Maria Island Tasmania
Take a walk on the wild sideThe Ultimate Guide to Visiting Magical Maria Island 🦘
Is Maria Island worth visiting?
Maria Island is brilliant! Our second favourite destination in the whole of Tassie (after Cradle Mt)!
Here, you’ll find out exactly why we love it, how to get there, what to do and where to stay on Maria Island, and how much it will all cost!
So lets get oriented.
Maria (pronounced Mar-rye-ah) Island covers around 115 square kilometres, making it a great size for a couple of days of exploration. It sits off Tasmania’s south east coast, accessible by ferry from the town of Triabunna. Triabunna is 60km northeast of Hobart.
Maria Island’s weather is mild and temperate in summer (in Tassie terms) averaging around 20°C (68°F). It’s cool in winter of course and can get windy from May. Daytime temps are around 10°C (50°F).
What makes Maria Island special?
Maria Island is a captivating blend of history and untamed wilderness. A penal colony in the early 1800s, the island’s intriguing past includes convict ruins, historic settlements, and tales of early explorers.
Today, it’s a protected wildlife mecca and conservation stronghold. A remote and wild place of wombats, kangaroos, and Tasmanian devils, thriving in the island’s pristine habitat.
There are no cars. No shops. No rubbish bins even. It’s just you, the animals, and the island.
For adventurous nature lovers, Maria Island offers rugged trails, breathtaking coastal views, white sandy beaches, endless bush tracks, gentle peaks to climb, and a chance to step back in time.
Explore, hike, swim, bike, and camp under the stars or sleep where convicts slept—Maria Island is an unforgettable adventure.
Be sure to visit. Thank us later.
If you’re visiting Tasmania for the unreal wildlife experiences, for adventure, or even just to decompress, Maria Island is a bucket list experience! Get there before the secret gets out.

How long to spend on Maria Island
Most travellers will just spend the day on Maria Island. Indeed, you can see the main sites around the jetty 👉🏽 in one day – Darlington, the Fossil Cliffs and maybe the Painted Cliffs if you time it right (at low tide).
But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg.
To experience more of the island (and better wildlife experiences), we recommend at least staying overnight.
There are 3 options to stay on Maria Island: 1) The Penitentiary 2) Camping 3) If you do the 4-day Maria Island Walk, exclusive Bush Camps in remote locations.
We stayed one night at the Penitentiary and it was an excellent experience. Staying over night gave us time to do the walks around Darlington one day, and bike rides further afield the next.
If you’re keen on reaching destinations such as Bishop and Clerk, McRae’s Isthmus, or South Maria Island then we recommend staying at least 2 nights and hiring a bike.
How to get to Maria island
Maria Island is off the south east coast of Tasmania. It’s a short ferry ride from the small seaside hamlet of Triabunna. So to get to Maria Island, you should first get to Triabunna. Most travellers will be travelling to Triabunna and on to Maria Island from Hobart.
How to get to Maria Island from Hobart
Maria Island from Hobart is a fantastic, full day trip whether you have a car or not. There are three options to get to Maria Island from Hobart:
1. On the Maria Island bus + ferry
A bus or shuttle from Hobart is the best way to get to Maria Island without a car. The bus takes you to Triabunna, where ou catch the ferry onto the island.
Bus tickets are a reasonable $55 return (adults). This doesn’t include the ferry ticket, which is $54 per adult return.
If you told me that for $110 per person I could take an incredible day trip to one of Tasmania’s most remote and beautiful destinations, my response would be “sign me up please!”
This is the lowest cost option for solo travellers visiting Maria Island, and works out cheaper for couples than hiring a car.
The bus to Maria Island picks up from Brooke St Pier in Hobart CBD at 6:45am and arrives at Triabunna where the Maria Island ferry departs at 8:10 am. The returning shuttle departs Triabunna at 5pm, arriving back in Hobart at 6:30pm.
🚌 Book your Maria Island bus ticket frrom Hobart now to avoid disappointment.
2. Hire a car and drive to Triabunna.
Option 2 is to hire a car in Hobart and drive to Triabunna, instead of taking the bus.
You can park at the Triabunna wharf (it’s free). Then take the Encounter Maria Island ferry over to the island.
A cheap hire car over night will cost you around $160, without excess reduction. Adding the ferry cost on top of that, and your minimum cost is $215 for one person or $270 for a couple.
3. Take a Maria Island tour
The hassle free option for getting to Maria Island is to book a tour from Hobart. The good news is, there’s 4 outstanding tour options. These are some of the best reviewed tours in all of Tasmania.
Not only is the tour option hassle free, but you also get to see things day trippers don’t. Like the nearby seal colony, whales, albatross, and views back to Maria Island as you circumnavigate it by boat.
There are 2 fantastic boat tours, each with different itineraries. Theres a full-day walking tour for active adventurers. And then there’s a special option – a scenic flight that lands on Maria Island and also includes birds eye views of Wineglass bay.
Check out our favourite Maria Island tours 👇🏽.
Best rated from Hobart
Maria Island Tours

