The Guided Walk
Cast off to an island where peak hour traffic is a line of fairy penguins emerging from the sea...distractions come in form of world-rated fossil cliffs...and the most stressful thing you'll do is decide whether to have red or white wine with your gourmet meal. Come home to yourself on an island walk like no other. Tread softly through a refuge for rare wildlife and plants. Trace history from the era of convicts back to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Follow a coastline carved by sea and storm.

The Maria Island Walk Itinerary
Day 1 - Natives in nature
Depart from 4 Patrick Street, Hobart, our head office and head east, meandering through rolling countryside, to Triabunna. Board a chartered vessel, exploring Mercury passage en route to the unique isthmus of Maria island. Treading in the footsteps of great explorers, alight and enjoy an alfresco lunch in the shade of the she-oaks overlooking the calm and tranquil azure waters of Shoal Bay. Spend the afternoon pack free and select from a variety of expeditions; ramble through tall eucalypt forest down to the spectacular granite out-crop of Haunted Bay where fairy penguins have a stunning vantage point in their burrows over the Forester Peninsula to the south; or perhaps take a heritage walk down to Robeys Farm and delight in the atmosphere of an early settler. Bask in the evening summer sun as your guides prepare the ultimate bush gourmet experience at the Casuarina Beach Camp. (8km walk - 4 hours)

Day 2 - Five fabulous beaches
Awake to the chattering of birds and watch the sunrise dapple the leaves around you from the comfort of your bed. After a hearty breakfast let the five fabulous beaches unfold ahead of you at a gentle pace. Retrace the steps of French explorer Baudin who visited in 1802. Hear tales of intrigue from the convict days at the Probation outpost of Point Lesueur. Inspect the ochre pit at Bloodstone Point, one of three original ochre sources used by the Tyreddeme Aboriginal people of this region. Continue ambling along stretches of pristine coastline, under the watchful eyes of the sea eagles, to the discreet and exclusive White Gums Camp at Four Mile Beach. After a satisfying day of new experiences and leisurely exploring, savour delicious and plentiful Tasmanian food and wine whilst sharing stories with new friends. (13km - 6 hours)

Day 3 - Greetings from Gondwana

Head inland, away from the stunning clear blue waters and into the rich green of the grand forests filled with relics from the super-continent Gondwana. Stand in awe of the giant Tasmanian rainforest specimens of blue gum, celery top pine, sassafras and tree ferns. Enjoy lunch at the Painted Cliffs with its extraordinary rock pools, or, if you are feeling energetic, continue on to the summits of Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk with breathtaking 360 degree views over the whole island and beyond. Arrive at the restored settlement of Darlington, once home to convicts and entrepreneurs alike and explore the Coffee Palace, Penitentiary, the ghostly ruins of the industrial boom days and the oldest building on the island, the Commissariat Store. Retire to the beautifully restored home of visionary Diego Bernacchi and relax on the verandah with gourmet nibbles and a glass of Tasmanian wine. Share a sumptuous dinner by candlelight, then soak up the ambience in front of a roaring log fire. 9km walk - 4 hours, 17km walk - 8 hours (Mt Maria), 15km walk - 8 hours (Bishop or Clerk) Day 4 - Marine playground marvels The final day begins with a hearty breakfast followed by a morning free for you to drink in the ambiance of this preserved convict settlement, which pre-dates Port Arthur. Wander through the Coffee Palace and uncover the artefacts of the island’s cultural heritage or simply sit in the forest shade discovering the hidden habitats of many of our native creatures around the Reservoir circuit. After a leisurely champagne lunch, overlooking the Freycinet peninsula, explore the world class fossil cliffs and fascinating ruins of the industrial period, as your guides unravel their hidden secrets. Relaxed and refreshed, we return aboard our charter boat to Triabunna from the Darlington jetty and enjoy a gentle journey back to Hobart through the beautiful Coal River Valley and historic Richmond. The Maria Island Walk Includes • All transfers between Hobart and Maria Island • Two nights twin share accommodation at standing wilderness camps • One night twin share at colonial Bernacchi House in Darlington • All meals and wine • Experienced guides • National park entrance fees • Complimentary hotel pickup and return • Hobart Airport drop off at end of walk • Waterproof jacket, sleeping bag (awaiting you at camps), silk liners, head torches and use of backpack and daypacks Additional Information Grading - easy to moderate Minimum participants 3 - maximum 8 Departure ex Hobart at 8.00am - returns 5.00pm Duration 4 Days November to April - Monday, Wednesday and Friday Children - under 12 years not suitable