4
Introductory to Moderate

Traveller Rating

 

Activities
  • 4 days walking with medium sized back pack
Accommodation
  • 2 nights luxury tented camp
  • 1 night accommodated
Meals
  • 3 Dinners
  • 4 Lunches
  • 3 Breakfasts

4 Days$2950AUD

View Inclusions
THIS TRIP IS
100% CARBON OFFSET
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Trip Code: MIW

Trip highlights

  • The Maria Island Walk is a trip of the Great Walks of Tasmania
  • Explore this extraordinary 'garden of Eden'
  • Stay at the elegant colonial Bernacchi House
  • Get an insight into the convict past of the island
  • Spot a Tasmanian Devil!
  • Delicious meals featuring Tasmanian food and wines
  • Discover the remarkable fossils at Fossil Cliffs

The magic of walking on Maria Island will mesmerise all who come to experience its World Heritage listed ruins, rugged cliffs and mountains, sweeping bays and abundant wildlife. Located just off the East Coast of Tasmania, the island is a walker's paradise with no motor vehicles or shops to distract you from the island's unspoiled wilderness. This personalised guided walk showcases the very best of Maria Island. Carrying only a light pack and travelling in small groups of ten, your two experienced local guides will bring your walks to life as you explore the pristine beaches, ancient Blue Gum forests, convict settlements, ancient Aboriginal sites and even an optional climb to the 711-metre summit of Mt. Maria for breathtaking panoramic views over the area. The walks are set at a gentle pace so there is plenty of time to observe the amazing Tasmanian bird and wildlife or to discover the fascinating history of the island.

Activities:

Itinerary

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We start with a hotel pickup in Hobart at 7.30am. After a short drive to Triabunna, we board our boat and explore Mercury Passage en route to Shoal Bay on Maria Island’s isthmus, arriving in ample time to enjoy stunning views and walk through beautiful forests with abundant wildlife. Relax at the delightful Casuarina Beach Camp, take a swim in the sheltered bay and enjoy fresh Tasmanian food and wine. In the evening, after a fine gourmet dinner, stroll along the beach at sunset with a glass of wine, delighting in the day you’ve had and excited by what lies ahead. Distance - 8km

Meals:  L,D

Walk from Reidle Bay across the rare land formation of the isthmus to Shoal Bay to stroll five fabulous beaches. Explore the convict cells at Point Lesueur and visit an ochre pit at Bloodstone Point – one of the original ochre sources for the Tasmanian Aborigines. Put your feet up at White Gums Camp, where native birds will entertain you while you sip wine on the deck and anticipate dinner. Distance - 13km

Meals:  B,L,D

Head inland to green forests that are a prime habitat for the endangered 40-Spotted Pardalote. Take the gentle inland track to Hopgrounds Beach or continue to the 711-metre summit of Mt. Maria for breathtaking 360 views. Or save the mountain climb for Bishop and Clerk, with its fantastic sea and coastline vistas. Finish the day with a sumptuous banquet and accommodation in the historic colonial home once occupied by Italian entrepreneur, Diego Bernacchi. Distance - 9-17km

Meals:  B,L,D

A chance to relax and enjoy the serenity of Darlington and walk through the tall Blue Gum forest, to the convict brickworks at and heritage reservoir and around to the world class Fossil Cliffs. Enjoy a champagne lunch overlooking the distant Freycinet peninsula, followed by a gentle tour around the convict settlement and industrial ruins of Darlington, known as the Darlington Probation Station, a World Heritage Australian Convict Site, and soak up the atmosphere. Return to Hobart for a last farewell followed by a drop off at your hotel. A transfer to Hobart airport is available, connecting with flights departing from 6pm. Distance - 4km PLEASE NOTE - On the rare occasions when sea conditions make the crossing to Maria Island uncomfortable, there may be delays or alternative arrangements will be made.

Meals:  B,L

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Professional guides
  • 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners and wine
  • 3 nights twin-share accommodation
  • Private bus/boat transfers between Hobart and Maria Island
  • National Park fees
  • Use of backpacks, sleeping bag liners, pillow cases, head torches & waterproof jackets
  • Emergency communications & group first aid kit

  • Accommodation before or after the trip
  • Items of a personal nature - car parking etc
  • Travel insurance

Accommodation

Luxury Camping

The first two nights of the 4 day Maria Island Walk are spent in wilderness camps situated in beautiful bush and only a stone's throw from the beach. These camps are specially designed to have a small environmental footprint. You’ll fall asleep in a comfortable bed in your own bush cabin to the sound of waves gently lapping nearby and wake to the sound of birds in the forest. The camp consists of 5 x huts for participants and 2 x composting toilets and 2 x bucket showers. All huts are configured with twin beds.

Accommodated Colonial House

The last night on Maria Island you’ll be staying in the beautifully restored Bernacchi House at Darlington, a rare, heritage listed house dating back to 1880. It is configured with 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms shared between the group. Bedroom configurations: Honeymoon suite with 1 x queen + 1 x single bed, Bedroom 1 with 2 x single beds, Bedroom 2 with 2 x single beds, Bedroom 3 with 1 x queen + 1 x single bed, and Bedroom 4 with 1 x queen + 1 x single bed. Room allocations are finalised on arrival and preferences can be noted for consideration as this will depend on the final makeup of the group. After a final night’s banquet take a stroll on to veranda and marvel at the millions of stars and the fragrance of the lavender garden below.

