8 Days in Southern Tasmania

Maria Island National Park lies just a few kilometres off Tasmania’s east coast, easily accessible from Hobart. Discover World Heritage-listed ruins, rugged cliffs and mountains, sweeping bays and abundant wildlife on The Maria Island Walk.

At a glance:

• 3 nights Hobart
• 1 night Port Arthur
• 3 nights Maria Island

The Journey

• Nearest Major City: Hobart
• Duration: 8 days
• Mode of Transport: Car, Ferry, On Foot, Coach Boat

DAY 1

Enjoy a luxurious day of wine and art with Moorilla’s Posh As experience.

Take the ferry from Hobart to Mona in the Posh Pit. On arrival, begin your self-guided exploration of the subterranean galleries at Mona. Mona exhibits everything from ancient Egyptian funerary objects and modernist masterpieces to a word waterfall and a machine that mimics the human digestive system.

Take a private tour of the Moorilla winery and vineyard. Enjoy an exclusive wine tasting followed by lunch then there is free time in the afternoon to further explore Mona. Return to Hobart by ferry.

Check into your accommodation at the waterfront Macq01 hotel.

Head to North Hobart’s bustling restaurant strip for dinner.

Highlights:

• Sit on a sheep on the Mona ferry.
• Discover the eclectic collection of exhibits at Mona.
• Enjoy a top-notch lunch with matching wine at Moorilla.

DAY 2

This morning drive to kunanyi / Mt Wellington for spectacular views of the city and harbour.

The interpretation centre at the top protects you from the blustering winds while an open viewing platform looks out to the World Heritage Wilderness Area beyond.

Make your way back down the mountain to Cascades Brewery for the Cascade History and Brewery Experience and lunch.

Step inside Australia's oldest operating brewery to learn how Cascade has been crafting beer since 1832. Sample from a range of beers and ciders, stay for lunch and shop for souvenirs.

The nearby Cascade Female Factory Historic Site will help you gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the largely untold story of female convicts sent to Australia.

Return to Hobart and make your way to Mawson's Huts Replica Museum. This world-class small museum gives visitors an historic insight into the daily lives of the Australasian Antarctic expeditioners.

Enjoy a pre-dinner tasting flight of local Tasmanian whisky at the nearby Lark Cellar Door and Whisky Bar.

Enjoy a fresh seafood dinner at the one of Hobart’s vibrant waterfront restaurants.

Highlights:

• Enjoy panoramic views of Hobart and the harbour from kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
• Sample Cascade beers and cider at the oldest operating brewery in Australia.
• Learn the story of female convicts sent to Australia.
• Explore the replica hut of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

DAY 3

Check out of your hotel and head to Port Arthur for an overnight stay.

Make a stop at Federation Artisan Chocolate to see and smell a wide range of chocolate products being made through viewing windows.

Continue on to the Port Arthur Historic Site, a special place of vivid history, cultural heritage and stories so compelling you’ll want to hear them again and again.

Explore Port Arthur Historic Site in the comfort of an electric vehicle on the Commandant’s Carriage Tour. Visit the Penitentiary, the Separate Prison, and the Convict Church.

There is free time to relax before your After Dark Package.

Enjoy a delicious two-course dinner, before grabbing your lantern and following your guide out into the night on the very popular Ghost Tour.

Spend the night at Stewarts Bay Lodge or one of the villas on the Tasman Peninsula.

Highlights:

• View chocolate making at Federation Artisan Chocolate.
• Rest your feet on an electric carriage tour of the Port Arthur Historic Site.
• Get spooked on a ghost tour of Port Arthur.

DAY 4

Join a Tasman Island Cruise with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys.

Take an unforgettable wilderness cruise along the spectacular coastline between Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck and beneath the highest vertical sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere at Cape Pillar. Explore waterfalls, rock formations, archways and deep-sea caves and see amazing marine life.

Head back to Hobart via Sorrell Fruit Farm. Enjoy lunch at the café and pick your own fruits (seasonal).

Highlights:

• View the magnificent sea cliffs at Cape Pillar.
• See sea birds, seals and possibly dolphins and migrating whales from the open-air boat.
• Pick your own fruits at the Sorrell Fruit Farm.

DAY 5

Today commence the 4-day Maria Island Walk which combines Tasmanian wildlife, spectacular scenery, and fascinating history.

Depart Hobart and transfer to Triabunna.

Day 1: Triabunna to Haunted Bay (8km)

Travel by boat through the sparkling waters of Mercury Passage to the isthmus of Maria Island, and walk to the tranquil Casuarina Beach camp. Explore the tall eucalypt forest on the way down to the spectacular Haunted Bay.

Stay overnight in an exclusive wilderness camp.

Highlights:

• Follow in the footsteps of the explorers as you first step onto the pristine beach of Maria Island.
• Be dwarfed by the tall eucalypt trees.

DAY 6

Day 2: Haunted Bay to White Gums Camp (13km)

Walk along five beautiful beaches; look out for dolphins, sea eagles and exotic shells. By late afternoon, arrive at White Gums Camp for a refreshing swim.

Highlights:

• Watch dolphins play in the surf and sea eagles soaring overhead as you walk along five stunning beaches.
• Take a relaxing dip at White Gums Camp.

DAY 7

Day 3: White Gums Camp to Darlington (9-17km)

Head inland to the heart of the Island and discover the rich green hues of the grand forests. Wander through giant Tasmanian blue gums, climb mountain peaks, and settle at the World Heritage settlement of Darlington. Enjoy a final banquet including fine wine.

Spend the night at Bernacchi House.

Highlights:

• Take the opportunity to ascend through rare “cloud” rainforests to witness breathtaking views.
• Stay the night at the elegant colonial Bernacchi House.

DAY 8

Day 4: Darlington to Hobart (4km)

Explore the woodlands at the northern tip of Maria Island, and the dramatic sea cliffs of Fossil Bay. Enjoy a celebratory champagne lunch before boarding the boat to go back to the mainland.

Highlights:

• Discover native wildlife in the northern part of Maria Island.
• Walk the dramatic sea cliffs of Fossil Bay and see the remarkable fossils of Fossil Cliffs.