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Bushwalks Maria Island

Bushwalks Maria Island

Bushwalks Maria Island

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Bushwalks on Maria Island, Tasmania

Imagine a place with absolutely no cars, no shops, and where wombats heavily outnumber humans. Welcome to Maria Island National Park, a pristine island sanctuary floating just off Tasmania’s scenic east coast. Known affectionately as Tasmania’s “Noah’s Ark” due to its rich abundance of rare and endangered wildlife, Maria Island is a bushwalker’s paradise. Whether you are looking for an easy, flat stroll along dramatic coastlines or a challenging, multi-hour mountain scramble, this island delivers. In this guide, we break down the absolute best bushwalks on Maria Island, how to get there, and the essential survival tips you need before boarding the ferry.

Quick Comparison: Maria Island Trails At A Glance

Before diving into the details, use this quick table to match a walk to your fitness level and schedule. All walks depart from the historic Darlington Probation Station.
Walk NameDistance (Return)Time RequiredDifficulty LevelMajor Highlights
Painted Cliffs Walk4.5 km1.5 – 2 hoursEasy (Grade 2)Swirling sandstone patterns, wombats
Fossil Cliffs Circuit4.5 km1.5 – 2.5 hoursEasy (Grade 3)250-million-year-old ancient fossils
Bishop and Clerk11 km4 – 5 hoursMedium/Hard (Grade 4)Dolerite cliff views, rock scrambling
Mount Maria Walk16 km8 hoursHard (Grade 4)Highest point on the island, panoramic views

1. Painted Cliffs Walk (The Crowd Favourite)
    • Distance: 4.5 km return
    • Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
    • Difficulty: Easy

If you only have time for one short walk on a day trip, make it the Painted Cliffs Walk. This gentle coastal track winds south from the Darlington settlement past Hopground Beach.
The highlight is a series of breathtaking sandstone cliffs carved by the ocean. Ground water filtering through the stone has left intricate, swirling patterns of iron oxide, making the rock look like a painted canvas.
Tip: Time this walk for low tide. You can only walk on the rock platforms directly in front of the cliffs when the tide is out!

2. Fossil Cliffs Circuit (For History Buffs)
    • Distance: 4.5 km circuit
    • Time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
    • Difficulty: Easy

Heading north from Darlington takes you to the dramatic Fossil Cliffs. This trail leads you to the edge of exposed, vertical cliffs that drop straight into the sea.
If you look closely at the limestone blocks beneath your feet, you will see millions of prehistoric sea creatures, shell fossils, and ancient brachiopods frozen in time from 250 million years ago. The open, grassy windswept fields here are also the absolute best spot on the island to photograph grazing common wombats and Forester kangaroos.
3. Bishop and Clerk (The Peak Experience)
    • Distance: 11 km return
    • Time: 4 – 5 hours
    • Difficulty: Medium to Hard

For those seeking an adventure that gets the heart pumping, the Bishop and Clerk track is one of Tasmania’s official “Top 60 Great Short Walks“.
The trail starts gently through open forest and coastal woodlands, but quickly transitions into a steep uphill climb. The final 30 minutes require a true rock scramble over giant, tumbling dolerite boulders. Once at the 620-metre summit, you are treated to sheer, exhilarating cliff-edge views over the Mercury Passage and the Tasman Sea.
4. Mount Maria Walk (The Ultimate Challenge)
    • Distance: 16 km return
    • Time: 8 hours
    • Difficulty: Hard (Grade 4)

The highest point on the island is Mount Maria, standing proud at 711 metres. This full-day trek requires excellent fitness, lots of water, and sturdy hiking boots.
The track meanders quietly through tall, dense eucalypt forests before throwing a massive boulder-scramble at you right before the summit. Reaching the top rewards you with unmatched, 360-degree panoramic views across the twin bays of the island’s narrow isthmus and all the way down to the Tasman Peninsula.
Crucial Logistics: Planning Your Maria Island Bushwalk
Because Maria Island is an uninhibited, protected National Park, you cannot just show up unprepared. Keep these rules in mind:
    • Getting There: You must book a passenger ferry from the small coastal town of Triabunna. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes across the Mercury Passage.
    • National Park Passes: A valid Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service pass is strictly required to step onto the island. You can buy these at the Triabunna terminal.
    • Pack Everything In, Pack Everything Out: There are no shops, cafes, or commercial outlets on the island. You must bring your own lunch, snacks, and medical supplies in a daypack.
    • Water Warning: Water available in the Darlington tanks is not purified and is unsafe to drink without treatment. Bring enough bottled water to last your entire walking trip.

Which Maria Island walk are you adding to your bucket list?
Are you team Wombat Stroll (Painted Cliffs) or team Mountain Scramble (Bishop and Clerk)? Let us know in the comments below!
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