Bushwalking Maria Island Tasmania

1. Darlington Historic Town Walk

A self-guided loop through the old convict probation station and later industrial settlement, taking in the Coffee Palace museum, the mess room, chapel, and prison cells. It’s flat, well-signed, and a good orientation walk before tackling anything longer.

Distance: 1km loop • Time: 30 min–2 hrs (longer with museum stops) • Difficulty: Easy (Grade 2) • Dogs: Not permitted — no dogs or pets of any kind are allowed on Maria Island.

Nearest campground: Darlington Campground, right in the settlement.

2. Painted Cliffs Walk

A relaxing walk south along Hopground Beach to a stretch of sandstone swirled with orange and yellow patterns from centuries of water and mineral staining. Mostly flat and easy underfoot, though it’s best timed around low tide so you can walk the rock platform right at the base of the cliffs.

Distance: 4.3km return • Time: 1.5–2.5 hrs • Difficulty: Easy (Grade 2) • Dogs: Not permitted.

3. Fossil Cliffs Circuit

A short but steep circuit out to cliffs holding one of the finest exposed marine fossil beds anywhere in the world — roughly 300-million-year-old clams, sea fans, corals, and scallop shells embedded in the rock strata. Also best visited at low tide if you want to get down onto the shore platform for a closer look.

Distance: 4.5km circuit • Time: 1.5–2.5 hrs • Difficulty: Moderate (Grade 3, one short steep section) • Dogs: Not permitted.

4. Reservoir Circuit Maria Island

A quieter option through open woodland into tall eucalypt forest, sheltered from the coastal wind and one of the better spots on the island to see the endangered forty-spotted pardalote. The loop passes ruins from the old cement works before returning to Darlington.

Distance: 4km return • Time: about 1.5 hrs • Difficulty: Moderate (Grade 3) • Dogs: Not permitted.

5. Bishop and Clerk Hike

The big one on this list — a genuinely challenging return walk to the twin dolerite peaks above Darlington, with steep sections, rock scrambling, and exposed blocks near the top. The reward is a summit view stretching across the island and out to the Freycinet Peninsula. Best suited to fit, experienced walkers with good footwear.

Distance: 11km return • Time: 4–5 hrs • Difficulty: Hard (Grade 4, rock scrambling near the summit) • Dogs: Not permitted.

Planning Your Trip

Maria Island is accessed by ferry from Triabunna (around 30 minutes each way), and since the whole island is national park, you’ll need a valid Tasmanian Parks Pass on top of your ferry ticket — check current fares and timetables with the ferry operator and parks.tas.gov.au before you go.

Dogs are not permitted anywhere on the island, including the campground — it’s a wildlife sanctuary and the ban is strictly enforced. There’s no shop of substance and no reliable mobile reception, so bring all the food, water, and cash you’ll need for your stay (camping fees at Darlington are paid on a self-registration basis, cash only). Weather on the island can turn quickly even on a clear morning, so pack a warm layer and rain shell regardless of season, and check tide times before heading to Painted Cliffs or Fossil Cliffs, as both are best — and safest — walked around low tide.