Wild Maria: Island Wilderness Adventure – Private Day Tour

Duration: 8-9 hours
No. of Guests: 1-6

Spend the day exploring Maria Island, a protected national park known for its raw coastal landscapes, layered history and thriving wildlife. With no vehicles permitted, the island feels quietly removed, best explored on foot at a relaxed pace.

Maria Island offers one of Tasmania’s best opportunities to encounter native wildlife in its natural environment. Wombats, kangaroos and birdlife are often seen across the open grasslands and along the coastal tracks, though, as always in the wild, sightings unfold organically.

Accessible only by ferry, the island also holds a rich past as one of Australia’s earliest convict settlements. Today, its World Heritage-listed ruins sit within the landscape, offering a window into both its colonial and agricultural history.

Suggested but highly flexible itinerary:

Your day begins with a hotel pick-up by your local host in a premium vehicle. Departure is at 8 am in winter and 9 am in summer, with bottled water and local treats on hand. Travel east through scenic farming country, with the landscape gradually opening up as you leave Hobart.

Depending on the day and conditions, you may pause in Richmond along the way. This historic village, home to Australia’s oldest bridge, offers a chance to stretch your legs and take in a slower pace before continuing to the coast.

Arrive in Triabunna to board the ferry to Maria Island. With vehicles not permitted, the island remains beautifully preserved, with a strong sense of stillness and connection to place.

Once on the island, your host will tailor a series of walks to suit your pace and interests. This may include gentle coastal trails or more active hikes, always with a focus on finding quieter pockets of the island and allowing time to take in the surroundings.

For lunch, enjoy a thoughtfully prepared picnic featuring local Tasmanian produce, set in a secluded natural setting or within one of the island’s historic buildings.

You’ll also visit the Darlington settlement, where restored buildings and ruins tell the story of the island’s convict past, layered with later agricultural use.

The afternoon is spent continuing to explore Maria Island at a relaxed pace, with time to walk further afield or simply pause and take it all in before returning to the mainland.

From here, begin the journey back to Hobart, arriving in the early evening.