Description
From Hobart, it takes just one hour to go to the boat, and it takes 30 minutes to get across the water to Maria Island, an incredible island National Park. A little island off of a larger island.
This tour is intended for the adventurous travelling who wants to explore this special island on foot. The only method to get to or from Maria Island is via passenger ferry as there are no cars there. The Painted Cliffs, and of course the fauna, history, and breathtaking beauty are the main attractions.
Departures
- Departs Hobart 6.45am
- Returns Hobart 5 pm
Our tour guides will tell you about Maria Island’s fascinating history as you hike the paths. The Tyreddeme Aboriginals, the Dutch, the English, the French, and the Italians were among the several cultures that once inhabited the island. Explorers, whalers, sealers, prisoners, fishermen, farmers, and businessmen have all called the island home.
Walking Paths
We take a series of easy to somewhat difficult strolls while learning about the island’s history and major attractions. We have two primary walking trails for the day that span a combined distance of almost 10 kilometers.
The Painted Cliffs are located at the farther end of Hopground Beach, and it’s a short and somewhat level hike to get there. We have plenty of time to explore the cliffs, capture the fascinating details on camera, and discover the numerous rock pools and breathtaking surroundings around us.
Breathtaking Cliffs
The Fossil Cliffs Trek leads to breathtaking cliffs that plunge straight into the water. The sheer quantity of different shell fossils uncovered in the rock face will captivate even the least interested geologist. It provides broad views of the Freycinet Peninsula and an intriguing look into Maria Island’s former habitats.
The island is one of the best sites in Australia to see wombats, Tasmanian devils, Cape Barren geese, kangaroos, and wallabies since it is a haven for wildlife. The 125 kinds of birds, including all of Tasmania’s endemics and threatened species like the swift parrot and forty-spotted pardalote, are another draw.
Even the ferry voyage is one of the day’s highlights because the waters we go through are teeming with marine life. We keep a lookout for dolphins, seals, and penguins as we go.
You can swim, take pictures, watch the wildlife, and generally enjoy island life as Maria works her magic on you while you’re there.
Join us on this adventure-filled day of discovery filled with environmental and cultural history at the ideal island playground.
Explore Maria Island National Park (6hrs)
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 we walk to the “Fossil Cliffs”
- Explore and discover the geological history amongst the exposed fossils
- Discover the convict history at the Darlington World Heritage convict site
- Be amazed at the abundant wildlife enjoying life on their extraordinary island
Inclusions
- Entrance to a national park
- Ferry fare for the return trip
- Interpretive hikes and expert guides
- Pleasant small groups
- Choose, centre Airport pickups and drops are available at the Hobart Hotel & Backpacker Hostel upon request.
Just Remember
Our tours entail trekking through untamed areas and national parks. We concentrate on Tasmania’s fantastic short hikes. Despite the fact that the majority of the walks are rated as easy, it is nevertheless imperative to have a sufficient level of physical fitness and overall health. All tour participants will engage in outdoor, physical activities, thus they will all be exposed to the current day’s outdoor weather conditions.
Before visiting our national parks, we give all of our visitors instruction on Leave No Trace principles and Minimal Impact Bushwalking. By observing from suitable distances and instructing our visitors on how to view animals with patience and care, we give accurate interpretation and minimise wildlife disturbance. Activities are never allowed off of the trains and boardwalks.
Important info before travel
- Sensible shoes for walking
- A variety of warm clothing, beanie/hat/gloves
- Weatherproof jacket if possible
- Hat/Sunscreen
- Water Bottle, Snacks, Lunch (or buy it on the day)
- Sense of adventure
- Meals are not included
- You may bring your lunch with you, or we will stop to give you an opportunity to purchase a bakery-style takeaway lunch on the day.
