Day 7 : Port Arthur & Salamanca Market

We left the hostel at 5.40 a.m. We drove all the way out to Port Arthur, 96 km away from Hobart. Along the way, there were many dead kangaroos and wombats lining the road. Poor creatures, being knocked down by vehicles.

We reached there rather early. The historic site only opened at 8.30 a.m. So we first had breakfast at Eucalypt Cafe, situated just at the junction turning in to the Port Arthur Historic Site.

It had a no-nonsense menu. Lol. Don't ask stupid questions, it implied. Maybe he got asked that a lot and got fed up.

 The menu. Look at the top : 

"11 a.m. sharp - breakfast finishes. Don't ask later."

 
I ordered a Latte and had it with my blueberry muffin, purchased from McCafe the day before but did not have the chance to eat. PW and I shared the muffin as we both wanted a light breakfast.

My mug of cafe latte, AUD$4.50

Blueberry Muffin from McCafe, AUD$2.95

Meanwhile, the other two shared a big breakfast meal.

Scrambled eggs on toast, sausages, bacon and grilled tomato.

After breakfast, we went to Port Arthur. We paid AUD$32 per person to go in. Port Arthur is a World Heritage Site. It is an open air museum which gives a glimpse into Australia's convict settlement in the 1800's.The entrance fee provided access to an exhibition at the Visitors' Centre, and also a 20-minute Harbour Cruise.

As we were considered very early, the whole museum was practically empty as we roamed about, snapping photographs of the sprawling ruins. Indeed, it would take a whole day just to explore this place.

 The penitentiary - a landmark of Port Arthur, probably one of the most photographed building (or what is left of it) here at the historic site.

View of Mason Cove from inside the Penitentiary

 The rooftop of the Law Courts and the Cove at the distant

The guard tower

The Officers' Quarters

The Church

I was pretty taken in with the flowers at the Government Gardens. They were so pretty indeed, providing some colour against the drab background.

Before long, we realised that it was time to go for the 20-minute Harbour Cruise. The cruise brought visitors to the Isle of the Dead, a cemetary site for deceased prisoners, officers and their families. But we did not pay for that tour, so we stayed on board and it continued its cruise past Point Puer, a former prison for boys and then back to the dock.

We left right after the cruise and drove back to Hobart, in time to visit the Salamanca Market. Here, the local people market their wares and there was a colourful array of things on sale. There were candy, leatherware, honey, spices, handmade toiletries, and of course lots of food like hot dogs, crepes, wraps and snacks.

 Asian greens

 

 Apples

 

Flowers

 Crepes

We, however, did not purchase anything here. Instead, we walked back to Mures Lower Deck for lunch. Right after lunch, we left for the airport to fly back to Melbourne.