State: Tasmania
Operator: Adventure Express
Minimum Price: AUD $ 1,669

Experience Tasmania's wilderness in style on our award-winning four day guided walk which combines gentle walking with elegant accommodation and gourmet dining.

Highlights:

• Bernacchi  House
• Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart
• Casuarina Beach Camp
• Convict cells at Point Lesueur
• Inspect ancient Aboriginal ochre pit at Bloodstone Point
• Explore convict settlement of Darlington
  

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Day One - Natives in Nature 

Starting at historic Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart, we drive through lush east coast farmland to the historic coastal town of Triabunna. Board a charter boat to whet your appetite for adventure, exploring Mercury Passage en route  to the isthmus on Maria Island where you will land on an untouched beach feeling just like Robinson Crusoe. Soon you are walking in the footsteps of French explorer Nicolas Baudin, and recall his enchanting encounters from 1802 with the Tyreddeme Aboriginal people of the island. After a delicious lunch you can choose to visit dramatic Haunted Bay with its magnificent granite outcrops and fairy penguins or alternatively relax wandering along the beautiful beaches or take a dip at a sheltered bay.

Spend overnight at the delightful Casuarina Beach Camp in an open forest busy with the sound of Tasmania's native birds.

3km walk - 2 hrs or with Haunted Bay 12km walk - 4 hours 

Day Two: Five fabulous beaches

Easy does it- this is 'five beaches day'. Walk across the isthmus to Shoal Bay, where a string of five fabulous beaches unfolds before you. Add a dash of spice at the convict cells at Point Lesueur, where you will hear tales of intrigue from the early days of this outpost. Birds and Kangaroos abound in the vicinity of five natural freshwater lagoons.

Inspect an ancient Aboriginal ochre pit at Bloodstone Point , then continue past Gull Nest Point to Soldiers Beach and Return Point. Put your feet up at white Gums Camp where there's plenty of time to take a swim, observe the resident Cape Barren Goose family with their new goslings or just relax on the sparkling beach and breathe in the worlds cleanest air. Then at night you will relax and drift into a slumber to the murmur of lapping waves.

13km walk - 6 hours

Day Three - Greetings from Gondwana

Leave behind the pristine white beach to the rich green of grand forests. This is a prime habitat of the endangered 40-spotted Pardalotes one of our smallest and rarest birds. Take the gently inland track through the planet's largest stand of  tall Tasmanian blue gums with its great ferns that are relics of the super continent of Gondwana.

Emerge from the forest at the Painted Cliffs and Hopgrounds Beach and after lunch we can climb to either the peak of Mt Maria or Bishop and Clerk which over the eastern side towers 600m straight out of the ocean. Views to take your breath away!

Explore the restored convict settlement of Darlington and it's doomed silkmaking, windemaking and cement manufacturing industries. Enjoy a scrumptuous banquet and accommodation in the historic home once occupied by Italian entrepeneur  Diego Bernacchi.

8km - 4 hours (or 15km - 7 hrs with  Bishop and Clark

Day Four - Marine Playground Marvels

The final day beings with an early morning stroll to see Maria's world class fossil beds. It's a great time to share the early morning hues with the various rare Tasmanian mammals and birds that, largely unafraid of visitors, are easy to approach on their island sanctuary.

We return to Bernacchi House for a hearty breakfast followed by our last chance to take in the ambience of the preserved convict settlemtn.

Refreshed and ready for the outside world we catch the Maria 1 ferry back to Triabunna and then return to Hobart, via historic Richmond, where we finish in style with a farewell drink. It's a great chance to swap addresses and say our goodbyes.

4km walk - 2 hrs

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• Bus and boat transport costs between Hobart and Maria Island
• Park entrance fees
• 2 nights  twin share accommodation in private wilderness camps
  
• 1 night at Bernacchi House
• Fine food and wine
• 2 experienced and friendly guides per group

Eco-friendly commitment: The Maria Island walk has a commitment to working in harmony with the island's superb natural environment. Minimal impact walking practices are observed and wilderness camps are environmentally sensitive.

The guides: are well-trained, enthusiastic Tasmanians with skills in bringing to life a depth of imagination on Maria Island's flora, fauna and history. They prepare delicious fresh meals from the best of Tasmanian produce.

Facilities: Beachfront camps have tank water, hand basins for bathing and face washing as well as hygenic composting toilets. Comfortable and clean beds with mattresses and pillows - sleeping bags await guests at each camp and at Bernacchi House on night three enjoy hot showers and fresh linen.

Walking Gear: The Maria Island Walk supplies backpacks, silk sleeping sheets, head torches and raincoats. You'll need to provide walking shoes, clothes and personal effects - we forward a gear list on confirmation of your booking. Guests do not need to carry sleeping bags  as they are stored at each camp.

Notes:

Special Departure Dates: Trips depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from October to April
Trip Duration: 4 days
Departs from: Hobart
Tour Ends: Hobart
Departure Days:

• Monday
• Wednesday
• Friday

Departure Time: 8am
Return Time: 5pm
All Prices: $1699 per person