When it comes to cleaning your fish for cooking, there is only one shared dishwashing sink at the Darlington camp.

Maria Island Home - Encounter Maria Island

In 1642, the island was named by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman after Maria van Diemen (née van Aelst), wife of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia. This building is a great place to visit when you first get to the island. You’ll learn a lot about the area, the buildings and the history before you start exploring. If you just have one day here and are on foot, you’ll see a lot but not everything. If you have a bike options open up, and obviously the more time the better.The devils aren’t native to Maria Island, but they have found themselves here as part of a conservation plan to protect the population on mainland Tasmania. As a result there is a whole range of incredible native wildlife on the island, such as wombats and Tasmanian devils, and stunning natural landscapes like the sweeping bays, rugged cliffs, and sandy beaches. You may spot some wombats, forester kangaroos and wallabies along the way so keep an eye out. As you are walking down the road you will also see Howell’s Cottage, which is a cottage that was built in 1924. The literal wall of fossils down at the beach is fascinating to see, and there’s an information board there too so you can learn more about the geology of the place. Very basic accommodation is available in Darlington in "the Penitentiary", a former place of internment, built during the first convict era. Bookings can be made with the Parks and Wildlife Service. There are ten rooms that have bunk beds with vinyl mattresses, a table and chairs, and a wood heater. Nine of the rooms sleep six people each, and the tenth sleeps fourteen people. All cooking gear, lighting, bedding and food must be brought to the island. There is no electricity or running water in the rooms, but toilets, hot showers, and barbecues are nearby. Many visitors also choose to camp in the camping area in Darlington - an advance booking is not necessary for this.

Maria Island | Tourist Attractions | Discover Tasmania Maria Island | Tourist Attractions | Discover Tasmania

Three structures from the first convict era remain in the Darlington area: the Commissariat Store built in 1825 and presently used as the park's reception and visitor centre; the convict penitentiary, completed in 1828 and now used to accommodate visitors rather than detain them; and the convict-built dam on Bernacchis Creek, which still provides Darlington's water.Walking and cycling are the only ways to get about on car-free Maria Island (pronounced “ma-rye-ah”), where mountains burst straight out of the sea and the cliffs are “painted”, naturally. Wear good shoes, and make sure you bring water with you. Alesha up the top of Bishop and Clerk Summit 5) Walk the Fossil Cliffs Circuit There is a magical underwater world waiting to be explored. Plunge straight in as you arrive. or wait and cool off when you return from your hike up the hillside trail to enjoy the spectacular views of the island. The water here is warm and crystal clear and the offshore coral reef was declared a marine reserve in 1986 to protect the many marine species that inhabit it. Each populated center features a different economic activity. The primary population center is Puerto Balleto, the location of the administrative offices and the primary centers of commerce and recreation. It is subdivided into four jefaturas [1]: Narrowing down our highlights to a select few is an almost impossible task. But one place that truly stands out to us is Maria Island.

Maria Island National Park - Wikipedia Maria Island National Park - Wikipedia

This entire island was declared a national park in 1971, which is protected by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. When we took our campervan across to Tasmania, we did very little research on what we should do there. However everyone we met raved about how incredible Maria Island was (and specifically, the wombats!). So naturally, we had to go. From the 1880s, the Italian entrepreneur Diego Bernacchi set up island enterprises, including silk and wine production and a cement factory, quarrying limestone deposits at the Fossil Cliffs for the raw material. [8] A substantial cement works was built at Darlington in the early 1920s, with a 2 ft gauge tramway [9] linking the quarries to the cement works and a new jetty. At the height of its fortunes in the early 20th century, Darlington had hundreds of residents and several hotels. The design and layout of the company town established by Bernacchi reflected prevailing ideas of paternalism, though archaeological survey found that the workers cottages had been individualised by their inhabitants. [10] By July 1930, all of those ventures had failed for a number of reasons, including the Great Depression, poor quality limestone, and competition from mainland producers who were not burdened with high costs of transport. Maria Island National Park occupies the whole of Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania, Australia, 69km (straight-line distance) northeast of Hobart or about 90 kilometres by road to Triabunna followed by a ferry ride. The island has had a mixed history, including two convict eras, two industrial eras, a farming era and, finally, becoming the national park that it is today. Maria Island is a mecca for visitors, providing an array of interests for the daytripper or overnight visitor to the island. Maria Islandis 19.5km out to sea from the town of Triabunna, about 1.5 hours from Hobart and 2.5 hours from Launceston.The Maria Island Ferry leaves from Triabunna on the east coast, taking tourists and workers on a semi-regular schedule. Triabnunna is 1 hour and 15 minutes north of Hobart, which is the closest major airport. The Maria Island National Park The island is free of cars, making cycling on its unsealed roads a pure pleasure. Head for the Fossil Cliffs, Frenchs Farm, Encampment Cove and Point Lesueur. Bike hire can be arranged through the ferry operator. Tasmanian e-Bike Adventures During school holidays and summer weekends it’s recommended to pre-book your bicycle rental through the ferry company, as there are only a limited number available. Can I Take My Car/Campervan/Caravan to Maria Island?