We want you to have a great time during your holiday to Tasmania and to enjoy your tour/s with us. Please read over our Terms and Conditions of Travel with Tours Tasmania Pty Ltd. By booking a tour with us you acknowledge and agree to these Terms and Conditions of Travel. The use of the terms “we”, “us” or “our” applies to Tours Tasmania Pty Ltd.
These terms and conditions apply to bookings you make directly with us or through our agents online, in-store, over phone or by email. Where any person makes bookings on the behalf of other traveller(s) that person is taken to be an agent for the other traveller(s) and on his or her authority that person will bind all such other traveller(s) to these terms and conditions.
General Information
We reserve the right to cancel or vary any trip and will incur no liability for any such cancellation or alteration. We reserve the right to cancel tours based on operational or safety reasons. We reserve the right to use an alternate operator of a similar tour for operational reasons. Refunds or partial refunds are not given due to alterations of itineraries. Our tours are not suitable for children under 8 years of age. We reserve the right to refuse to carry passengers under this age. Refunds will not be available
Cancellation by customer
You must advise our Reservations team via email if you wish to cancel your tour booking, or change your travel date.
Please email us at bookings@tourstas.com.au. The time stamp on the email will define the cancellation time and the fees/charges that apply.
The following fees apply:
Customer Cancellation: 48 hours or less, prior to tour departure time, or no shows – 100% fee applies, no refunds applicable
Customer Cancellation: More than 48 hours prior to tour departure – full refund of tour fee
Requests to change tour departure dates are subject to the above cancellation policy. A request to change your tour date within 48 hours of tour departure, will be subject to the above cancellation policy, amendment to this is at management discretion.
If you are late to your tour pick up, or you are not waiting in the agreed pick up location as held by Tours Tasmania, you will be classed as a no show and subject to the above cancellation policy.
The cancellation policy will stand regardless of cancellation reason. We recommend you have travel insurance to protect yourself against last minute illness and travel disruptions, we will incur no liability for any disruptions to your travel plans.
Cancellation by Tours Tasmania
We reserve the right to cancel departures if we do not have sufficient numbers of passengers for travel. We reserve the right to cancel tours for operational or safety reasons at the discretion of Tours Tasmania Pty Ltd.
If you tour is cancelled by Tours Tasmania you will be offered a refund on your tour payment. You will always be offered to transfer your tour payment to alternate tour day or alternate tour destination. If these are not suitable to you, a full refund of the tour price will be returned. Booking and Bank fees are non-refundable.
Short Walks
Our tours visit National Parks and wild areas that involve some walking and time spent outdoors. They are suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness and mobility. We have no upper age limit though we expect you to have a reasonable level of fitness and act responsibly to ensure your own safety and the safety of others at all times. Travellers under the age of 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult of 18 years+.
Weather Conditions
Tasmania is subject to weather conditions that can change quickly at any time of year. We operate tours in the rain and snow, so we recommend that guests bring clothing and footwear suitable for warm, cold or wet conditions. We operate tours in all weather conditions and reserve the right to alter itineraries if the weather conditions on the day deem this to be necessary for either operational or safety reasons. Refunds are not given when itineraries alter.
Insurance
Travel Insurance is not included in the cost of your tour. We strongly recommend that passengers travel with travel insurance that protects their financial commitments against illness, injury, loss/damage to personal belongings and travel plans. We are not responsible for any loss / damage to personal belongings or luggage, for any injury or loss of any type while on tour or disruptions to travel plans.
We are not responsible for any damage, expense or inconvenience caused by late arrival of flights or public transport, change of schedule, strikes, vehicle breakdown, acts of God, or other conditions. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary should it be deemed necessary.
Photos, Images, Videos
At times, throughout our tours, our Tour Guides may take photos which may include you. We may wish to use those photos for promotional purposes. By joining the tour, you acknowledge and agree that we or our agents may take photos of you and you consent to us using images of you taken during the tour for our advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose. You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable licence to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes.
If you don’t wish to take part please inform your guide at the start of your tour.
