4
Introductory to Moderate
Activities
  • 3 days walking
Accommodation
  • 2 nights accommodated
Meals
  • 2 Dinners
  • 3 Lunches
  • 2 Breakfasts

3 Days$1955AUD

View Inclusions
THIS TRIP IS
100% CARBON OFFSET
Read More
Trip Code: MWE

Trip highlights

  • 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
  • Marvel at the impressive colours of the Painted Cliffs
  • Chance to climb the islands highest peak and take in 360deg views of the island

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 eight, 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.

Carbon Footprint

48kg of CO2-e PP per day

(96kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

You'll be picked up from your central Hobart accommodation at approximately 7:30am to 8:00am. After an introductory briefing with your guides and fellow walkers, the group departs on a 90min scenic drive to Triabunna to board one of the local ferry boats across to Maria Island. On the short cruise through the Mercury Passage, keep a lookout for whales and dolphins. Disembarking at the historic town of Darlington, it's a short walk to the historic Bernacchi House, your accommodation for the next two nights. After lunch, you can choose to relax at the house in front of the wood fires or join your guides for a walk to the stunning Painted Cliffs or Fossil Cliffs - their colour vivid in the afternoon light. Delicious fresh Tasmanian produce and fine wines will be served over a three-course meal by your guides this evening, followed by leisurely time to see the incredible starry skies or keep an eye out for the elusive Tasmanian Devils. Walking distance: 2km, or 12km if taking one of the afternoon walks.

Meals:  L,D

After a leisurely and relaxed breakfast, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings before you choose the walk you wish to take today. For the adventurous there is the choice of walking one of two of the island's summits, worth it for each of their incredible views from the top - Bishop & Clerk or Mount Maria. For a more relaxed stroll, choose from one of two circuits that pass historic sites with free-roaming wildlife along the way - Reservoir Circuit or Oast House Circuit. Arriving back at the Bernacchi House mid-afternoon, you will be entertained by native birds and mammals while enjoying delicious wines and canapes on Bernacchi House's front veranda or in front of the fire, before settling in for another satisfying and delicious dinner. Walking distance: 6km, or up to 18km if a mountain summit is chosen.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, you can explore the buildings of Darlington, the convict settlement and industrial ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage site. A farewell lunch will be served overlooking Darlington before you board the boat in the early afternoon for Triabunna and then drive back to Hobart CBD or airport. We can drop you off to your Hobart CBD post-tour accommodation by approximately 5pm, or to Hobart Airport by 4:30pm (to connect with flights departing no earlier than 6pm), for your onward travels. If you have a later flight, we can return you to Hobart CBD for time to explore the city or have dinner - you will then need to make your own transfer arrangements from the CBD to the airport (own expense). Walking distance: your choice

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

  • 2 nights twin share accommodation (single supplement available on request for single travellers - limited)
  • 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners and wine
  • Professional guides
  • National Park fees
  • Private bus & public ferry boat transfers between Hobart and Maria Island
  • Use of a day pack, waterproof jacket & head torch to carry while walking
  • Emergency communications & group first aid kit

  • Travel to and from Hobart before and after the trip
  • Accommodation before and after the trip
  • Items of a personal nature - car parking etc
  • Travel insurance

Accommodation

Accommodated Colonial House

For your two nights 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 x bedrooms and 2 x 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 each night’s banquet take a stroll on the 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

Regular departures on Friday from June to August

Notes

DN1
In addition to the World Expeditions deposit, you will also be required to pay an additional deposit of AUD$400 (paid in your local currency at the current rate of exchange). The balance of the tour price is payable 60 days prior to departure.

Priceper person from

$1955AUD

Options & Supplements*
  • Single supplement 2026AUD$1350
*Prices listed are per person

Essential Information

Ready to book? Make sure you download and read the detailed Maria Island Winter Escape 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

Expand all | Collapse all

We recommend that you bring a 'weekender bag', weighing a maximum of 10kg for your 2 night stay at Bernacchi House. This bag will stay at the house while you are out on walks around the island.

Mobile service coverage on the island is very patchy and depending on your carrier may not be available. Guides have phones that can be used if necessary.

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 participants from central Hobart hotels from 7:30-8:00am on Day 1 of the walk - your reservations consultant will notify you of your exact pick-up time a couple of days prior to your trip departure.

On Day 3 of the walk we offer a scheduled airport transfer at 4:30pm (we recommend guests book flights no earlier than 6:00pm) or transfer participants 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 are power outlets for charging devices on both nights at Bernacchi House.

Participants will walk along firm beaches and formed bush tracks and a moderate level of fitness is required. We provide a day pack for you to use over the 3 days. You will carry a water bottle, lunch and your waterproof jacket in the pack.

Maria Island has a mild, temperate climate and has an average daytime temperature in winter of 12 degrees Celsius and night time of around 6 degrees Celsius. As the weather can change, we recommend participants bring everything on our recommended gear list, which will be provided to you upon booking.

You will spend both nights of the trip in the historic Bernacchi House - participants enjoy hot showers, fresh linen, recline by wood fires and a piano whilst your guides prepare a gourmet banquet each night. Accommodation is twin share* (queen or two single beds per room).

*Single walkers will share with another participant of the same gender. Single sleeping arrangements can be requested for an additional supplement at the time of booking, subject to availability.

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

It is a condition of booking a tour with us, and your responsibility to ensure that you are adequately insured for the full duration of the tour in respect of illness, injury, pre-existing medical conditions, death, loss of baggage and personal items and cancellation and curtailment. You must provide evidence to TEX that you have obtained personal travel insurance. You must ensure that your personal travel insurance covers all of the activities you expect to participate in.

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 participants 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. A comprehensive gear list will be provided to you by your reservations consultant upon booking.

Trip reviews

Videos

The Maria Island Walk Winter Escape

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.