Ile Des Phoques and Maria Island Cruise and Walk Day Tour with Lunch
Overview
Your cruise to the Ile Des Phoques (Island Of Seals) will capture the stunning views of Maria Island, including famous landmarks such as the Painted Cliffs and Fossil Cliffs, spring-fed waterfalls, limestone sea caves, cliff-top stalactites, Bishop & Clerk mountain range and the stunning granite cliffs of Maria Island's east coast.
Award winning and only cruise and day tour of Ile Des Phoques and Maria Island National Park since 2006 to view seals, dolphins, wombats, kangaroos, eagles, wallabies, albatross and whales (during migration), famous geology and UNESCO convict history. Your tour will depart from Triabunna (approximately 1-hour and 15-minutes from Hobart). Includes a 4-hour scenic cruise of Maria Island with a 2-hour stay on the island.
Inclusions
- Hotel shuttle bus pickup
- 4-hour scenic cruise
- 2-hour stay on Maria Island
- Guided walk of Darlington convict settlement
- Kangaroo and Wombat viewing
- Dolphin and Whale watching
- Seal viewing
- Lunch
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Snacks
- Landing and facility fees
- Professional Guide
- Live commentary on board
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Ile Des Phoques, Australia
On the way to Ile Des Phoques you can see albatross, dolphins, Australian fur seals and whales (depending on the time of year) as well as majestic panoramic views of Maria Island and the Freycinet Peninsula.
Once at Ile Des Phoques we will sit with the fur seals and learn about their home at Ile Des Phoques, their recovery from near extinction from commercial sealing and how they are now breeding at Ile Des Phoques again for the first time in over 200 years.
We will enjoy morning tea, coffee and cakes with the seals and then explore the remarkable giant Rainbow Caves. These caves are the largest granite sea caves in Australia, possibly the World. Feel the emotion and beauty of nature as we venture deep inside the caves onboard the cruise boat.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Maria Island, Maria Island, Tasmania
After your time spent at Ile Des Phoques, we travel to Maria Island for a beautiful lunch with local wine onboard our cruise boat beside a stunning white sandy beach. After lunch we dock at the jetty and spend the afternoon on Maria Island for a guided walk exploring the history of the Darlington convict settlement and time spent with the resident wombats and kangaroos.
*Note, if poor weather prevents the cruising to the Ile Des Phoques, the cruise will be changed to circumnavigate Maria Island.
Lunch is provided on the tour from our cafe as a large healthy salad bowl. A variety of salad lunch options include; chicken breast in pesto aioli, smoked salmon, roast beef, leg ham or vegetarian/vegan. You can add a home made bacon & cheese quiche or pumpkin and feta quiche and switch to a half salad. You will also be provided a complimentary drink of tea, coffee, juice, soft drinks, local wines and Tasmanian premium larger.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Darlington, Maria Island TAS 7190, Australia
In the afternoon, both tours will dock at Darlington. The perfect way to compliment your cruise is to stretch your legs and enjoy a guided tour through Darlington’s fascinating collection of preserved convict buildings, 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/snorkel in the waters of Maria Island’s marine reserve.
Hotel pickup is available for guests staying in Hobart! Why not travel in style with our own comfortable bus instead of hiring a car. Our shuttle bus will take you from Hobart to Triabunna along the picturesque Tasman Highway and if time permits, we will stop into the historic town of Richmond to capture some wonderful souvenir photos. Travel time is 1hr 15min on the bus. Cost for the bus is $25pp return.
Cruise departs Triabunna at 9:00am and returns at 4:30pm
Duration: 2 hours
Additional information
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please book your Hobart shuttle bus separately by choosing the tour + bus option if you do require the pickup
- Designed and guided by professional scientists
- East Coast Cruises reserves the right to cancel departures at anytime and will refund the full amount of any monies paid by the customer.
- Perfect for children
- Seasickness tablets and wristbands provided to all guests if required
- The vessel is safe and comfortable and provides protection from the elements
- The vessel has a comfortable on board toilet, which doubles as a change room for those wanting to swim
- Small and personalised tour groups. Maximum 24 people for room to move about the boat!
- Tours are perfect for children and families!
- Tours are subject to weather and minimum numbers
- Waterproof jackets and pants available onboard the boat
- Our 5-star tour is catered with drinks and optional food/lunch onboard
- *Note, if poor weather prevents the cruising to the Ile Des Phoques, the cruise will be changed to circumnavigate Maria Island.
- Local wines (Darlington Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc) and Tasmanian premium lager are also provided during lunch. A single serve is complimentary with your tour.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
What a great day - stunning scenery, colours of Mother Nature, seals and water so blue. Capping it off with an onshore experience on Maria Island - so many wombats! Mike and Zoe were great just the right level of information and help. Highly recommend this day!
What a great day - stunning scenery, colours of Mother Nature, seals and water so blue. Capping it off with an onshore experience on Maria Island - so many wombats! Mike and Zoe were great just the right level of information and help. Highly recommend this day!Amazing views of the beautiful sea caves, unique perspectives of Maria island, which we would never have known to exist. If not for this tour
Amazing views of the beautiful sea caves, unique perspectives of Maria island, which we would never have known to exist. If not for this tourIm beyond happy that I picked this cruise for myself and my 10yr old daughter, we had the most amazing day!!! The seals were so cute, the rainbow caves were magical and we were very fortunate to go into both. You get to see a waterfall coming out of the island and the beautiful painted cliffs,...
Im beyond happy that I picked this cruise for myself and my 10yr old daughter, we had the most amazing day!!! The seals were so cute, the rainbow caves were magical and we were very fortunate to go into both. You get to see a waterfall coming out of the island and the beautiful painted cliffs, lunch was really enjoyable and while we were anchored in Booming Bay, we watching the massive crabs walking under the boat. Maria Island with the wombats walking around and the history was beautiful and our Skipper Steve and guide Zoe were absolutely fantastic and both were very informative.I don't suggest you do this trip. I DEMAND you do it! Ile Des Phoques is fantasy island, crawling with seals and sea birds. Mike was highly informative and educates visitors about the fascinating history of the area and the wildlife. The cave we sailed into was magical. Disney couldn't dream this...
I don't suggest you do this trip. I DEMAND you do it! Ile Des Phoques is fantasy island, crawling with seals and sea birds. Mike was highly informative and educates visitors about the fascinating history of the area and the wildlife. The cave we sailed into was magical. Disney couldn't dream this up. Maria Island is beautiful beyond words and filled with wombats. LIVING wombats. Thank God we have this tiny slice of heaven to protect our precious wildlife when there's very little will to do it on Tasmania's mainland. This trip is great value, complete with a great lunch, but keep your eye on the weather and swell. A portion of the trip was almost off the agenda due to conditions. So lucky it was included in the end.Fantastic day out on the boat tour around beautiful Maria Island! We were fortunate to see both common dolphins and bottle nose dolphins as they swam along with us and of course the friendly seals. My favourite has to be the wombats that were practically everywhere around the walking paths on th...
Fantastic day out on the boat tour around beautiful Maria Island! We were fortunate to see both common dolphins and bottle nose dolphins as they swam along with us and of course the friendly seals. My favourite has to be the wombats that were practically everywhere around the walking paths on the island! The lunch provided was so fresh, filing and finished off with a delicious glass of local wine which we ate while looking at the cliffs and blue water. If you have a day to fill in Tasmania, this is the place to go!Great tour, very informative and friendly staff, very accomadating and willing to help the passengers. Well worth the time
Great tour, very informative and friendly staff, very accomadating and willing to help the passengers. Well worth the time