2025 Maria Island Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in June)

Sisters! Discover a hidden gem even more off the beaten path than New Zealand! Spend 10 days and 7 nights in Tasmania, savor top-tier seafood, stay at one of the world’s 50 best hotels, and explore the edge of the world... this is the real luxury getaway! ❗【👇Tap below to unlock Tasmania’s hidden experiences】❗ ✨【Must-do in Tasmania】 🦞 Hobart seafood cruise: Harvest fresh oysters, sea urchins, abalone, and crayfish straight from pristine waters, paired with wine, beer, cider, and juice. Enjoy unlimited freshly caught oysters—seafood lovers, rejoice! ✈️ Direct flight to Maria Island: Fly straight from Hobart to Maria Island National Park—no more long journeys. Enjoy light hiking on the island and maybe spot adorable wombat babies and Tasmanian devils~ 🎨 MONA Museum: Take a VIP ferry to explore "Australia’s most rebellious art museum." The dark art exhibits are mind-blowing, and the ferry features an exclusive lounge, bar, and private deck! 🌲 Bonorong private tour: Dive deep into the world’s largest temperate rainforest with expert guides explaining rare flora and fauna. 【💎Exclusive services】 🏨 Stay at The Tasman, one of the world’s 50 best hotels, featuring three buildings from distinctly different eras, while enjoying Tasmania’s gourmet food, fine wine, and natural beauty~ ❗【👇Tap below to unlock Tasmania’s hidden experiences】❗

Emerald bays, wombats lazily rolling on the grasslands, and sandstone cliffs flowing with billions of years of color - welcome to isolated Maria Island! This personally tested clockwise route guide will take you to measure the oldest heartbeat on earth with your footsteps💓 🎫 【Quick fare check】 Adult: $54/person Child: $33/person 🗺️【Golden Road Map】 ⛴️ Ferry Terminal → ❶ Darlington Bay → ❷ Brickfields Valley → ❸ Fossil Cliffs → ❹ Bishop and Clerk Entrance → ❺ Painted Cliffs → ❻ Return to the Terminal Darlington Bay The first area you enter after arriving at Maria Island is through a forest of tall eucalyptus trees with sunlight shining through - welcome to the island's "front lobby". Brickfields Valley Starting from Darlington, we first headed towards this vast grassland, where wild wombats frequently appear! They are chubby and running around in the grassland. Please keep your distance and do not feed them! Fossil Cliffs Heading along the valley towards the sea, you can admire the fossil rock formations and vast sea views, the huge sea cliffs and million-year-old marine fossils, with endless grasslands and blue sky behind them - peaceful and stunning. Bishop and Clerk Peak Hiking challenge! The rocky peaks are steep and spectacular, and the top offers a 360° panoramic view. You need to prepare enough water and physical strength (3 to 5 hours round trip). Painted Cliffs The colorful sandstone texture is like nature's oil painting. Low tide is the best time to view the scenery, which is very visually impactful. 🚢 Return to Darlington and take the ferry to leave the island 🦘【Travel Tips】 1️⃣There are no cars on the island, so you can explore on foot or by bike🚴‍♀️ 2️⃣ No stores, bring your own food and water🥪 3️⃣It is forbidden to feed wild animals🚫, especially wombats

As I walked along the beach, the majesty of the rocky cliffs that suddenly appeared before my eyes took my breath away. Between the layers of rock walls, the traces of time and wind remained intact, and standing in front of that huge wall, I felt anew that I was just a small and quiet being. The cliffs that touched the sea still stood tall and solid even amidst the endless traces of erosion, and the wind blowing over them resonated calmly and deeply, as if telling an old story. It was not a simple natural formation, but a scene that made me realize that the earth was telling an old story, and that I was a part of it. #HawaiiFlightEvent

The wind blew quietly, and the white clouds and blue sky were quietly reflected on the calm sea. When I stood at the end of the dock and looked at Maria Island, it felt like a pure natural island where time flows slowly. The gentle mountain ridges in the distance, the ships swaying in the waves, and the wooden deck road connecting the land and the sea, was a quiet and exciting landscape, like the heart of a traveler ready to leave for somewhere. It was not just a destination, but a secluded gateway where you could encounter nature, and a space where you could stop for a moment and listen to your own breath. #HawaiiFlightEvent

