Darlington Historic Town Walk
- September 17, 2026
A self-guided walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict precinct at Darlington, Maria Island's only settlement.
The Painted Cliffs are one of Maria Island’s most distinctive natural attractions – beautifully patterned sandstone cliffs where flowing groundwater and coastal erosion have combined to create swirling bands of orange, yellow and red. Wave action has further sculpted the sandstone into extraordinary honeycomb-like patterns, hollows and notches, creating a natural artwork along the island’s western shoreline. The walk from Darlington is relatively easy, following the coast towards Hopground Beach before reaching the rock platform beneath the cliffs. Time your visit around low tide and you can explore the platform below the sandstone formations, where the colours, textures and intricate erosion patterns can be appreciated up close. The return can be made via the historic Oast House, adding another glimpse of Maria Island’s fascinating past to what is primarily a beautiful coastal walk. One of Tasmania’s celebrated short walks, the Painted Cliffs are particularly well suited to families and visitors wanting an easy Maria Island adventure without the demanding climbing of Bishop and Clerk or Mount Maria.
Location: Maria Island National Park, East Coast Tasmania
Distance: Approximately 4.3 km circuit
Time: Approximately 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy – Grade 2
Track Type: Circuit from Darlington via Hopground Beach, Painted Cliffs and the Oast House
Track Surface: Formed coastal track, beach and rock platform, with formed tracks on the return
Best Time: Around low tide for access beneath the cliffs; late afternoon light can bring out the sandstone colours
The Painted Cliffs Walk begins from the historic settlement of Darlington, where the passenger ferry arrives from Triabunna. From Darlington, follow the route south along the western side of Maria Island towards Hopground Beach. The early part of the walk is easy and scenic, with views across Mercury Passage towards mainland Tasmania and regular opportunities to encounter Maria Island’s abundant wildlife. After reaching Hopground Beach, continue towards the Painted Cliffs at the southern end of the bay. At low tide, the exposed rock platform beneath the cliffs provides the best opportunity to see the remarkable sandstone formations up close. After exploring the cliffs, continue around the circuit towards the historic Oast House before following the inland route back towards Darlington. The result is an enjoyable circuit combining coast, beach, geology, wildlife and history in a relatively short walk.
The Painted Cliffs aren’t particularly high, but what they lack in scale they more than make up for in colour and detail. The sandstone contains beautiful bands and swirls of red, orange and yellow, creating patterns that appear almost painted onto the rock. Groundwater moving through the sandstone has carried minerals through the rock, helping produce the distinctive staining visible today. Closer to sea level, waves and salt weathering have gradually carved the softer sandstone into hollows, pits, ridges and honeycomb-like formations. The result is a remarkably intricate section of coastline that looks different depending on the light, tide and weather.
One of the most fascinating features of the Painted Cliffs is the extraordinary honeycomb weathering visible across parts of the sandstone. Instead of a smooth cliff face, sections of rock contain hundreds of small cavities and interconnected patterns. These features have developed as the coastal environment gradually attacks weaker parts of the sandstone. Salt carried by sea spray enters tiny spaces within the rock, while repeated wetting, drying and wave action contribute to the continuing erosion. Viewed up close, some sections resemble honeycomb, lace or a giant natural sponge.
Tide timing is important on the Painted Cliffs Walk. The cliffs themselves can be reached from the walking track, but the best views of the patterned sandstone are from the rock platform immediately below them. That platform is safest and most accessible around low tide. At higher tides, waves can cover or wash across sections of the platform, making access more difficult and potentially unsafe. Check the local tide times before leaving Darlington and plan your walk so you reach the cliffs around low tide. Never put yourself between rising water and the safest route back from the rock platform.
Before reaching the cliffs, the walk passes attractive Hopground Beach. The sheltered beach provides a beautiful place to stop, particularly during warm and calm weather. Clear water, pale sand and views across Mercury Passage make it a tempting swimming spot. If conditions are suitable, bring swimwear and allow extra time for a swim before continuing to the Painted Cliffs. As with any Tasmanian beach, water temperatures can be cold even during summer.
The waters along this side of Maria Island form part of a protected marine environment, adding another dimension to a visit to Hopground Beach. On calm days, clear water can make swimming and snorkelling particularly appealing. Marine life can be observed around rocky areas and beneath the surface, but visitors should respect all marine reserve regulations and avoid disturbing wildlife or removing anything from protected areas. Check current conditions before entering the water and never assume that a sheltered-looking beach is completely free of hazards.
The return section of the circuit provides another reminder that almost every corner of Maria Island has a story. The historic Oast House was constructed during the nineteenth century as part of attempts to establish agricultural industries on the island. Oast houses were traditionally used for drying hops as part of the brewing process. The Maria Island building is another example of the ambitious attempts made over the years to establish profitable enterprises on the island. Its ruins provide an interesting historical stop before the circuit continues towards Darlington.
Even though the Painted Cliffs are the main destination, wildlife may provide some of the most memorable moments along the way. Maria Island is famous for its abundant native animals, many of which can be encountered surprisingly close to Darlington.
