Journey through the ruins of Port Arthur by night. Tickets on sale now.

Beyond the stone and darkness, a new light rises.

This winter, step beyond the daylight and into the ruins of the Port Arthur Historic Site by night.

Lumière, the opening night for Lightwave Festival, transforms the historic site after dark - layering light, art, sound and performance across one of Tasmania's most iconic spaces.

Journey through the ruins at your own pace. Follow the glow. Discover what waits along the way.

Join us for an unforgettable opening night experience celebrating the creative culture, flavours and stories of Turrakana/Tasman Peninsula.

AT THE PORT ARTHUR HISTORIC SITE

DETAILS

DATE
Friday 17th July 2026

TIME
6-10pm

TICKETS
$140 general admission
$125 for groups of 4+

LOCATION
The Port Arthur Historic Site

INCLUSIONS
A banquet dinner, light, art, performance.

Mulled wine, cider, and drinks are available for purchase.

Friday 17 July 2026

Please note that seating at the banquet dinner includes high and low stools. Guests with specific seating requirements are encouraged to contact reservations@portarthur.org.au before your visit so appropriate arrangements can be considered. For guests with mobility requirements, we can also provide transport across the site to support your experience of the light, art and performance - please just reach out to us by email beforehand so we can ensure this is available for you.

The banquet dinner location is wheelchair accessible via ramps or elevator.

To experience the light, art, performance and music at Lumiere, you’ll walk 2-4kms across the Port Arthur Historic Site, including our ruins, buildings and grounds.

Dress for the weather - including whatever you need to feel comfortable outdoors. We recommend an umbrella or other wet weather protection in case it rains.

Lumière is a winter event, and will take place even in the event of rain. However, in the case of weather warnings where safety is an issue, we will reach out to guests to let you know as soon as possible.

Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements at checkout. If you need to update your group dietary preferences, reach out to reservations@portarthur.org.au to let us know.

As the event journeys through our ruins and grounds at night and serves alcoholic drinks, Lumière is an adults-only event.

Free parking is available outside the main entrance at the Port Arthur site. Please allow a short walk to the event.

Map your Southern Tassie trip, including accommodation options, with Discover Tasmania, or download their app for a pocket-sized guide to all your off season adventures.
There are plenty of things to do or see during your stay in Turrakana/Tasman Peninsula. Let us take you on a ferry to the Isle of the Dead, enjoy a long lunch at 1830 Restaurant & Bar, or take a lantern and follow our guides into the darkness on a Ghost Tour.

FAQs

The Banquet

The Opening Night banquet experience is a celebration of winter, fire and place – an abundant shared feast designed to bring people together beneath the glow of Lightwave. Showcasing seasonal Tasmanian produce and ingredients sourced from the Tasman Peninsula and across the state, journey through a progressive dining experience featuring roaming canapés, a generous fire-cooked banquet and a relaxed dessert finale. Guided by Head Chef John Churchill and inspired by the connection between food, fire and community, this is an immersive, atmospheric and distinctly Tasmanian feast.

The Art

As night falls across the Port Arthur Historic Site, large-scale immersive light installations by audio-visual artist Alex Moss will transform the landscape around you. "Port Arthur is a deeply conflicting place for me", says Alex. "On one hand (the overwhelmingly heavy hand) it represents many issues I struggle with like authority, colonialism, control, religion, trauma, violence, ignorance and calculated cruelty. On the other (fragile and light weight) hand I can see stories of kindness, friendship and resilience. This layered complexity is set in the dramatic and contrasting landscape of the peninsula with its towering cliffs, wild ocean waves and protected calm bays. Through immersions on site and surrounding areas I experienced and embodied the layered complexity which I’ve tried to translate into projected images, soundscapes and interactive elements. I feel that my response balances the dark unsettling history with the vast natural beauty of the broader area. In short there has been no shortage of inspiration for making art." Alex Moss' installation invites you to experience Port Arthur in a way you've never seen before.

BOOK TICKETS NOW

The Music

Live electronic musician Tim Boh blends rhythmic beats, ambient textures and live performance. Tim’s music brings together energy, emotion and a sense of connection to place, from moments of quiet reflection to sounds that might inspire a dance beneath the stars. This is music that responds to the landscape, the history and the feeling of winter at Port Arthur.