Maria Island Cruise
5 ⭐️ (577 reviews) | 8 hours
This award winning Maria Island Cruise is the most popular tour of the island for good reason. You get iconic Tasmanian wombats & wallabies, marine life & bird life, scenic bay and island views, white beaches, a guided walk of UNESCO world heritage sites, all with insights from local guides and snacks, drinks and lunch. Like the rest of these tours, it departs from Hobart.

Maria Island walking tour
5 ⭐️ (20 reviews) | 12 hours
Less boat, more boot. An active & immersive full-day tour actually spent on Maria Island. This one gets you to more of the Island’s best sites – Painted Cliffs, Fossil Cliffs & Darlington. Guided walks with local insights & up close wombat, wallaby & pademelon encounters. Includes ferry over and Parks Pass. Bring your own snacks, lunch & water.

Maria Island & ILe Des Phoques
5 ⭐️ (130 reviews) | 8 hours
A wildlife extravaganza! Dolphins, whales, wombats, wallabies. And the only cruise to cover the incredible seal colony at Ile Des Phoques. We love the Rainbow Caves sea cave experience too. Join a guided tour of Maria Island’s historic Darlington Village after lunch aboard the boat. Or spend free time on the trails & beaches of Maria Island.

Maria Island & Wineglass Bay scenic Flight
4.9 ⭐️ (50 reviews) | 3 hours
Unique scenic flight & birds eye view of iconic Wineglass Bay, seal colony at Ile Des Phoques and Maria Island. Land on Maria Island to explore Fossil Cliffs & meet wombats & wallabies before a fancy seafood picnic lunch surrounded by stunning Maria Island scenery. Departs Cambridge Airfield near Hobart.
everything you need to know
The Ferry to Maria island
Ferry tickets are your second step to getting to Maria Island. You can get these online from Encounter Maria Island. The return ferry is $54 per adult.
The ferry is comfortable and sells food and drinks on board, if you haven’t bought your own. Our journey wasn’t rough, but it can be. Luckily it’s also just a short trip. Keep your eyes peeled for marine life as you motor out of Spring Bay – you may spot dolphins and whales too.
We recommend booking ‘same day return’ ferry tickets, unless you’re also booking accommodation on Maria Island. Staying overnight on Maria Island is one of our top rated Tasmania adventure experiences, so we definitely recommend – if you have the time – to stay overnight.
🔐 Read more: Scroll down to find out more about where to stay on Maria Island, what it’s like to stay on the Island, and for alternative accommodation options near Maria Island.
Maria Island Ferry FAQs
How long is the ferry to Maria Island?
It’s a short 30 minute trip from Triabunna to Maria Island on the Encounter Maria Island Ferry.
What are the Maria Island ferry times?
Maria Island ferry times are different for Tasmania’s tourist season (Sept – Apr) and the off season (May – Aug). In short, there are fewer ferries in late Autumn and winter, with a later start to the day. Check out this table of ferry times for Maria Island.
How much is a Maria Island ferry ticket?
The ferry costs $54 per adult for a same day return ticket from Triabunna (2024 prices). Kids are $33 per person. There are concessions for students and pensioners. For some reason we can’t work out, it’s more expensive to return on a different day. This requires an ‘overnight return‘ ticket and you’ll pay an additional $10 per person ($64 return).
Are cars allowed on Maria Island?
No. Unlike Bruny Island, there are no cars allowed on Maria Island. The ferry is a passenger only ferry instead of a barge. You can park your car for free at the Triabunna wharf.
What to do on Maria Island
top 5 activities
1. Explore Maria Island on a self guided walk.
If you love walking or hiking, Maria Island is your paradise. And if you don’t love walking, you’ll love it here! Want to know the best walks to do? We got you 👇🏽 😃
2. Wander among the wombats.
