Tasmania’s Maria Island Walk (Portered)

Welcome to Tasmania! Your adventure begins in Hobart, or Nipaluna in the language of the Muwinina and Palawa peoples, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Hobart is now located. Prepare to be picked up from your accommodation in Hobart between 7.30 and 8am, where you’ll be taken to your welcome meeting. Get to know your guides, collect your packs and sit down for a trip briefing. Then, set off towards the port of Triabunna and our private boat that will ferry you over the Mercury Passage and on to Maria Island (Wukaluwikiwayna). After a beach landing, sit down for a picnic lunch with a view of Shoal Bay, before walking over to our private and exclusive Casuarina Beach camp. This afternoon, you’ll walk to Haunted Bay – a site favoured by little penguins whose roosting sounds echo off the rocks, creating a haunting sound. Wander back along the eucalyptus-lined trail to camp, where a gourmet dinner awaits, followed by a sleep in the eco cabins set directly behind the beach.

Rise and shine to the sound of the island’s wildlife waking up before getting in a good breakfast at camp. Gear up and set out on today’s beach walk, where you may even see dolphins out in the surf. Enjoy the views and make a stop for lunch somewhere along the trail. Continue walking the coast towards your next camp at White Gums, learning about the area’s wildlife and wilderness from your leader. Arrive at camp by late afternoon, where you can jump in for a refreshing ocean dip. Enjoy free time at your eco cabin before it’s time to sit down for a candlelit evening meal with your walking group.

Enjoy another morning waking in the native forests of Maria Island. Fuel up on breakfast and get ready for your next stage of the hike, which takes you inland through the world’s largest Tasmanian Blue Gums. From here, you can choose between hiking to the summit of Mt Maria (771 m) or taking on the Bishop and Clerk climb (599 m), which travels through a cloud rainforest. Sometime this afternoon, you’ll reach this evening’s accommodation, the heritage-listed Bernacchi House, which sits within the World Heritage-listed area of Darlington. Enjoy a hot shower and dinner looking out over the grounds where wombats are known to waddle.

Your last morning on Maria Island begins after breakfast with an optional walk to the northern reaches of the island. Walk through more of Tasmania’s remote woodland landscapes, looking for rare species like the swift parrot or Tasmanian devil. After, step out from the forests and over to Fossil Cliffs for views down to the beach and into the rock itself where over 300 million years of shells and sea life are fossilised. When you’ve taken in enough of the view, return to the trail back to Darlington, where a final picnic lunch awaits. Hop aboard your return boat to the Tasmanian mainland, arriving in Hobart at around 5 pm, where your trip will come to an end. Please take this into consideration when booking your onward travel.