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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Port Arthur & the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania
Port Arthur Lavender opens daily year-round on Long Bay, minutes from the Port Arthur Historic Site and the 115 steps down to Remarkable Cave.
6 places · updated October 17, 2026
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The Tasman Peninsula hangs off Tasmania's south-east coast, about 90 minutes' drive from Hobart, joined to the mainland by the narrow isthmus at Eaglehawk Neck. Convict history is everywhere: there's the former penal settlement at Port Arthur, the 1832 Officers' Quarters at the Neck, and the Coal Mines at Saltwater River, which were World Heritage-listed in 2010 as part of the Australian Convict Sites. Tasman National Park lines the coast with sea caves, arches and cliffs, and its tracks lead out to Cape Hauy. Seasons are reversed from the north: summer runs December to February.
Port Arthur Lavender sits beside Long Bay at 6555 Arthur Highway, on the way into Port Arthur. It is open every day except Christmas Day, 10 to 4 (from 9 between January and Easter). A lavender trail crosses the seven-hectare property, and there is a working oil distillery and a café looking over the water. Because it opens all year, it suits a winter trip as well as a summer one. Ask the farm when the rows are in flower if you want to see them in bloom.
The lavender farms
- Port Arthur LavenderLavender farm · Port Arthur
Open daily with a free self-guided trail, seasonal distillation viewing, café and shop; private functions by booking.
Best time to visit
Port Arthur Lavender is open daily year-round and opens an hour earlier, at 9 a.m., from January to Easter. The farm doesn't publish a bloom date, so call ahead if flowering rows matter to you. Summer (December to February) gives the longest days for the 9.4 km Cape Hauy walk and for swimming and snorkeling at Fortescue Bay. The Tasmans Arch and Devils Kitchen visitor site was closed from April 15 to October 17, 2026 for works, so check it has reopened before a spring visit. Waterfall Bay's falls are best after rain. McHenry Distillery holds fireside tastings in winter (June to August), and the Port Arthur Historic Site opens every day except Christmas Day. Fortescue Bay's campground switches to a flat A$24 a site per night from November 3, 2026.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Port Arthur Historic Site🏛️ Historic site · Port Arthur · about 1 mi, 5 min drive
The former convict settlement. General admission includes the Point Puer exhibition about the boys' prison, and paid extras include 45- to 90-minute guided tours, a ferry and tour to the Isle of the Dead, and a lantern-lit ghost tour after dark (Wednesday to Sunday).
Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Christmas Day
General admission A$55 adult, A$27.50 child, A$44 concession (as posted October 2026)
- Remarkable Cave🌉 Landmark · Port Arthur · about 4 mi, 10 min drive
From the car park on Safety Cove Road, 115 steps lead down to a platform facing a tunnel-shaped sea cave in the sandstone cliffs (about 15 minutes return). At some times of year waves surge through the tunnel. The Maingon Bay Lookout above is wheelchair accessible.
Tasmanian parks pass required (daily vehicle pass A$49.15, as posted October 2026)
- Maingon Blowhole Walk🥾 Trail · Port Arthur · about 4 mi, 10 min drive
A Grade 2 walk, 3.3 km return (about 1 hour), through dunes and white and blue gums, with views across Basket Bay to Cape Raoul. At the end, sea mist rises from the blowhole. Keep children close because of an unfenced shaft.
Tasmanian parks pass required
- Coal Mines Historic Site🏛️ Historic site · Saltwater River · about 19 mi, 25 min drive
Tasmania's first operational mine, part of the World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. Walks link the settlement ruins, the mineshaft and Plunkett Point (50 minutes to 2 hours return), and 300 m of track is wheelchair accessible. There are no shelters on site.
Open daily
free
- Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site🏛️ Historic site · Eaglehawk Neck · about 13 mi, 20 min drive
The 1832 Officers' Quarters, believed to be Australia's oldest military building, stands by the isthmus where a line of tethered dogs once guarded against escaping convicts. You can walk through the rooms, and bronze sculptures mark the Dog Line.
No parks pass needed (outside the national park)
- Tasmans Arch, Devils Kitchen and Waterfall Bay🌉 Landmark · Eaglehawk Neck · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
Short, wide, flat tracks from the car park reach the arch and the Devils Kitchen chasm at the end of Blowhole Road. The Grade 3 Waterfall Bay walk (3.4 km return, 1 to 1.5 hours) ends at a lookout where a waterfall drops off sheer cliffs into the sea, best after rain. The visitor site was closed April 15 to October 17, 2026 for works.
