Triabunna & Maria Island National Park

Maria Island, 15km offshore from Triabunna, is a former penal settlement that has been protected as a national park. The park is also known for its wildlife and many endangered species have been introduced to the island in a bid to build their numbers in a car-free environment.

There are some good hiking trails on the island. The Fossil Cliffs walk (2 hours) and Painted Cliffs walk (2½ hours) are popular with day trippers and the challenging Bishop and Clerk walk (4 hours) offers breathtaking ocean views. The ruins of the penal settlement at Darlington, where the ferry arrives, is also worth exploring.

There are no shops on the island so you’ll need to stock up on supplies in Triabunna. A lot of travellers use Triabunna as a base for exploring the island but many stay at the hostels in Bicheno or Swansea before catching the ferry to the island.

The national park entry fee is $12 per person.