Gallery: Maria Island

Maria Island, accessible by a 30-minute ferry ride from Triabunna (just over an hour's drive from Hobart), is a unique combination of natural and cultural heritage off Tasmania's east coast. The island's fascinating history spans Indigenous culture, convict settlements, and industrial heritage, with the historic Darlington precinct now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The island has a dramatic geology, from the towering dolerite columns of Bishop and Clerk (630m) and Mount Maria (711m) to the layered patterns of the Fossil Cliffs. The northern section features magnificent dolerite peaks and limestone formations, while the southern part around Haunted Bay reveals dramatic granite cliffs and pristine beaches, connected by the narrow McRaes Isthmus.

Maria Island is a natural wildlife sanctuary, home to abundant Tasmanian native species including wombats, Cape Barren geese, and a successful population of Tasmanian devils. The island's diverse landscapes range from eucalypt forests and grasslands to the spectacular Painted Cliffs, with their sandstone faces decorated with remarkable iron oxide patterns.