Who doesn’t love a waddling wombat! Maria Island is THE best place to see a wombat in Tasmania. In the wild…. You can get right up close to these cute Koala cousins as they graze all day (well a respectful 2 meters away at least).
3. Hire a bike, see the sites.
There’s no cars on the island, so to explore sites further afield bikes are the only option. Read everything you need to know about the Maria Island bike hire situation down below 👇🏽
4. Get snap-happy at The Painted Cliffs.
Definitely one for your Insta account, The Painted Cliffs are a top attraction and must visit. Check out the stunning pics we took and imagine sharing these on your socials!
5. Barefoot beach stroll & snorkel in the Tasman Sea.
The beaches on Maria Island are as pristine as the waters surrounding it. If you can brave the temps, according the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife there’s not a better place to snorkel in Tassie. Darlington Bay, The Painted Cliffs and Fossil Bay are the spots to hit up. We’ll just have to take their word for it!
Need help planning your Maria Island Day trip? 👇🏽
Top things to do
Self guided maria island walks
There’s loads of self guided walks on Maria Island. Trail heads are clearly marked and trails are easy to follow! Here are our top 2 moderate graded walks that you can fit in any Maria Island day trip: (you’ll need a full day!):
1. Fossil Cliffs Walk (moderate) – ventures through bushland from Darlington. Emerges on the cliff top at the northern most point of Maria Island. Go for the insta-worthy views of the cliffs and back to the ‘big island’ (Tassie). Cliff top walk is breathtaking with views for days. Lots of kangaroos and wombats!
2. Painted Cliffs Walk (moderate) – heads south from Darlington uphill & along The Coast Road to Rutherford beach. More amazing views and wombats. Access to the cliffs is low tide only so time your visit!
Top things to do
maria island wildlife
The diversity of animals on Maria Island is a giant highlight.
If you spend your day trip Darlington and the jetty, you’ll be surrounded by hundreds of grazing wombats and kangaroos at all times of the day.
The best bit?
They’re not shy! It’s the number 1 place in Tasmania to get up close and personal with incredible Australian wildlife (2 meter limit at all times!) in their natural habitat.
Stay overnight and you’ll be rewarded with even more astounding wildlife experience. Maybe you’ll receive a special evening visit from this endangered Bandicoot that loves to raid the rooms at the Penitentiary, looking for food. 👉🏽
Who knows, you may even spot an elusive Tasmanian devil or two!
Top things to do
The Painted Cliffs
Get ready to pick your jaw up off the floor because The Painted Cliffs will totally wow you! They’re a must see on the island.
So how do you get there?
The Painted Cliffs is a 30 minute walk or 8 minute ride (up a big hill) from Darlington. There’s 2 ways to approach the cliffs: 1) along Rutherford Beach, which is a beautiful walk. Or 2) along The Coastal Road if you’ve hired a bike.
Both routes approach the cliffs from the beach and as you’re walking towards them your viewpoint is a little underwhelming…. until you round the cliff face and see the rippled and contoured coloured cliffs in all their stunning glory.
The cliffs are not tall by any means. It’s in the treacle and toffee colours, set against azure seas and (hopefully) bright blue skies where the real beauty lies.
Don’t forget to look down at the rock pools below the cliffs for a mirage-like reflection and insta-worthy photo opp. The rock pools are worth exploring themselves and around Rutherford Beach you’ll find some of the best snorkelling in Tassie.
⚠️ Important: Because the cliffs face the sea and not the beach, you can only access them at low tide. Check the tidal times before you land on the Maria Island and plan your day around exploring The Painted Cliffs at low tide.

