Visiting Port Arthur

After a lazy day yesterday, today may need more than one post to fit the photos!

We got up early this morning and left Hobart behind, heading straight for the historic site at Port Arthur, one of the largest penitentiaries from Australia's days as a convict colony. Every Australian who heard we were visiting Tasmania told us we needed to come here!

We managed to have the whole morning with only the occasional light drizzle, which was nice! Even with the clouds and fog, the site itself is lovely. The tour included a walking tour with some information about when the site was used, who was sent there (everyone from hardened criminals to repeat child offenders to political prisoners) and what their lives were like (not so nice, no surprise there). We saw the prisons as they were in various eras (although much has been demolished or burnt down) as well as the homes and gardens of the workers and military.

Finally, we took a harbor cruise that went by a few more sites, including the island graveyard and the island dedicated to a juvenile prison. We saw a whale in the harbor, which was a nice addition. It was an interesting site, and a good place to learn a bit of Australian history.