Tasmania Triabunna Accommodation
Planning a trip to Maria Island? Here’s something many travellers miss: there’s no Maria Island hotel accommodation on the island itself. If you’re dreaming of wildlife, coastal walks, and historic ruins, chances are you’ll need to stay on the mainland. And the charming seaside town of Triabunna is your launchpad.
From cosy cottages to seaside caravan parks and self-contained stays, Triabunna accommodation offers something for every traveller. This guide will help you choose the best base for exploring both Maria Island and Tasmania’s stunning east coast.
If you’re looking for Maria Island Tasmania accommodation you’ve hit the right page. We kick off with a Maria Island Penitentiary Review. It’s the only public accommodation on Maria Island other than campsites. We stayed there in 2024 and will share everyhing you need to know.
KNOW WHAT TYPE OF STAY YOU WANT? JUMP TO OUR TOP CHOICES 👇🏽
Maria Island Penitentiary Review
There’s only one official option for Maria Island accommodation, and it’s not your typical hotel.
The Penitentiary – A Stay Like No Other
Run by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife, the Maria Island Penitentiary is a no-frills, back-to-nature experience. Located in the historic Darlington convict settlement, the old penitentiary has been repurposed into bunk-style accommodation.
There’s wood heaters for the cold, but no electricity, weak wifi, and definitely no room service—but that’s part of the magic. You’ll fall asleep to the sound of silence, and wake up to wombats and pademelons grazing outside your door.
Note: You’ll need to bring your own bedding, food, water and cooking gear. Bookings fill fast in peak season, so plan ahead.
Most visitors prefer to stay in Triabunna, where you’ll find a wider range of accommodation options and easy access to the Maria Island ferry.
Maria Island Penitentiary Bunkhouse
Staying overnight at the Maria Island Penitentiary is like stepping back in time—but with a sense of adventure and community thrown in. Sleeping quarters in the bunk rooms are basic but clean, with sturdy wooden frames and canvas mattresses. It’s a bring your own bedding and pillow kinda deal. Even then we didn’t get much sleep – the bunks are hard!
The heating is great – wood fire in each room – just make sure you head out to the wood pile before dark to stock up for the night. The charm of staying in a heritage-listed building more than makes up for the lack of luxury. It’s all part of the experience—roughing it slightly, in one of the most extraordinary places in Tasmania.
Maria Island Penitentiary Mess
The mess – or dining hall – is spacious and communal, lined with long wooden tables and benches that echo with shared stories from the day’s hikes. It’s lit by simple overhead lights and surrounded by thick whitewashed walls and timber rafters—bare bones, but atmospheric. We ate here as there’s no light in the bunkhouse.
After dark, as you move from the mess to the bunkhouse with torches flickering and the island hushed outside, it’s easy to forget the modern world altogether…
Maria Island Penitentiary Kitchen
The kitchen is rustic but practical, with stainless steel benches, gas burners, and the kind of no-frills setup that makes you feel like you’re off the grid (because you are). Bring your own supplies and cook alongside other travellers under the pitched roof of this old colonial building—there’s something special about preparing a meal where convicts once stood. We cooked up a one pot meal over gas burners – the dehydrated kind are ideal. You can also boil the local water here to drink if you don’t take bottled.
You are expected to clean up after yourself and take all rubbish back to the big island when you go, so prepare food tht fits that brief.
Accommodation in Triabunna
Triabunna is more than just a ferry terminal. It’s a laid-back coastal town with a friendly community vibe, a pretty marina, and seafood fresh off the boat. From here, it’s just a 30-minute ferry ride to Maria Island, but you’ll also be well-placed to explore Orford, Spring Bay, the East Coast Wine Trail and the Great Eastern Drive.
If you’re after a luxury retreat, a comfy motel room, something unique, or a spot to park the van, accommodation in Triabunna makes the perfect base.
Booking Your Triabunna Accommodation
No matter where you stay, we recommend booking your Triabunna accommodation in advance—especially in peak summer months or school holidays.
Many Maria Island tours start early in the morning, so staying close to the ferry terminal makes things easy and stress-free.
This region is one of our favourite pockets of Tasmania, and we’re confident you’ll love it too. Follow our booking links to find your perfect base—and start planning your island adventure. 👇🏽
Plan Your Trip
💡 Everything You Need to Know About Maria Island
Looking for the best Maria Island hotel? It’s on the mainland—and it might just be waiting for you in Triabunna.
Is a Luxury Stay in Triabunna Right for You?
Not everyone visiting Triabunna is just looking for a place to sleep before catching the Maria Island ferry. For you, maybe the journey is just as important as the destination—and that’s where a little luxury makes all the difference.
When Comfort Matters
If you love soft linen sheets after a day of hiking, or a deep bathtub with a view of the bay, luxury accommodation around Triabunna delivers a more elevated stay. These are places that value quiet, privacy, and the little touches—pantry extras, local wine on arrival, garden breakfasts, and architecture that tells a story.