Tasmanian parks pass required
- Fortescue Bay🏖️ Beach · Tasman National Park · about 15 mi, 35 min drive
A wide white-sand beach for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking at the end of a 12 km gravel road that 2WD cars can manage. The day-use area has a shelter with gas barbecues, and the parks pass machine in the car park takes cards only.
Tasmanian parks pass required
- Cape Hauy Track🥾 Trail · Fortescue Bay · about 15 mi, 35 min drive
A Grade 3 walk, 9.4 km return (about 4 hours), from Fortescue Bay. It goes down a steep set of stone steps, then climbs out to a cape where dolerite columns drop straight into the sea.
Tasmanian parks pass required
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- McHenry DistilleryDistillery (21+) · Port Arthur
Family distillery on the hillside above Port Arthur making whisky and gin with spring water, with tours at noon and 2 p.m.
- Stewarts Bay Lodge & On the Bay RestaurantInn or B&B · Port Arthur
Cabins on a quiet bay within walking distance of the historic site, with a waterfront restaurant open Tuesday to Saturday.
- Lufra Café & BistroRestaurant · Eaglehawk Neck
Hotel bistro above Pirates Bay serving Tasmanian seafood, with lunch daily from 12 to 2:30 and a kids' menu.
- Cubed Espresso BarCafé or coffee shop · Eaglehawk Neck
Espresso bar in a restored 1957 caravan at the Pirates Bay lookout, open Thursday to Monday and daily in school holidays.
- Bangor Vineyard ShedWinery or vineyard (21+) · Dunalley
Farm cellar door at Dunalley on the drive in from Hobart, pouring cool-climate pinot noir and riesling with oysters, daily 10 to 5.
A one-day plan
- 9:45 AMCubed Espresso Bar
Coffee with the view over Pirates Bay; about 20 minutes.
- 10:15 AMEaglehawk Neck Historic Site · about 5 min drive
Walk through the Officers' Quarters and down to the Dog Line sculptures; about 30 minutes.
- 11:00 AMTasmans Arch, Devils Kitchen and Waterfall Bay · about 10 min drive
See the arch and chasm, or walk to the Waterfall Bay lookout if you have the time; about 1 hour.
- 12:15 PMLufra Cafe and Bistro · about 10 min drive
Seafood lunch above Pirates Bay; about 1 hour.
- 1:35 PMPort Arthur Lavender · about 20 min drive
Walk the lavender trail, see the distillery and browse the shop; about 45 minutes.
- 2:25 PMPort Arthur Historic Site · about 5 min drive
Explore the grounds on general admission, and add the 45-minute Essentials Tour at 3:45 p.m. if you like; about 2 hours.
- 4:40 PMRemarkable Cave · about 10 min drive
Take the 115 steps down to the cave platform; about 30 minutes.
- 5:30 PMStewarts Bay Lodge & On the Bay Restaurant · about 10 min drive
Dinner by the bay, booked ahead (Tuesday to Saturday, from 5:30 p.m.).
Tips
- Buy a Tasmanian parks pass before you go (A$49.15 daily vehicle pass or A$98.35 two-month holiday pass, as posted October 2026). You need it for Remarkable Cave, Tasmans Arch, Fortescue Bay and Cape Hauy, but not for the Officers' Quarters at Eaglehawk Neck.
- For the itinerary above, go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday: Cubed opens Thursday to Monday, and Stewarts Bay Lodge serves dinner Tuesday to Saturday (its restaurant closes over August).
- The road to Fortescue Bay is 12 km of gravel, so keep left on blind corners. The nearest groceries are about 45 minutes away in Nubeena, so bring food and water for long walks.
- Port Arthur's Wheel of Fate tour must be booked at least 7 days ahead. The evening ghost tour doesn't need a day ticket.
- Pack a raincoat and sun protection for the Coal Mines site, which has no shelters. If you stop for tastings at McHenry or Bangor, plan a designated driver.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
Is Port Arthur Lavender open in winter?
Yes. It opens every day except Christmas Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 9 a.m. between January and Easter.
Do I need a parks pass on the Tasman Peninsula?
Yes, for Tasman National Park sites such as Remarkable Cave, Tasmans Arch, Devils Kitchen and Fortescue Bay. The Officers' Quarters at Eaglehawk Neck are outside the park, and entry to the Coal Mines Historic Site is free.
How much does the Port Arthur Historic Site cost?
As posted in October 2026, general admission is A$55 for adults, A$27.50 for children and A$44 concession. Guided tours and the Isle of the Dead ferry cost more and include admission.
How far is Port Arthur from Hobart?
About 90 minutes on sealed roads, via Sorell and the Arthur Highway.
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