Region
Tasman and South East
Base in Sorell or Port Arthur for 2 nights; drive the Arthur Highway loop — no buses, no taxis.
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Key facts · Australia
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD, A$)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- I · 230 V
- Time zone
- UTC+10 east
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
This is the peninsula east of Hobart: the convict site at Port Arthur, the dog-line at Eaglehawk Neck, sea cliffs and arches, and a string of sheltered beaches at Dodges Ferry, Lewisham and Primrose Sands. It is two sparsely populated areas — turrakana / Tasman Peninsula and the South East around Sorell — joined by one road, the Arthur Highway (A9). Almost everyone sees it as a day trip from Hobart or as one overnight near Port Arthur. Without a car you cannot do it properly.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- SorellCity guide
Only supermarkets in the region; junction of the Tasman (A3) and Arthur (A9) highways.
Best Oct–Apr
JFMAMJJASOND - Port ArthurCity guide
Sleep here to start the historic site at opening; village of about 500.
Best Nov–Apr
JFMAMJJASOND
Day trip
- Eaglehawk NeckCity guide
The narrow neck; museum, Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen.
Best Nov–Apr
JFMAMJJASOND - TarannaCity guide
Small stop on the A9 between Eaglehawk Neck and Port Arthur.
Best Nov–Apr
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 1 nights
- Hobart → Port Arthur site in the afternoon → sleep Port Arthur or Sorell
- 2 nights
- Day 1 Port Arthur + Coal Mines; Day 2 Eaglehawk Neck lookouts and Southern Beaches, back to Hobart
- 3 nights
- Add a slow beach day at Dodges Ferry / Primrose Sands and a Nubeena loop
- Port Arthur + Eaglehawk Neck + the Coal Mines + the Southern Beaches in one day is four stops and a lot of driving on one road.
- Mobile coverage is patchy outside the townships; download offline maps before you leave Hobart.
- The 2013 fires destroyed much of Dunalley; fire risk is real in summer — check alerts.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Arthur | Hobart | 90 min | unknown | About 100 km (62 mi) each way on the A3 then A9; allow a full day, or sleep over.About 62 mi (100 km) each way on the A3 then A9; allow a full day, or sleep over. |
| Eaglehawk Neck | Hobart | 60 min | unknown | Lookouts and the Tessellated Pavement are short walks off the highway. |
| Coal Mines Historic Site | Port Arthur | 20 min | unknown | Saltwater River, end of Coal Mine Road; free entry, far quieter than Port Arthur. |
| Dodges Ferry / Primrose Sands | Sorell | 20 min | unknown | Sheltered beaches; the Southern Beaches micro-region. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding here; you are driving, so bags stay in the car.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorell | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | go | go | go |
| Port Arthur | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go |
| Nubeena | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go |
| Eaglehawk Neck | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go |
| Taranna | go | go | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go |
| Australia (country-wide) | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tasman Peninsula and South EastEast of Hobart, both sides of the A9 | best | best | ok | ok | cool | cool | cool | cool | ok | ok | best | best |
- Tasman Peninsula and South East
- Mild and drier than Hobart; beaches are usable in summer but the Tasman Sea stays cold. Bushfire risk peaks in summer — December to February — and the region burned badly in 2013.
Summer (Dec–Feb) is beach weather and also the fire season; autumn (Mar–Apr) and spring (Oct–Nov) give the same sights with fewer people.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Sorell | Tasman Highway (A3) by car | ~30 min | Sorell is the gateway and the last full supermarket stop. |
| Hobart | Port Arthur | A3 then Arthur Highway (A9) | ~90 min | About 100 km (62 mi); the A9 runs the length of the region to Nubeena.About 62 mi (100 km); the A9 runs the length of the region to Nubeena. |
| Hobart International Airport (HBA) | Sorell | Car via Cambridge | ~20 min | The airport at Cambridge is close to the region; pick up a rental car there. |
| Orford / East Coast | Sorell | Smaller, less-travelled roads | check | Links the region to the east-coast holiday town; check road conditions. |
Regional passes
Port Arthur Historic Site ticket
buyThe region's main paid attraction and one of the 11 Australian Convict Sites; buy online and arrive at opening. Check current prices.
Coal Mines Historic Site
buyFree entry, open-air ruins and information boards at Saltwater River; worth the detour from Port Arthur.
Eaglehawk Neck lookouts (Tessellated Pavement, Tasman Arch, Devil's Kitchen)
buyFree roadside stops off the A9; short walks, no ticket.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Scallop pies | Dodges Ferry: Richmond Bakery, 50 Carlton Beach Rd | A local favourite; the name is confusing — the bakery is in Dodges Ferry, not Richmond. |
| Pies and fish and chips | Dunalley Bakery, 168 Arthur Highway | Rebuilt after the 2013 fire; the pies are the draw. |
| Seafood and counter meals | Dunalley Hotel, 210 Arthur Highway (A9) | Victorian hotel built in 1892; now a seafood restaurant. |
| Seafood with water views | The Cannery, 4 Imlay St, Dunalley | In the former fish-canning wharf building; Wednesday to Saturday, closes early Sunday. |
| Cafe breakfast and lunch | Park Beach Cafe, 2 Payeena St, Dodges Ferry | Small beachside cafe; Thursday to Saturday only, mornings to early afternoon. |
Go next
Southern Tasmania
plannedBack along the A3 to Hobart, ~30 min from Sorell
The parent region; Hobart is the base for this peninsula.
Huon and Far South
plannedVia Hobart, or the channel roads south
The other southern day-trip region from Hobart.
Greater Hobart
plannedA3 west, ~30 min to the city edge
Airport, MONA and the city itself.
Derwent Valley
plannedVia Hobart, north-west
Inland alternative if the coast is wet.
Tasmania
Statewide loop via Hobart or Launceston
Plan the rest of the island from here.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 4, 20 min to 1 h 30
- Nights suggested
- 1–3 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Ask about Tasman and South East
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