Maria Island was originally planned as a penal colony for British prisoners in the early 19th century, but it was closed after a few years due to the high maintenance costs. Currently, the entire island has been designated as a national park to preserve its natural beauty. So this is an island where you can enjoy historical sites, beautifully colored rock walls, and vast and diverse beaches. Another advantage of this island is that you can easily see wombats everywhere. To get there, you need to go to Tribuana Wharf from Hobart. You can book ferry tickets online. Then, you can take a boat from Tribuana for about 30 minutes and arrive at Darlington, the entrance to Maria Island. The ferry runs 5 times a day, so check the boarding time on the website. And if you want to see the entire island after arriving, you need to rent a bicycle. Since it is relatively large, you will not be able to see the entire island within a certain time by walking. Anyway, Tasmania is a beautiful island, but it was surprising that there was another beautiful island within that island. If you are traveling near Hobart, be sure to stop by Maria Island. #HawaiiFlightEvent

Maria Island is located off the east coast of Tasmania, about a 1.5-hour drive from Hobart, followed by a 30-minute ferry ride. This car-free, shop-free, and undeveloped island is one of Tasmania's most unique travel secrets. The island boasts spectacular natural landscapes such as the Painted Cliffs, Fossil Cliffs, and Bishop and Clerk peaks. It is also a wildlife paradise, home to wombats, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, and a rich birdlife. Additionally, Maria Island was a penal settlement in the 19th century, and the Darlington Historic Site is now a World Heritage site, filled with colonial stories. --- 📍 Main Attractions 1. Darlington Historic Site – World Heritage Maria Island was a penal settlement in the 19th century, and Darlington Village preserves many colonial relics, including convict barracks, a brick kiln, and a commissariat store, offering a deep insight into the lives of the convicts. Recommended spots: ✅ Penal Settlement ✅ Brickworks ✅ Commissariat Store – now a visitor center --- 2. Wombats and Wildlife Paradise 🐾 Maria Island is the best place to see wombats, often found foraging leisurely along the trails and grasslands. The island is also home to other unique Tasmanian animals. Common animals: ✅ Wombats – the most easily spotted animal! We encountered 28 wombats during our island hike! ✅ Kangaroos and Wallabies – commonly seen in grassland areas ✅ Tasmanian Devils – nocturnal and harder to spot during the day ✅ Birdlife – including the Green Rosella, Wedge-tailed Eagle, and Tasmanian Nativehen --- 3. Painted Cliffs – Dreamlike Geological Wonder 🎨 This is Maria Island's most iconic natural wonder. The sea-eroded cliffs, with their unique red, yellow, and brown patterns formed by mineral deposits, look like nature's artwork! 🚶 Walking time: About 30-40 minutes one way (around 3 km round trip) 🌊 Best time to visit: Low tide, to get a close-up view of the rock patterns --- 4. Fossil Cliffs – 300 Million-Year-Old Marine Fossils 🦴 A paradise for geology enthusiasts, the cliffs are covered with 300-million-year-old marine fossils and offer stunning sea views. 🚶 Walking time: About 1 hour round trip (4.5 km) Scenery: Cliffs, sea views, vast grasslands --- 5. Bishop and Clerk – The Island's Highest Peak ⛰️ For those who love a hiking challenge, this trail takes you to the 620-meter summit, offering panoramic views of Maria Island and Tasmania's east coast. ⏳ Round trip time: About 4-5 hours Difficulty: Moderate to difficult (rock scrambling at the end) Scenery: Spectacular sea views, overlooking the Tasman Sea and Freycinet National Park --- 🛥 How to Get to Maria Island? 🚗 Step 1: Drive from Hobart to Triabunna Wharf Driving time: About 1.5 hours from Hobart Parking info: Free parking available at the wharf ⛴️ Step 2: Take the Maria Island Ferry Sailing time: About 30 minutes one way Fare: Around $50 AUD round trip (advance booking recommended) Notes: ✅ No shops or restaurants on the island, bring your own food and water! --- 🎒 Travel Tips ✔ Bring your own food and water (no shops on the island) ✔ Wear windproof and waterproof jackets (weather can be unpredictable) ✔ Wear comfortable hiking shoes (some trails are long) ✔ Bicycles are available for rent on the island, but you must take a class and pass a test before riding due to the island's varied terrain and sandy areas, so ride carefully! ✔ Best travel time: Spring and summer (October to March), when the weather is suitable for outdoor activities ✔ Pay attention to tide times (if you want to see the Painted Cliffs)