Hobart: Maria Island National Park - Nature & Wildlife Adventure
Overview
Available languages
12 hours
Mobile ticket
Step back in time, slow down and enjoy a big day out on this island National Park. Maria Island has a diverse range of highlights including convict history, spectacular coastal cliffs and deserted beaches. Access to the island is by Ferry for foot passengers only (no cars on this island). Bring your comfortable walking shoes ready to stretch your legs and explore this island paradise.
Highlights
• Explore Maria Island National Park (6hrs)
• Watch for Dolphins & Whales on the ferry journey (30 mins each way)
• Walk to amazing “Painted Cliffs” and wander amongst the unusual rock formation
• Enjoy spectacular views as walk to the “Fossil Cliffs”
• Explore and discover the geological history amongst the exposed fossils
• Discover and the convict history at the Darlington World Heritage convict site
• Be amazed at the abundant wildlife enjoying life on their extraordinary island
• Relax and take in all the stunning secluded bays and beaches in this paradise setting
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Minimum age to participate in tour is 8 years
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
This is an active tour. A suitable level of general health & fitness and physical abilities is essential
We provide accurate interpretation, and keep wildlife disturbance to a minimum by viewing from appropriate distances and informing our guests how to view wildlife with patience and respect. Activities are always confined to tracks and boardwalks to minimize negative impacts.
We depart Hobart promptly at 6.45am. If you are late we can not wait. It is very important to be on time for your pickup, as we have a time line to keep to ensure we do not miss our ferry to Maria Island. We have very limited capacity to wait for late passengers and we may have to make the unfortunate decision to depart without you! If you have any concerns about your pick up - our phone line is open at 6.30am, please call us promptly on 03 6231 5390.
There are no shops on Maria, and limited drinking water, so make sure you bring enough water and food for your day out. There will be a brief stop on the way to the Ferry for some last minute food purchases - sandwiches/rolls etc. And there is normally a chance to buy some takeaway food on the return trip back to Hobart.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What‘s Included
National Park entrance fees
Small, friendly groups
We offer pick up from Limited hotel locations.
Professional guides and interpretive walks
Return Ferry crossing fee
Food and drinks (Bring your own lunch/snacks/water bottles, there are no shops on Maria Island))
No luggage on board, only your day pack
No airport drop offs
What To Expect
Triabunna
Maria Island is a special place, rewarding those that visit with World Heritage convict history, abundant wildlife, spectacular coastal cliffs, and deserted beaches. Boasting a diverse range of highlights, our active day tour takes it all in! Maria Island is just a 30 minute ferry ride from Triabunna, but it feels like a world away.Just one hour’s drive from Hobart to the ferry and 30 minutes across the water, brings us to Maria Island - a stunning island National Park. An island, off an island, off an island!
Maria Island National Park
This is a tour for the active traveller who is keen to walk and enjoy this unique island. There are no cars on Maria Island and the only way across is on the passenger ferry. The main highlights are the Painted Cliffs, the Fossil Cliffs, and of course the wildlife, history and amazing scenery. Maria Island has a fascinating history, which our tour guides will share with you as walk the trails. Many cultures have once been to the island, including the Tyreddeme Aboriginals, Dutch, English, French and Italians. The island has been home to explorers, whalers, sealers, convicts, fishermen, farmers and industrialists. The World Heritage listed Darlington settlement is beautifully preserved and is one of the best examples of Probation Convict Settlements in the world. The Darlington convict settlement pre-dates the more widely known Port Arthur. The island was declared a National Park in 1972.
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Hobart: Maria Island National Park - Nature & Wildlife Adventure
Reviews
33 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Maria island day trip
S3390XRbelindap,
Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An active day walking over 12km to view the fossil beds, Darlington convict station/settlement and the coloured cliffs. The bonus was our guide had a great knowledge of the island and native flora and fauna and the best places to locate these, especially on the windy day we experienced. Lucky enough to sight a critically endangered swift parrot drinking and bathing in a creek. Lots of wombats, Bennet's wallabies and Paddymelons to top it off. Probably one of the best day trips I’ve been on.