Top things to do on Maria Island
Hire a bike see the sites

explore

Ride

VEnture further
Everything you need to know about Maria Island bike hire
Do you need to hire a bike to see the best sites on Maria Island?
No you don’t! We think the best sites on Maria Island are the Fossil Cliffs, Painted Cliffs and area around the Jetty and Darlington. These attractions are all walkable in a day trip.
Hiring a bike will let you explore further afield. If you want to see French’s Farm, the Isthmus, Mt Maria or Bishops Peak, you’ll need a bike to get there.
We especially recommend hiring a bike if you’re staying on Maria Island for a night or two – and that’s exactly what we did! Do the walks immediately around Darlington on Day 1. Take your bike and explore the island on day 2.
How do you hire bikes for Maria Island?
You can hire bikes through ferry operator Encounter Maria Island, at the same time you book your ferry ticket.
This is the best option because if you have any issues with the bike, the Tas Parks and Wildlife officers are there on the island to help or replace your bike with one that works.
What are the hire bikes like?
They’re good quality mountain bikes of varying sizes. They all have gears, which is great because you’re going to need them. Maria Island is hilly! You’ll need a moderate level of fitness to take the bikes out and even then you’ll be walking up some hills instead of pedalling.
Hard bike seats though. So if you’re riding all day, bring a seat cover for your poor butt!
Are eBikes allowed on Maria Island?
Yes. But there are restrictions on power output and maximum speed.
You must have plates on the bike that show a power output no more than 200 watts and pedal assist of no more than 250 watts.
You are required to remove the battery for the ferry trip and pay return freight of around $20 to take the e-bike over.
Can you take your own bike to Maria Island?
Yes you can. Just expect to pay around $15 return to take it on the ferry. You pay this as an additional charge when you book your ferry tickets.
Where do you collect your bike on the island?
Collect your bike from Darlington. There’s a white brick building to the right of the Penitentiary with double doors that houses all of the bikes. Collect your bike from there and return it to the same place.
Is there anything else I need to know about bike hire on Maria Island?
Yes. If you’re staying overnight and want to pedal around on day 2, pick up your bike the day you arrive. We found that the bike shed only opens once the first ferry arrives. Which is 10am in the off season. If you have to wait until 10am to get your bike, you’ll have wasted a lot of your morning exploring time.
Also, you’re required to wear a helmet while riding, under Australian law and Tas Parks and Wildlife do enforce this.
Finally, you can’t ride your bike on walking tracks around the island. Just the roads.
Staying overnight on Maria Island
Yes you can stay overnight on Maria Island! If you have the time, we highly recommend the experience.
So what is it like?
Well it’s peaceful, a little rugged, heaps of fun and definitely worth it! There are two options:
1. The Maria Island Penitentary
The old convict penitentiary has been converted to accommodation, with 10 rooms available, each with bunk beds, concrete floors and wood fires. There’s also a separate toilet block (but no shower) and a powered mess hall. The kitchen has gas burners for cooking and gas hot water for washing your dishes. There are 2 power outlets to plug in any small devices.
2. Maria Island Camping
Yes! You can also camp on Maria Island. There are 3 campsites: One just south of Darlington (closest to the ferry), one further afield at French’s Farm, and a really remote one even further south at Encampment Cove.
Just remember, there’s no cars on the island. And the bikes for hire aren’t suitable for heavy backpacks, according to Tas Parks & Wildlife. So you’ll be walking from the ferry with your camping gear.
Also, there is a weight restriction of 30kg for items bought over on the ferry and extra ferry fees to bring things like gas bottles.
So, why stay on Maria Island?
Maria Island accommodation is not luxurious by any means. But it’s comfortable enough. And the rewards of being on the island around dusk and dawn are incredible.
Why?
Because this is when all the more timid marsupials come out. Ones you don’t see in the day time. Bandicoots, wallabies and even a devil if you’re lucky.
You’re also there for what’s known in photography circles as ‘golden hour’. And can take magic photos with superb light for your friends and family or your Insta account.
Finally, it’s peaceful. A night to stare at the stars, listen to the silence, and decompress. And that sounds pretty darn good to us.
Maria Island Costs
Maria Island Day trip Cost
Maria Island Overnight Cost
Maria Island Day Trip Cost
Parks Pass (Holiday)
Ferry ticket (return)
Bike Hire
Food and water
TOTAL
Per Person (adult)
$44.75
$54
$33
$20
$151.75
Overnight Stay Cost
Parks Pass (Holiday)
Ferry ticket (return)
Bike Hire
Food and water
Penitentiary Room (1 night)
TOTAL
Per Person (adult)
$44.75
$54
$33
$60
$22
$213.75

What to know before you go
Parks Pass
Be prepared to show your Parks Pass to board the ferry. If you’re heading to a few national parks, the Holiday Pass is best. If it’s just Maria Island National Park you’re going to, a Daily Pass is cheaper.
Food, water & cooking
There are no shops on the island. So bring everything you’d like to eat. There is also no refrigeration. Pack accordingly! We took 2 minute noodles for dinner and pastries for breakfast.
Fresh water on the island is not drinkable. Boiling for 3 minutes is recommended. Or you can bring bottled water (3L per person per day), water treatment tabs, or a water filter bottle / straw.
Bring all of your own cooking pots / pans. There were kettles provided on the gas burners in the kitchen.
The Penitentiary
When you’re booking accommodation at the Penitentiary, rooms 8, 9 and 10 are the best. They’re furthest from the kitchen with less traffic past your door. We had room 9 and it was perfect.
Rooms don’t lock. You’re provided a metal box for food storage in each room. Slide it in front of the door at night to secure the room. Do put your food in this box or you risk having it stolen by a bandicoot.
The bunk bed mattresses are hard! If this doesn’t suit you, pack accordingly 😃
You do need to know how to light a wood stove for warmth. Parks & Wildlife provides firewood. Collect what you need well before the sun goes down and don’t be the last room to get your firewood. Kindling runs out and then you’ll need to chop your own from the logs provided.
Bathroom
There are no showers (as at May 2024). They’re under renovation and expected to be available 2025. There is running water in the toilets.
What to bring with you overnight
Definitely bring a head lamp and a camp lantern. There’s no candles allowed in the rooms.
Bring your bedding – sleeping bags, pillows – the bunks are simple vinyl covered mattresses.
There is a weak wifi signal so if you want to be online bring a power bank.