The ideal combination of nature and history rewards those who seek to explore Maria Island, off Tasmania’s East Coast. After arriving on the Maria Island ferry, start your exploration at Darlington Probation Station – a World Heritage Australian Convict Site. From Darlington, continue your Maria Island discovery by weaving along the numerous trails on foot or by bike and leave your ordinary life behind.

Spectacular cliffs wrap around the eastern side of Maria Island, providing a perfect vantage point for watching birds dive and swoop into the ocean. In season, you may even be lucky enough to spot the whales that frequent these waters during their annual migration. On the western side of the island, the Painte?d Cliffs are one of Maria Island’s more memorable spectacles, showcasing the power of nature in their weathered contours, where the combination of wind and waves has eroded the sandstone to reveal a striking facade.

Access to the Painted Cliffs Rock Platform is safest within two hours of low tide. There is no access to the Painted Cliffs from the clifftop?.

Tidal information is available at the Maria Island Gateway at time of ferry check or via the QR code displayed on the Noticeboards at the Commissariat Store (Visitor Information) or Rangers Station on Maria Island.?

?Maria Island is a special place where long sandy beaches, turquoise water, mountaintop vistas, abundant wildlife and a multi-layered human history come together to create a perfect island destination.?