Disappointed
Hellena L,
Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00I was so disappointed that we never saw the painted cliffs on Maria island as the tour guide took us when it was high tide That was one of the highlights of the trip So poorly organised for this not to happen plus I left my glasses on the van and offered a couple of options one of them being they could drop off the glasses to my hotel which wasn’t too far and they responded with “lost property if not claimed gets dropped off at op shops” it was not professional or going out of their way for clients
Reasonable hiking and great animal spotting
925bellal,
Apr 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We caught the 830am and 230pm ferry and did two easy hiking trails on the island. Enough for wild animal spotting like pademelon, wombat, kangaroo and kookaburra. Highly recommend if you are an animal lover
Amazing day on Maria Island
Catherine L,
Apr 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The visit was most interesting. The wild life was so wonderful. The history was remarkable and often quite sad
Wombats galore
557kated,
Mar 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great place to see wildlife - lots of wombats, pademelons, and kangaroos. Very enjoyable day with a well organized and knowledgeable guide.
A Brilliant Day on Maria Island with an Amazing Guide!
haomo25,
Feb 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an amazing time on the Maria Island tour, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area! Our guide, Carl, was fantastic and truly made the experience unforgettable. The route itself offered brilliant views, and we even had the chance to identify several species of animals, which was such a rewarding part of the tour. Carl’s knowledge about the island’s history was impressive. He shared so many fascinating facts about the island, and I especially loved learning fun tidbits about specific plants and animals. His expertise added so much depth to the tour, and it really enhanced our experience. The whole trip was perfectly organized. It was a full-day tour, but it never felt too long. The two routes were a comfortable length, and we got to experience a lot without feeling rushed. The well-planned itinerary allowed us to enjoy both the stunning landscapes and the wildlife, making the day feel both relaxing and enriching. Overall, this tour was an absolute highlight of my trip, and I can’t imagine having the same experience if we had explored the island on our own. Carl’s guidance made everything so much more informative and enjoyable. If you’re planning a trip to Maria Island, I definitely recommend this tour!
Wombat Dreams Come True
liblazilla,
Jan 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our Maria Island tour with Carl was epic! He was super friendly, knew so much about the area, and had us all laughing the whole day. But the absolute highlight? Carl went all out to help me see a wombat, which has been a dream of mine forever. They were nowhere to be found at first, but Carl didn’t give up. He took us to all the usual spots and kept searching, and right at the end of the day—boom! We found a mum and her little bub. I honestly couldn’t believe it. Best. Day. Ever. Huge shoutout to Carl for being such a legend and making this such an unforgettable experience. If you’re thinking about a trip, do it – and hope you get Carl as your guide!
Great tour
Judy K,
Dec 6, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00If you enjoy a nice, long walk at a relaxed pace, seeing lots of great scenery and animals along the way, this is a great day trip!!
Surpassed expectations - Breathtaking scenery, adorable animals and a brilliant guide
Danielle S,
Nov 25, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Just back from this tour and still buzzing. Our guide Karl was absolutely brilliant. He was so informative with historical and nature information, but equally patient when our small group stopped to oooh and aaah and take many photos of passing animals. We never felt rushed and our walking pace was perfect for me, as someone who enjoys a long walk, but doesn’t have the stamina for a hike. The Fossil Cliffs were fascinating and the cliff top views were spectacular, but the Painted Cliffs left me absolutely speechless with their unique and beautiful formation. Then there were the animals, and my new favourite animals are definitely wombats. We saw both dark and blond, and the highlight was seeing a female carrying her joey in her rear pouch (see photo - look at her behind!). Wallabies were also abundant, some too with joeys and the cuteness factor was over the top! In addition we saw rock pool marine life and some interesting sea birds, as well as Cape Barren geese. This day out ticked so many boxes. Karl made it fun and entertaining too. If you haven’t already booked this trip, I can’t recommend it highly enough. We booked through Viator and the whole day was absolutely faultless. Karl… if you’re reading this review… thank you!
Beautiful excursion
Jacob Z,
Nov 14, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00The island was beautiful and left me standing breathless. The colors of the water were different shades of blue ranging from a dark blue to turquoise, the fauna (mainly wombats and sea stars) were very cute. The guide Heather was very nice and seemed to know every little detail of the island as well as its history. I give it 10/10
From A$215.00
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Operated by Tours Tasmania