Tasman Peninsula

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The Tasman Peninsula is located east of Hobart, at the south east corner of Tasmania, Australia.The location of the Port Arthur Historic Site and a popular holiday destination.

The peninsula is joined to another peninsula, the Forestier Peninsula, by an isthmus called Eaglehawk Neck, around 75 km by road from Hobart. This in turn is joined to the rest of Tasmania by an isthmus called East Bay Neck, near the town of Dunalley (which itself is about 60 km by road from Hobart).

Although the area is named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, The aboriginal inhabitants of this area pre European arrival were the pyder-remer people. Their territory was what is now known as the Tasman and Forestier peninsulas. The pyder-remer people where a part of the larger oyster bay tribe whose territory covered a large area of the east coast of Tasmania.

The area was later settled by the British, who located a penal colony at Port Arthur. At the time, Eaglehawk Neck was lined with guards and guard dogs, to prevent the escape of any convicts. The free Saltwater River, Tasmania historic site is located on the west of the peninsula.

The penal settlement of Port Arthur is now a tourist attraction, as in most of the state, tourism is a major industry. Many smaller towns are also located on the Tasman Peninsula, the largest of which are Nubeena and Koonya. The local government area is the Tasman municipality and the major route to Hobart is the Arthur Highway.The population is around 2000, which rises to around 6000 in summer months.

The Tasman Peninsula is famous for its rugged eastern coastline, and much of it is now the Tasman National Park. At Eaglehawk Neck are many strange rock formations, including Remarkable Caves, Tasman Arch and the Tessellated Pavement. Further south are the highest sea cliffs in the southern hemisphere, rising 300 m above the Tasman Sea at Cape Hauy. The peninsula also has one of australias best surf spots at Cape Roaul and Roaring Beach.