I spent the next day on the Tasman Peninsula. My first stop after hitting the road was only 20 minutes away. It was a series of geological rock formations. They were right past Eagle Hawk neck, the narrowest point of the peninsula at only 90 meters across. The formations were carved by the water over many years. The formations were called Blowhole, Tasman Arch, and Devil’s Kitchen. They were all cool and close by, but nothing special. Afterward, I drove to a more secluded part of Tasman National Park on the peninsula called Fortescue Bay. The road there was bloody bumpy and annoying but after a half
After breakfast, I drove 20 minutes to reach Port Arthur, Australia’s most notorious convict settlement. It was known as one of the most brutal convict settlements, but I personally think Sarah Island was worse. The settlement is an open area where you are free to walk around. There is a free introductory tour and a short harbor cruise. After that, there are plenty of houses and ruins to explore. The most notable place by far was the solitary prison. Prisoners there faced complete solitary isolation and sensory deprivation. Prisoners were kept solitary and there was no noise allowed. Guards were even required to wear felt slippers so their footsteps were never heard. If the prisoners were extremely bad, the prisoners would be placed in a completely dark cell for 3-30 days. The place was pretty cool, but for some reason, it was not what I had expected.
By the time I had finished with Port Arthur, it was 3:30 and I had seen everything. So I went back to my bam to read and take a nap. I had a ghost tour there at 530. Port Arthur is known as one of the most haunted places in the world, and the settlement at night (especially when it is a cold and rainy night like it was) is surprisingly eerie. Our guide was a surprisingly good storyteller as well; as most stories were actually rattling. Two girls actually asked to leave after our first stop. If you go to Port Arthur, you should definitely do a tour. The tour ended at 7 and I drove to Dunalley after. All the food places were closed so I had to settle for a gas station dinner. After I picked up food, I made my way back to the campground I was at yesterday.