Ile Des Phoques

Embark on an immersive and educational guided tour of Maria Island National Park and the Ile Des Phoques Nature Reserve. Enjoy a scenic cruise with lunch in a remote bay, a guided walk among historic buildings, and a visit to Maria Island to spot wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, and Cape Barren geese. After departing Triabunna, see fascinating geological sites, mountain-fed waterfalls, secluded bays, sea caves, and white beaches on your way to the Fossil and Painted Cliffs. Enjoy expert commentary from the crew as you cruise to Maria Island's isthmus for a lunch stop on the anchored boat.  Take in the views of Maria Island, the cliffs, waterfalls, limestone sea caves, cliff-top stalactites, and mountains. On the way to the remarkable granite island, Island of Seals, see if you can spot albatrosses, dolphins, fur seals, and whales. Swim and dive alongside the island’s marine life. Dock at Darlington in the afternoon. Stretch your legs and enjoy a guided tour through Darlington’s collection of preserved buildings that once belonged to the convict population. Learn about the town’s remarkable history and come face-to-face with Maria Island’s resident wombats.  If history is not for you, then simply soak up the sun on Darlington’s white sandy beach or swim and snorkel in the waters of Maria Island’s marine reserve.

Discover the beauty of Maria Island and cruise along the shoreline of the Ile Des Phoques island. Search for a variety of marine life like dolphins and fur seals as you sail. Visit Darlington on Maria Island where you can take a guided history tour or have some free time to hit the beach.  Meet your guide at a café in Triabunna and board a comfortable speedboat. Embark on an adventure with stunning views of Maria Island's Painted Cliffs, Fossil Cliffs, spring-fed waterfalls, limestone sea caves, and cliff-top stalactites. Let views of the Bishop and Clerk Mountains take your breath away and take in views of the granite cliffs of Maria Island's east coast from the water. At the northern tip of Maria Island the cruise will head north to the Ile Des Phoques, a 30 minute boat ride from Maria Island. Tuck into cakes which are provided for morning tea as well as complimentary water, tea, coffee, orange juice, soda water, soft drinks, wine and beer. Keep an eye out for albatross, dolphins, fur seals, and whales (depending on the time of year). Savor a healthy salad bowl lunch with your choice of chicken breast, smoked salmon, roast beef, leg ham, or vegetarian/vegan options. Lunch is enjoyed on the boat while anchored in an idyllic location at Maria Island.   Dock at Darlington where you can stretch your legs and go on a guided historic tour Choose to learn about the town’s history, and see convict buildings and resident wombats, or have free time to visit a sandy beach or swim in the waters of Maria Island’s marine reserve. Soak up the views on the speedboat trip back to your meeting point in Triabunna. Note: The Ile Des Phoques cruise will be changed to the Maria Island Circumnavigation cruise if poor weather conditions are experienced on the day. Ile Des Phoques is a remote island and is sometimes effected by wind and swell that prevents us from safely travelling there .

Departing daily from Cambridge, fly towards and over the top of the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s East Coast. Freycinet National Park is one of Tasmania’s very first National Parks (est. 1916) and is home to dramatic pink granite mountains, secluded bays, crystal clear waters and pristine white beaches. Freycinet is home to Tasmania’s and arguably Australia’s most iconic white sands beach – Wineglass Bay, the aerial view of this sight is something truly spectacular and unforgettable. From the Freycinet Peninsula, fly over the seal colony of Ile Des Phoques, then continue your scenic flight towards your destination, Maria Island. Here land and set off on an exploration of the island national park. It’s tranquility combined with its natural beauty, rare wildlife and fascinating history makes it a unique and special place. Maria Island’s pristine untouched beaches, the crystal clear waters of the surrounding marine reserve and scenery like the magnificent Mt Maria and Bishop and Clerk peaks will take your breath away. Have a chance while on the Island to wander through forests of magnificent blue and white gums, some of them over 400 years old and unique to Maria Island. Step back in time and walk where convicts and explorers have walked before you. At the Fossils Cliffs see shellfish fossil beds unlike any other in the world. Maria Island is also famous for its abundance of wildlife being home to rare and endangered species like the Swift Parrot and Cape Barron Goose, Wombats, Kangaroos and of course, the Tasmanian Devil. It’s difficult to describe the beauty of Maria Island, you really have to see it to believe it. As you interact with the Maria Island’s local wildlife and take in the spectacular scenery your guide will prepare a bountiful Tasmanian picnic looking over the Northern end of the majestic national park. This feast is full of some of Tasmania’s finest offerings, consisting of fresh Oysters, Mussels, Salmon, Mackerel, Scallops, Octopus, all locally sourced from Tasmanian’s beautiful and clean waterways, this seafood smorgasbord is accompanied with paired Tasmanian premium white wine. Please note, if seafood isn’t to your liking that’s not a problem at all, just let the tour operator know at the time of booking and they can happily source a beautiful mix of different Tasmanian produce. After your time on Maria board your aircraft once again return to Hobart. Tour highlights • Aerial eye view of • Freycinet National Park • Wineglass Bay • Maria Island • Chance to interact (without fences) with wildlife such as • Tasmanian devils • Wombats • Forester (Eastern grey) Kangaroos • Wallabies • Gourmet Seafood Platter and Tasmanian Premium Wine Tour runs for approximately 3 hours and departs daily from Cambridge Aerodrome (20-minute drive from the Hobart CBD)