Page 12 - 4WD Touring Tasmania

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A A A A A TrAveller’s TAle: THe TAsMAN PeNINsUlA
Port Arthur is is probably Australia’s most significant historic site its beautiful old ruins stand as a a a a a a a a a a a sad testament to to to the suffering of so so many convicts transported to to Australia – some for paltry crimes such as as stealing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a pair of of shoes It sits on the the the end of of the the the the Tasman Peninsula and there are several scenic spots to to stop at along the the the way Just before you cross Eaglehawk Neck linking the the the Forestier Peninsula Peninsula with the the the Tasman Peninsula Peninsula is is a a a a a a a a a small historic building: the the the guardhouse set up to to to stop runaway convicts from Port Arthur Any convict convict who might have made it this far through the dense bushland
had to face a a a a a a a a a a gauntlet of armed soldiers and and vicious dogs known as the ‘dog line’ A short visit here will become more more meaningful once you have been to to Port Arthur and learned a a a a a a bit more more about convict history Scenery wise there is is the the Tasman Blowhole: a a a a a a a a rocky inlet worn smooth by ocean swells roaring through a a a a a a a a a a a a a a narrow tunnel The Tasman Arch is a a a a a a a a a a a a a massive natural stone stone archway that looks looks as as if it it it were built up on on on on stone stone blocks The Devil’s Kitchen looks looks neither demonic nor culinary but never mind – it it it it is nonetheless stunning for its rocky ruggedness That evening we visited Port Arthur to to to to get some night‐time photos and and to to to to take a a a a a a ghost tour Only the the the the church is is lit up at at night night and and there is is a a a a a a a a a spotlight on the the the the the old hospital Other than that it it it is is is is dark dark Very dark! The ghost tour guide gathered his wards together and we all set off with lanterns
to to experience the the the unexplained paranormal occurrences at Port Arthur Standing in in in the the church we learned of a a a a a a a a a a gruesome murder where one inmate inmate hacked another inmate inmate to death death with an an axe as part of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a death death pact in in in which desperate prisoners drew straws to see who would murder the the the the the other thereby releasing the the the the the victim through through homicide and the the the the the murderer through through hanging Suicide was not an an an option as as it condemned one’s immortal soul to hell Further on on at at the the the vicar’s house we we learned of a a a a a minister who who showed little sympathy to to the the the the prisoners and who who continued to to haunt the the the grounds many years after his death There was the the bursar’s house still haunted by by a a a a a a a a a a woman who lost a a a a a a a a a a baby in childbirth There There was was the the surgeon’s house where underground dissections on on on on on cadavers took place There There was was the the solitary prison where men were condemned to to utter silence and the the essence of desolation still lingers in in in the the the brick walls Our guide was excellent scaring us all all profoundly with unexpected bumps in in the the night Gravestones on on the the Isle of the the Dead