Spent our layover day at the Port Arthur Historical site today. Cycled down there for the 9am opening determined to pack in as much of the 100 acre site as we could. This included an introductory walking tour; a boat tour including a stop over at the Isle of the Dead – which bears the graves of some 900 convicts alongside soldiers and their families; and finally the ‘’Escape’ tour- with tales of various escape attempts – well embellished with cannibalism and other equally gory exploits.

The guides were all characters – very knowledgeable and clearly getting a lot of fun out of what they do. The site itself has been well preserved with the ruins of old buildings now enveloped by beautiful gardens.

As you enter you’re given the identity of a convict (on a card) who you can find out about as you go- a really engaging way of learning about the history.

Heading back to Dunalley tomorrow taking the path of least gills (we hope).