Note: price is in AUD

Picture a white sand beach with clear water on one side, forest on the other and nobody else in sight. That is Maria Island (Wukaluwikiwayna), a wildlife-rich national park off Tasmania's east coast and one of the Great Walks of Australia. Over four days, a small guided group walks its shores, climbs through cloud rainforest and ends each day somewhere that feels both wild and wonderfully looked after. For travellers who love to walk but would rather leave the logistics to others, it is a beautifully balanced journey.

Four days, three very different landscapes

Your adventure begins in Hobart, with a private boat from Triabunna across the Mercury Passage. After a beach landing and a picnic lunch overlooking Shoal Bay, you walk to your first exclusive camp at Casuarina Beach, with time to wander the forest trail down to Haunted Bay before dinner.

Day two follows the coastline on a relaxed beach walk, where dolphins may appear in the surf. It ends at White Gums camp, with a refreshing ocean dip waiting. On day three you choose your own path: the inland route to the summit of Mt Maria, the climb up Bishop and Clerk through cloud rainforest, or the direct coastal walk to Darlington. Along the way, keep an eye out for pademelons, forester kangaroos and a wonderful variety of birdlife among the eucalyptus.

On the final morning, an optional walk takes you to the Fossil Cliffs, where more than 300 million years of shells and sea life are held in the rock. A last picnic lunch follows before the boat returns you to Hobart, arriving around 5pm.

Comfort at the end of every walking day

This is not camping as you may know it. The first two nights are spent in private, exclusive bush camps tucked into the forest just moments from the beach. You sleep in a comfortable bed in your own cabin, to the sound of waves lapping nearby. Your final night is at Bernacchi House in Darlington, a heritage-listed home dating back to 1880 and refurbished in 2022 with Tasmanian timber and local artisan pieces. There are hot showers, an open fire on cooler evenings, and wombats known to wander the grounds.

Dinner is a candlelit, three-course meal of locally sourced produce, prepared by your crew and matched with award-winning Tasmanian wines from family-owned vineyards. Your sleeping bag and liner, pillow, 50-litre backpack, waterproof jacket and head torch are all provided, and with a maximum of ten guests, the whole experience stays personal.

Is this walk right for you?

This is a pack-carrying walk over varied, unpaved terrain, so a good level of mobility is important. We recommend you can comfortably walk 15km on unpaved tracks before departure, and some training beforehand will make every day more enjoyable. Daily distances range from around 4km to 17km, and the first day can be shortened if you prefer. Good footwear, layers for all weather and perhaps walking poles are well worth packing.

This is where having a Consultant by your side makes all the difference. We can help arrange your flights to Hobart, suggest extra nights either side of the walk (pick-up is early on day one, and we recommend flights home no earlier than 6pm on the final day) and make sure your dietary requirements reach the team in plenty of time. If you would like a walk shaped around you, we can tailor the rest of your Tasmanian itinerary too.

Let's meet and start planning your next holiday or cruise together!