Keep watch for:
Wombats are particularly common around the open grasslands near Darlington and along parts of the route. Never feed or touch wildlife, and give animals plenty of room to move naturally.
The Painted Cliffs Circuit is relatively straightforward compared with Maria Island’s mountain walks.
Expect:
The rock platform is the section requiring the most care, particularly when wet or when the tide is rising.
The Painted Cliffs Walk is rated Easy – Grade 2. The approximately 4.3-kilometre circuit contains no major climbs and should be manageable for most reasonably active visitors. The main difficulty is negotiating the rock platform beneath the cliffs. Wet sandstone and other coastal rocks can be slippery, while higher tides can restrict safe access. Visitors who aren’t comfortable walking across the rock platform can still enjoy the surrounding coastal scenery without attempting difficult or unsafe sections.
Plan your walk around the tide rather than the clock. Check the tide times before travelling to Maria Island and aim to arrive at the Painted Cliffs close to low tide. If you can combine low tide with late-afternoon light, the warm sandstone colours can be particularly impressive. Just make sure you leave enough time to return to Darlington for your ferry if you’re visiting Maria Island as a day trip.
The sandstone formations are beautiful but also relatively fragile. Visitors should avoid climbing on delicate sections, breaking pieces from the cliffs or damaging the honeycomb formations. Leave shells, rocks and other natural material where you find them and follow all Maria Island National Park and marine reserve regulations. With thousands of visitors coming to see the cliffs, small actions by individual walkers can collectively make a significant difference.
Yes. The Painted Cliffs Walk is one of Maria Island’s best family outings. The distance is manageable for active children, there are no major climbs and the combination of beach, wildlife and unusual rock formations provides plenty of interest. Hopground Beach can also provide an enjoyable break during warm weather. Close supervision is essential on the rock platform and around the water, particularly if the tide is rising or waves are washing across the rocks.
No. Dogs and other domestic pets are not permitted within Maria Island National Park. Maria Island is an important wildlife sanctuary supporting abundant native animals and several threatened species.
Maria Island is reached by passenger ferry from Triabunna on Tasmania’s East Coast. The ferry crosses Mercury Passage and arrives at the historic settlement of Darlington. There are no public visitor cars on Maria Island, so the island is explored primarily on foot or bicycle. Book your ferry before travelling, particularly during weekends, holidays and other busy periods. A valid Tasmania Parks Pass is required to visit Maria Island National Park.
The Painted Cliffs Walk begins from Darlington, close to the ferry jetty. From the settlement, follow the signed route south along the coast towards Hopground Beach and the Painted Cliffs. The route is one of the most popular walks from Darlington and is generally straightforward to follow. If completing the full circuit, continue from the Painted Cliffs towards the Oast House before following the route back to Darlington.
There are no visitor facilities at the Painted Cliffs themselves.
The main facilities are back at Darlington and include:
Shopping and food options on Maria Island are extremely limited, so bring everything you need for your visit from the mainland.
The Painted Cliffs are within easy reach of several other walks around Darlington, making them particularly easy to include in a full day exploring Maria Island.
The Darlington Historic Town Walk explores Maria Island’s remarkable World Heritage-listed convict settlement. The approximately 1 km self-guided walk passes the Commissariat Store, Penitentiary, Coffee Palace and other buildings that reveal the island’s convict and industrial history.
The Reservoir Circuit heads inland from Darlington through woodland and tall eucalypt forest. The approximately 4 km Grade 3 circuit visits the historic reservoir and passes important habitat for the endangered forty-spotted pardalote.
The Fossil Cliffs Circuit heads north from Darlington to a very different geological landscape. Here, ancient limestone contains an extraordinary concentration of marine fossils, while old quarry and cement-industry remains add another layer of history.
The Bishop and Clerk Hike is the challenging alternative for walkers wanting a mountain adventure. The approximately 11 km return Grade 4 walk climbs to spectacular dolerite formations around 620 metres above the Tasman Sea.
The Mount Maria Walk climbs to the highest point on Maria Island at approximately 711 metres. It’s a substantial mountain walk requiring considerably more time, fitness and preparation than the Painted Cliffs Circuit.
The Painted Cliffs are ideal for combining with the Darlington Historic Town Walk. Explore the historic settlement after arriving on the ferry, then follow the coast towards Hopground Beach and the Painted Cliffs. After visiting the cliffs, return via the Oast House to create a varied circuit combining convict history, wildlife, beach scenery and geology. If you have additional time before your ferry, the Fossil Cliffs provide another excellent walk from Darlington and showcase a completely different chapter of Maria Island’s geological and industrial history.
The Painted Cliffs Walk manages to pack an extraordinary amount into a relatively easy outing. There are colourful sandstone formations, intricate honeycomb weathering, a sheltered beach, marine scenery, abundant wildlife and historic ruins – all within a few kilometres of Darlington. The cliffs themselves are unlike almost anything else on Maria Island, with groundwater staining and coastal erosion transforming ordinary sandstone into a remarkably intricate natural artwork. Best of all, you don’t need to tackle a difficult mountain climb to reach them. For families, photographers, casual walkers or anyone visiting Maria Island for the first time, the Painted Cliffs are one of the island’s essential short walks.
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