Maria Island Walk - Location Information
MARIA ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
A World Heritage Area and National Park, Maria Island lies 10km off the east coast of Tasmania, a little over an hour from Hobart.
The island has a Mediterranean-style climate and a varied landscape that includes rugged coastline, untouched beaches, striking mountains, 15 forest communities and diverse geology. As a national park, it is home to wallabies, wombats, kangaroos, fairy penguins, the world’s second rarest goose - the Cape Barren goose - and several other rare and unusual bird species, including 11 of the 12 endemic Tasmanian species. The surrounding waters harbour diverse marine life such as dolphins that chase baitfish through Mercury Passage and whales on their migration path to the Antarctic. The island is 11,550 hectares and is 19.3 km long and 13 km wide.
THE WALK
It is a gentle, 4 day unforgettable journey for 8 guests and 2 friendly and experienced guides, spending 2 nights in exclusive wilderness camps and the final night in the beautifully restored Bernacchi House in the recently listed World Heritage convict settlement of Darlington.
Our itinerary is unique in that we start at the south of the island and finish in the north, with no backtracking. This very unique experience affords us time to enjoy remote and seldom visited parts of the island not far from our wilderness camps.
FOOD
Our meals are delicious and fresh, showcasing Tasmania's world famous produce and seafood. Every evening enjoy dinners in a bush setting under the stars. All meals, including three-course candlelit dinners, are prepared and served by your expert guides and made with an emphasis on fresh, local produce, complimented by fine Tasmanian wines and beer.
ACCOMMODATION
We are the only operator on the island with permanent wilderness camps. These stunning camps are just moments away from empty, white sand beaches and are private and discreet. Our guests enjoy twin share cabins with polished wooden floors connected by boardwalks to the main dining/kitchen cabin where we prepare and enjoy elaborate candlelit dinners, a highlight for many of our guests.
In Darlington we accommodate our guests in private accommodation in a lovely heritage listed house. This ensures our guests have a pampered and well-rounded experience; after two nights in the wilderness, in Darlington they can enjoy hot showers, fresh linen in comfortable accommodations and a library replete with books on the island and Tasmania.
THE BEAUTY
'Inspiring', 'magnificent', 'spectacular' and 'breathtaking' ... just some of the words used to describe Maria Island by those people fortunate enough to have experienced it.
THE WILDLIFE
The wildlife is spectacular on Maria island. It is a sanctuary and natural habitat for some species you won't see anywhere else in the world including the endangered Forty-spotted Pardalotes, rare Cape Barren geese and eagles. The waters around Maria Island are also protected marine reserves abundant with sea life including dolphins, seals, migrating whales and crayfish.
THE HISTORY
Maria Island is an island rich in history. From the Tyreddeme Aboriginal people who lived there for thousands of years to the arrival of great European explorers. The island was also home to convicts at the outpost built at Point Lesueur and it also enjoyed the industrial boom days of the 19th and 20th centuries. Evidence of these early days can still be seen.
In 2010 the convict probation station at Darlington was granted World Heritage status.
