40. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · The Port Arthur Picnic Pack ↩
  41. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · The Port Arthur Picnic Pack ↩
  42. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  43. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Fortescue Bay camping ↩
  44. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Tasman National Park ↩
  45. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Lime Bay State Reserve campgrounds ↩
  46. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Lime Bay State Reserve campgrounds ↩
  47. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
  48. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
  49. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Plan your visit ↩
  50. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · 1830 Restaurant & Bar ↩
  51. Discover Tasmania (Tourism Tasmania) · 2 days at Port Arthur ↩
  52. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au) · Tasman National Park ↩
  53. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Travelling with Kids ↩
  54. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
  55. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · FAQs ↩
  56. Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (portarthur.org.au) · Travelling with Kids ↩
  57. NOAA · Global Summary of the Month, Station Port Arthur (Palmers Lookout) (NOAA GHCN ASN00094157), 1991 to 2020 ↩

Also worth reading

More to read before you go

GuidePort Arthur tickets and entry feeGuidePort Arthur tours from Hobart comparedGuideThe Port Arthur ghost tourGuidePort Arthur harbour cruise and wilderness cruises

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