Suitability

Introductory to Moderate

4

This trip is for almost anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. The walk itself is light and undemanding with options to add challenge as desired. Most of the walk is fairly flat, with an option to summit of Mt. Maria, or save the mountain climb for Bishop and Clerk. You'll walk along firm beaches and formed bush tracks. Suggested preparation: We recommend regular exercise 3 or 4 times per week (this can be cycling, jogging or walking) in the months leading up to your trip. You should also walk with a weighted day pack (5–7kg) for several hours for leg strengthening and aerobic fitness. The best way to train for an active holiday is to simulate the activity you will be undertaking on the trip.

Departure dates


Notes

H
High Season
S
Surcharge
Note:
A supplement applies to all departures marked with an 'S'. These are portered departures where you only need to carry a small daypack weighing 1-2kg. The rest of your gear will be transported for you.
DN2
A high season supplement applies for all departures from 24 December to 30 April.
DN3
Dates with an 'O' are family friendly departures.
DN4
In addition to the World Expeditions deposit, you will also be required to pay an additional deposit of 20% of the trip cost (paid in your local currency at the current rate of exchange). The balance of the tour price is payable 70 days prior to departure.

Priceper person from

$2950AUD

Options & Supplements*
  • Pack Free Walk - Portered DepartureAUD$400
  • Single supplement Low Season 24/25AUD$2245
  • Single supplement High Season 24/25AUD$2345
*Prices listed are per person

Essential Information

Ready to book? Make sure you download and read the detailed The Maria Island Walk trip notes which contains all the essential information you need to know before booking. Once you’ve booked, we will supply you with a Pre-Departure document which contains a detailed gear list and other important information to help you prepare for your adventure ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

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You can store excess luggage at our Hobart office, where the group will be driven to after being collected from your nominated accommodation in Hobart CBD, and this will be loaded on to the bus which meets you as you return from the island at the end of your walk.

We collect guests from central Hobart hotels from 7:30am on Day 1 of the walk. On Day 4 of the walk we offer a scheduled airport transfer at 4:00pm (we recommend guests book flights no earlier than 6:00pm) or transfer guests to their hotel in central Hobart by 5:00pm. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can meet by 8am at the Hobart office (contact your reservations consultant for the address) or self-drive to Triabunna to meet on the wharf by 9:30am for a 10am ferry departure to Maria Island.

There is no power at the bush camps on the first 2 nights so please ensure your phone/devices are fully charged and pack a portable charger / power bank with cable for charging your devices on these nights. There is power for charging on night 3 at Bernacchi House.

Guests walk along firm beaches and formed bush tracks and a moderate level of fitness is required. A backpack with all personal gear is carried by each guest throughout the walk so we suggest you pack light as per our gear list. When we climb the mountain peaks your packs can be left and a lighter day pack carried.

Maria Island has a mild, temperate climate during walking months and has an average daytime temperature in the 20s and night time 10-15 degrees, but of course the weather can be unpredictable and so we recommend guests pack for all conditions.

Two nights will be at our beautiful camps where guests enjoy twin share*, comfortable cabins with raised beds, complete with mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows. The camps are environmentally sensitive; with water tanks collecting rain from some of the world’s cleanest air, wash rooms, warm outdoor bush showers and composting toilets. The final night is in historic Bernacchi House; guests enjoy hot showers, fresh linen, recline by wood fires and a piano whilst waiting for the final nights banquet.

*Single walkers will share with other same gender guests. Private accommodation will be subject to availability and should be discussed with the office team at the time of booking.

For us to plan and cater for your walk we ask guests to advise of any specific dietary and health needs. Maria Island is a remote location and your comfort and care is important to us.

We strongly recommend that you have appropriate travel insurance.

Wearing multiple layers of clothes is recommended for warmth and comfort when walking. Denim is generally not recommended as can become heavy and cold when wet and it does not breathe. Boots with ankle support and good sole tread are recommended, particularly if guests are keen to climb the mountain summits. Boots should be comfortable and worn in. Solid walking shoes with good soles are OK however trainers/runners are generally not recommended.

For groups of 10, private walks or selected departures, we can arrange to porter packs between each nights accommodation. There will be an extra charge for this service.

Trip reviews

Videos

Walking Maria Island

Positive Impact Travel

By joining this trip you are directly supporting positive impact projects in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We’ve offset the carbon emitted by this trip by purchasing credits that support important projects that address the UN’s seventeen SDGs, like reducing poverty, affordable and clean energy, reducing hunger, clean water and climate action.

Proceeds from this adventure purchase carbon credits through the world’s largest and most awarded carbon project developer, South Pole, which are invested into projects accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources in developing countries.

Supported projects are based on internationally recognised standards and are third-party audited. They entail a series of positive impacts on the ground, which benefit local communities and ecosystems, that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.