3 Best Sights in Port Arthur and the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania

This property, formerly the grounds of the Port Arthur Penal Settlement, is now a lovely—and quite large—UNESCO World Heritage--listed historical park with a fascinating convict past central to Tasmania's history. Begin at the excellent visitor center, which introduces you to the experience by "sentencing, transporting, and assigning" you before you set foot in the colony. Most of the original buildings were damaged by bushfires in 1895 and 1897, shortly after the settlement was abandoned, but you can still see the beautiful church, round guardhouse, commandant's residence, model prison, hospital, and government cottages.

The old lunatic asylum is now an excellent museum, with a scale model of the Port Arthur settlement, a video history, and a collection of tools, leg irons, and chains. Along with a walking tour of the grounds and entrance to the museum, admission includes a harbor cruise, of which there are eight scheduled daily in summer. There's a separate twice-daily cruise to and tour of the Isle of the Dead, which sits in the middle of the bay. It's estimated that 1,769 convicts and 180 others are buried here, mostly in communal pits. Ghost tours (reservations are essential) leave the visitor center at dusk and last about 90 minutes. Buy your tickets at the site, or at the Brooke Street Pier, at Franklin Wharf in Hobart. There are several dining options on-site, including cafés and the 1830 Restaurant & Bar.

The Three Capes Track, a challenging four-day 46-km (28-mile) trail that's known for its stunning cliff-hugging coastline views, begins and ends at Port Arthur Historic Site.

This "unzoo" offers a four-in-one wildlife nature experience that combines up-close animal encounters, wildlife adventures, a Tasmanian native garden, and original art. It is also the best place to come face-to-face with real live Tasmanian devils. Spot these unique carnivorous marsupials (about the size of a small dog), as well as quolls, boobooks (small, spotted brown owls), masked owls, eagles, and other native fauna. The philosophy of the "unzoo" is to challenge the way native animals are presented to the public; the animals here roam wild, rather than living in traditional captivity.

It's less than a 10-minute drive from the historic former penal colony of Port Arthur to the pristine white sands of beautiful White Beach, a wild, unspoiled, crescent-shape beach often named one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. The breathtaking views from the beach stretch as far as the eye can see across Wedge Bay to Storm Bay and then beyond to the Hartz Mountains. The local trails are worth exploring, not far from the usually deserted 3-km (2-mile) beach, although world-class diving is also available at Eaglehawk Neck and decent surfing at Roaring Beach. White Beach Tourist Park fronts directly onto the beach, and the general area has a number of cafés and restaurants offering excellent local Tasmanian cuisine. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; sunrise; sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.