Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site is situated at Eaglehawk Neck, a beachside community 76 kilometres southeast of Hobart. It once served as a border and played an important role in keeping convicts who were incarcerated in nearby Port Arthur from escaping. Today, Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site tours give visitors a fascinating insight into the Tasman Peninsula’s rich convict history.
The narrow isthmus at Eaglehawk Neck was heavily patrolled by guards who tethered a ‘dog line’ - ferocious dogs spaced at intervals - to alert the soldiers if anyone attempted to make a swim for freedom. A life-size bronze sculpture of one of these vicious dogs can be found at the site, along with the restored 1832 Officers Quarters, believed to be Australia’s oldest remaining military building.
Eaglehawk Neck, an isthmus less than 100 metres wide at one point, is a stretch of land connecting the Tasman Peninsula to the Forestier Peninsula. It was a determining factor in choosing nearby Port Arthur as a prison settlement and ensuring its security.
The Eaglehawk Neck station accommodated an officer and 25 soldiers. There was a storehouse, guardhouse, sentry boxes, barracks, semaphore station, and supplies jetty. The Officers' Quarters is all that remains. It has been partially restored and today serves as a museum and interpretive centre telling the history and stories of life at Eaglehawk Neck.
A bronze sculpture at the Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site serves as a stark reminder of the savage, snarling beasts that made up the dog line barricade. The area is also a popular place for visitors to see striking geological formations such as the Tessellated Pavement, Tasmans Arch, the Blowhole, and Devils Kitchen.
.jpg)
One of the stunning rock formations at Eaglehawk Neck is Tasmans Arch. This natural bridge, carved into the sea cliffs by the powerful Tasman Sea, was named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who played a major role in colonising Tasmania in the early 1800s.
Tasmans Arch can resemble a cave or tunnel, carved out over thousands of years by the pounding waves. You can view this magnificent natural structure from an observation platform offering spectacular views of the coastline.
Devils Kitchen, just 150 metres away is a rugged, 60-metre-deep cleft that takes its name from the likeness to a cauldron formed by the Great Southern Ocean swells crashing and swirling around the base of its cliffs. What started as a cave, has been eroded over thousands of years to create a stunning formation of dramatic beauty.
Both Tasmans Arch and Devils Kitchen are well worth a look when visiting nearby Eaglehawk Neck Historic Site.
Eaglehawk Neck is a small seaside community in southeast Tasmania, approximately an hour from Hobart.
The name Eaglehawk Neck comes from the Eaglehawks which inhabit the area, and the geographical feature of the narrow strip of land known as 'a neck.'
The area is known by the local First Nation people as Terra Linna.
The infamous ‘Dog Line’ stretched from Pirates Bay across the isthmus and deep into Eaglehawk Bay.
This imposing beast can be found along a winding path near the local Community Hall.
Our team is always happy to help if you have any questions about us or our tours. Fill out our form and we will get back to you soon.
.png)
We are a Green Travel Leader. This is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over ten years.
As a Sustianable Tourism accredited business, we are proud to offer engaging tourism experiences that follow sound sustainability practices and environmental appreciation.
Quality Tourism accredited businesses like Fun Over 50 lead the way by offering the highest industry standards of customer service, satisfaction, reliability, and ethical practices.
We are committed to operating in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the authenticity and integrity of living cultures of Indigenous communities.
We have incorporated strategic climate change responses across all relevant levels of our planning and operations. We are working towards becoming carbon neutral.
With Advanced Ecotourism certification, we offer outstanding experiences which let you get back to nature, help conservation, and minimise environmental impact.
We are a credible, well trained, and professional business. We conduct business in compliance with Australian Consumer Law and in accordance with ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators represents tour operators and wholesalers. As a full CATO member, we provide authentic and original holidays with sustainable travel.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.
Powered by EngineRoom
Fill out your details and we will get in touch with you to reserve your place on the tour.
We roll out the red carpet so you can just sit back and relax and know that everything is included in your holiday experience, no surprises, all inclusive!
More on tour inclusions
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
%20(1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)