The 6 Hobart History Tours to Book First

1.Derwent River Historic Harbour Cruise From Hobart

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 570 reviews · from $25Our pick

From Murray Street Pier, cruise Hobart’s Derwent River for one hour on a morning or afternoon trip, or choose a longer lunch or dinner sailing. Your captain points out the Botanical Gardens, Government House, Tasman Bridge, Battery Point, Sandy Bay, and more. Lunch and dinner include food, with dinner also offering one complimentary drink.

“Lovely experience. Excellent service, good food, very accomodating with last minute changes. Would recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Tasman Island Cruises and Port Arthur Historic Site Day Tour from Hobart

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 477 reviews · from $236Top rated

Travel from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula by bus, then take a three-hour Pennicott wilderness cruise past sea cliffs, caves, seals, dolphins, and seabirds. After lunch, spend three hours at Port Arthur Historic Site. Guides such as Paul, Phil, Murray, Daniel, and Alan are praised for safe driving and local insight.

“Great experience seeing the seals and dolphins as well as the spectacular coastline and caves. Beautiful Tasmanian scenery. Highly recommend for all ages.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Tasman Peninsula Tour, Cruise & Port Arthur Historic Site

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 339 reviews · 10h 30m · from $233

Travel from Hobart to the Tasman Peninsula with guides such as Allen or Phil, enjoy morning tea, then take a three-hour Pennicott wilderness cruise past cliffs, caves, seals, dolphins, seabirds, and whales. Finish with lunch and three hours at Port Arthur Historic Site before returning to Hobart.

“The overall trip and cruise was excellent the tour guides were great The only thing that could be added was a tour guide Port Arthur The lunch was great Good value”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Historic Lunch Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 271 reviews · 1h 30m · from $46

Join a 90-minute lunch cruise from Murray Street Pier and see Hobart from the Derwent River. Your captain provides live English commentary as you pass Battery Point, Sandy Bay, Bellerive, Kangaroo Bluff, the Tasman Bridge, Government House, and the Royal Botanic Garden. Choose steak, fish, chicken schnitzel, or a vegetarian patty for lunch.

“The historical tour was well worth doing. The meal was good too. Would highly recommend the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Hobart Historic Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 19 reviews · 1h 30m · from $26

Join a local English-speaking guide for a 90-minute walk from Hobart Travel Centre at 20 Davey Street. You’ll see heritage-listed buildings, old lanes, and waterfront sights while hearing stories of convicts, explorers, settlers, and port life. Guides such as Dianne bring a friendly, clear style to Hobart’s past.

“Dianne was very knowledgeable and easy to hear and understand. Great introduction to the colonization of Hobart.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Cascades Female Factory Historic Site [official]

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 18 reviews · 1 day · from $24Best value

Visit Hobart’s Cascades Female Factory, a World Heritage site linked to thousands of female convicts and their children. Use your own device for the self-guided audio, explore the History and Interpretation Centre, and add either the 45-minute Convict Women’s Tour or the 60-minute Notorious Strumpets storytelling experience.

“It was so informative and such an eye opener to the life of convict women in Australia and the plight of women around the world.”

Check availability →Read our full review