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Home  >  Our Walks  >  The Maria Island Walk

The Maria Island Walk

The Maria Island Walk is a fascinating blend of abundant wildlife, indigenous culture, UNESCO heritage settlement sites, pristine beaches, old eucalyptus forests and incredible geology, all on an island national park just off the East Coast of Tasmania. A multi-award winning walk, guests can look forward to easy to moderate walking with optional side trips to scale impressive mountains and candlelit dining at night.
This walk is operated by
Wild Bush Luxury
Book now
Get a complimentary hotel night pre-departure in Hobart on all new Maria Island Walk bookings departing in 2025! Book using the code GWOASPRING24 – click here for more info.

If you’re looking for a Great Walk with abundant wildlife, history, geology and spectacular landscapes and views around every bend, look no further than the Maria Island Walk in Tasmania.

Located just a few kilometres off the east coast, approximately two hours from Hobart, this fascinating and beautiful island national park is straight out of another era; feet are your primary source of transport (there’s no cars or roads in sight) and as an nature sanctuary, animals rule, explaining its nickname of Tasmania’s Noah’s Ark.

On the multiple award-winning Maria Island Walk, you’ll hike stunning the island’s white-sand beaches, scale peaks like like Bishop & Clerk and Mt Maria (your choice), explore the UNESCO World Heritage Listed settlement site of Darlington, learn about the traditional owners and custodians, and visit the Painted Cliffs and Fossil Cliffs.

Along the way, you’ll of course spot a plethora of the island’s many furry and winged inhabitants for which this nature sanctuary is famed. Maria Island is renowned for being one of the best places in Australia to see wombats, and you may also see whales, dolphins, Forester kangaroos, Cape Barren geese, Tasmanian devils, Bennetts wallabies, parrots, honeyeaters, and birds of prey along the journey.

The Maria Island Walk is an active, but relaxing holiday experience. It is designed to let you immerse yourself completely in the remoteness and tranquillity of this extraordinary island wilderness with a few creatures comforts; the packs are light, the food is gourmet, the wine is Tasmania’s best, and a comfortable bed awaits you each night.

Guests walk in groups of up to 10, with two professional guides leading the way, allowing for the personalised, intimate experience that the walk has become so well known for.

With pristine beaches and formed bush tracks, the is easily achievable by anyone with a moderate level of fitness, from new to experienced hikers alike.

Exclusive Accommodation

You’ll stay in two different secluded wilderness camps for the first two nights, both a stone’s throw from empty, white-sand beaches. These beaches are the perfect place to unwind with a glass of wine, enjoy a stroll exploring for rare shells, or a swim in crystal blue waters.

The camps are simple but comfortable, and designed to have a minimal footprint in the environment. Sleep in bush tents with beds (roll up the sides to listen to the waves gently breaking on the beach at night) and enjoy nightly, candlelit three-course meals, comprising fresh local produce, complemented by fine Tasmanian wine.

On the final night, you’ll stay overnight in heritage listed Bernacchi house in Darlington, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled on the northern tip of the island that was once a bustling penal settlement with over 600 convicts.

“Pack Free” Experience

For those walkers who prefer not to carry the normal pack with your, The Maria Island Walk offers a “pack-free” experience, where guests’ gear is transferred between camps each day so they only carry their lunch, water bottle, camera and rain jacket. This additional portered service is offered on select departures and private group departures for a rate of $400 per person.

Family Friendly Departures

Get back to nature as a family, learn about flora and fauna and have an adventure along the way.

Family friendly departures are for families who have children under the age of 12 years old. 8 years old is the recommended minimum age for family friendly walk departures. Parents should contact us to discuss the children’s fitness levels and if they have done much walking before.

The best time for family friendly walks is during school holidays, mainly in early January while parents and children are both on holidays.

The porter service is highly recommended for family friendly walks. Families will only have to carry a water bottle, rain jacket and lunch box. Having a light pack will make the walk more enjoyable for everyone.

Committed to the Environment

The Maria Island Walk is committed to the environment, and actively supports a variety of conservation programs such as the Forty Spotted Pardalote Recovery and Save the Tasmanian Devil programs. This walk experience is also a member of Australian Wildlife Journeys.

Walk Overview

  • Accessed via Hobart, TAS
  • Duration: 4 days / 3 nights
  • Distance: 25km - 43km
  • Grade: Easy to Moderate
  • Walk operates: October – April
  • Bush trails with beaches and sand walking
  • Group size: Max 10
  • Rates: From AUD $2,950

Reviews

"Congratulations Maria Island Walk team! You delivered far more than we expected… The walks were stunning, the scenery varied, with treks through forest, beaches, plains and hills. Abundant, almost tame, wild life reminded me of the Galapagos. We saw the cutest wombats (some with babies in pouch), pademelon, wallabies… A top experience, and one we won't forget."

Helena G, Sydney – Trip Advisor

Elevation Graph

This graph loosely depicts the gradient of the track, providing you with some basic understanding of how challenging the walk will be. The graphs are useful in helping you decide which walk suits you best. Whatever your ability or fitness, there’s sure to be a walk that suits in the Great Walks of Australia collection.

* Elevations are indicative only and are not to scale. Walkers should contact individual walk companies to better understand the terrain and difficulty of each walk.

  • Walk Itinerary

  • Day One Hobart to Casuarina Camp Travel by our private boat through the sparkling waters of Mercury Passage to the isthmus of Maria Island, and walk to the tranquil Casuarina Beach camp. After lunch, enjoy the afternoon walking through tall eucalypt forest to spectacular Haunted Bay and back (optional).
  • Day Two Casuarina Camp to White Gums Camp Today, we start our walk to the north of the island. Take in five pristine beaches, while dipping in and out of forests and past beautiful rivulets. Look out for dolphins, sea eagles and exotic shells, as well as wombats and wallabies. Visit historic sites, stop and have a swim and by late afternoon, arrive at White Gums Camp, an idyllic spot where a dip in the beach and a BBQ is the perfect way to wrap up a big day of walking.
  • Day Three White Gums Camp to Darlington Today we head to the heart of the Island. Wander through the world’s largest stand of giant Tasmanian Blue Gums to Ruby Hunt's cottage before arriving at the fascinating World Heritage Listed historic site of Darlington - also one of the best spots on the island to see wombats as well as Cape Barren geese and other wildlife. After lunch, choose between a climb to impressive views on Mount Maria or Bishop & Clerk (both optional). Your accommodation tonight is at historic Bernacchi House - a beautifully renovated heritage homestead. Hot showers, a cheeseboard to watch the sunset and a delicious three course dinner awaits.
  • Day Four Darlington to Hobart Explore the woodlands at the northern tip of Maria Island, take in sweeping views to Freycinet National Park at stunning Skipping Ridge and millions of years of history at Fossil Bay. Enjoy a celebratory champagne lunch before boarding the boat to go back to the mainland.
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