A luxury stay doesn’t just offer comfort—it slows you down. It gives you space to breathe before or after a big day out on Maria Island. You’re not just passing through; you’re retreating, unwinding, and sinking into the rhythm of Tasmania’s east coast.
What to Expect from Luxury Accommodation in Triabunna
Luxury Accommodation in Triabunna is the Small-scale, boutique-style with a strong sense of place. It’s heritage buildings reimagined with thoughtful, modern design. Or coastal hideaways surrounded by nature, not traffic. Or it’s glamping under the stars looking out to the sea.
😴 Luxury accommodation in Triabunna Tasmania…
How to Know If It’s Right for You
You want to stay more than one night and explore the region at a slower pace
You’re celebrating something special—a birthday, honeymoon, or long-awaited trip
You appreciate design, history, and atmosphere, not just amenities
You prefer peace, privacy, and a glass of local pinot by the fire over a bustling pub
Check available luxury accommodation →
If you’re looking for hotel accommodation in Triabunna and surrounds, your options are limited. This is a quiet, coastal town—so don’t expect high-rise chains or ultra-modern stays. Instead, you’ll find local resort hotels that reflect the laid-back spirit of the east coast.
Where the hotels located?
There are really only three Triabunna hotel accommodation options within driving distance of the Maria Island ferry terminal –The Eastcoaster Tasmania, The Orford Blue Water and the Spring Bay Hotel.
Hotel Style and Atmosphere
Hotels in Triabunna tend to be budget offerings -small-scale and independently run, with simple, comfortable rooms and a focus on affordability and convenience. Rooms are typically clean and basic, often with ensuite bathrooms, tea and coffee facilities, and a local pub or bistro just downstairs. If you do book a hotel with a pub or bar, expect noise until lights out. For this reason we’re only recommending one of the 3 Tribaunna hotels …
Check available hotels →
😴 Top Triabunna Hotels…
Is Triabunna Hotel Acommodation Suited to you?
Hotels in Triabunna are old style pub accommodation. They’re suited to:
- Pub goers, if you prioritise a socialising over sleep.
Solo travellers after no-fuss overnight Triabunna accommodation.
Cottage & Cabin accommodation in Triabunna
If you like to close the door behind you and settle into your own space, a cottage or cabin stay might be just the thing. Around Triabunna and nearby Orford, you’ll find a handful of cosy homes and cabins—perfect for unwinding before or after your Maria Island adventure.
Why Choose a Cottage or Cabin Stay?
There’s a sense of freedom that comes with having your own four walls. No shared corridors, no late-night pub noise, no bumping into strangers at the breakfast buffet. Just you, your space, and the time to enjoy it.
The good news is this is the best choice for accommodation in Triabunna because there are plenty of options – affordable and elite. These stays are usually self-contained, meaning you can cook your own dinners (restaurants are few and far between in the area), make your morning coffee in pyjamas, and truly make yourself at home.
Best For:
Travellers staying two nights or more
Families and couples who want a bit of extra space
Visitors who like to self-cater and settle in
Anyone after a quiet, home-away-from-home feel close to the ferry but away from the bustle
Check available cottage accommodation →
😴 Cottage & Cabin accommodation in Triabunna Tasmania…
What Sets this Triabunna Accommodation Apart?
Privacy and independence – You’re not sharing a wall with guests next door, and you can come and go on your own schedule
Character and charm – Many cottages in the area reflect the relaxed, coastal atmosphere of the east coast, with warm timber interiors, garden settings, or vintage furnishings
Value for families and small groups – With space to spread out and often multiple beds or rooms, these stays are ideal for those travelling together
Connection to place – More than just a stopover, cottages and cabins often feel woven into the community—they’re the kind of stays where you might wave to a local walking their dog or hear the sound of the sea through the window at night
Triabunna Cabin and Caravan Park
There’s something comforting about pulling into Triabunna Cabin and Caravan Park – the most affordable Triabunna accommodation on our list. If you’re towing a van, pitching a tent, or checking into a snug little cabin this is THE place to base yourself for Maria Island. Set just a few minutes’ stroll from the Maria Island ferry terminal, it’s an easy, relaxed base that makes you feel instantly welcome.
The vibe here is friendly and unpretentious. The grounds are tidy, the showers are reliably hot, and there’s plenty of space to spread out. It’s not fancy, but it’s got everything you need after a long day on the road or hiking the clifftops of Maria Island.
Self-contained cabins are simple, well-kept with kitchenettes and comfy beds. The powered and unpowered sites are well spaced, and there’s a communal BBQ area where conversations often start between travellers heading to or returning from the island.
It’s popular with families, couples, solo adventurers, and the occasional cyclist making their way along the East Coast.
Check available caravan parks →
