Port Arthur - Planning a School Visit to the Tasmanian Convict Site

Visiting with Schools

Peg doll making is one of our popular activities for children at the Port Arthur Historic Site

Making peg dolls is another popular pastime in which families can join in as part of Port Arthur's Family Activities program

Planning a School Visit

Give your school students a learning experience they will treasure for life by bringing them to the Port Arthur Historic Site. They will experience first hand the stories of this place, stories that are fundamental to understanding the convict history of Australia.

We offer a choice of guided walks, optional tours and a range of self-guided activities and resources to assist with pre-visit learning, as well as on-site educational activities with our Education Officer at the Site's education centre.

Plan You Visit:

Helpful hints for a successful school visit

Depending on the nature of your visit – study or fun, contact the Education Officer and discuss pre-teaching you may have done so you are able to make the best choices regarding your length of time at the site and the things you will see and do while here. We have many classroom lesson plans and resources which may be obtained for use before or after your visit.

If you have been travelling for a long time, stuck on a bus or in a plane, consider using the two full days to which your ticket entitles you and stay overnight nearby. Our ticketing staff will be able to inform you of accommodation to suit your needs. It is a huge site and there is a lot to see and do. Your visit will be more enjoyable and everyone will get more from the experience by being well rested!

When bringing your own food, please remember we are unable to store it on-site. It is best to leave it in your transport if you can or to order lunch from our cafe.

Remember, the site is HUGE! There is a lot to see and activities in which to become involved and it is a shame to miss anything! Plan your time with us well and don’t forget our Education Officer is only too happy to assist in the planning process!

Contact our Education Officer for more information.

School visit planning resources

We have developed some tools to help you plan a successful school visit to the Port Arthur Historic Sites.

Guidelines for schools planning a visit [PDF 104KB]
The Port Arthur Historic Site is a very large site to cover in a day and to get the most from this unique place we have made a few recommendations to ensure your school has a great experience!
Venue & Safety Information & Code of Conduct [PDF 39KB]
The nature of this historic site dictates that a certain level of behaviour is maintained by all visitors to the site. Schools groups are no exception and in order for your students to gain the most from this unique site while here, we ask you to read our Code of Conduct.