Things to do in Triabunna

No. 8 of Spring Outings in Australia

Maria Island National Park

Maria Island National Park is located on Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania. The island is car-free, and there are no shops or restaurants on the island. Visitors take a ferry from the town of Triabunna to reach the island and explore by walking or cycling. Therefore, the ferry must be booked in advance, and food and drinking water should be brought along with your luggage. The enclosed environment makes this a paradise for wildlife: wombats, kangaroos, and wallabies can be seen everywhere on the grass, and echidnas often scurry past the bushes. The island is also a breeding sanctuary for Tasmanian devils, and you may sometimes encounter these nocturnal animals. Almost all of Tasmania's endemic birds can be found on the island. You may encounter dolphins during the boat trip, and during the migration season, there is a chance to see whales off the eastern cliffs. The nearshore waters are a marine reserve with clear water, suitable for snorkeling, and after low tide, you can observe marine life in the tide pools. Cultural attractions are concentrated in Darlington. This is a well-preserved convict probation station in Australia. Prison buildings such as cells and warehouses from the 1820s remain to this day. The old prison has been converted into simple dormitories, and visitors can stay overnight in the former cells. Later, the island also hosted a cement factory and farms. Relics such as farmhouses and shearing sheds are scattered across the grassy slopes. The old coffee shop and commissariat store house exhibitions introducing the island's history, and the entire area is like an open-air history museum. Hiking is the main way to experience the island. The trail to the summits of Mount Bishop and Mount Clerk climbs through grasslands and woodlands. At the summit, you will find columnar rock formations arranged like organ pipes, offering views of the open sea and sky. The cliffs of Fossil Cliffs are densely embedded with marine fossils from over 200 million years ago. The sandstone of the Painted Cliffs is stained with iron oxide in layers of patterns; it is recommended to visit during low tide to safely walk to the base of the cliffs for a closer look. If you plan to stay an extra night on the island, there are campsites at Darlington, Frenchs Farm, and Encampment Cove.

Maria Island

Maria Islandis located off the east coast of Tasmania, Australia, and the entire island is part of a national park. The island is car-free. Visitors take a ferry from Triabunna on the mainland and explore by walking or cycling once they arrive. Jagged ridges, dense forests, and stretches of white sandy beaches make up the island's main scenery, which is quiet and pristine. Wildlife is the island's calling card: wombats graze on the lawns of Darlington without a care, kangaroos, wallabies, and Cape Barren geese roam the grassy slopes in groups, and if you keep an eye on the treetops, you might even spot the endangered swift parrot. The island is also home to a conservation population of Tasmanian devils, making it one of the few places where you can see these "Tasmanian devils" in the wild. There are also plenty of cultural and geological attractions. The Darlington Probation Station is listed as a World Heritage site as part of the "Australian Convict Sites," with over a dozen 19th-century convict buildings well-preserved. Together with relics like the old cement works and hop kilns, they tell the story of the island's past as it transitioned from a penal colony to an industrial site. The Painted Cliffs to the south feature layers of colorful patterns on the sandstone, which are best and safest to view around low tide. The rock walls of the Fossil Cliffs are embedded with marine fossils from hundreds of millions of years ago. Visitors with good stamina can hike to the summits of Mount Bishop and Mount Clerk to overlook the entire island and coastline from the peak, which is surrounded by dolerite columns. There are no shops or restaurants on the island, so be sure to bring your own food and water before you depart, and allow plenty of time for your return ferry. If you want to get a close look at the Painted Cliffs, remember to check the daily tides in advance.

Painted Cliffs

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Tasmania

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Built in 1981, Bonorong Wildlife Park is one of Australia's most popular wildlife parks. It was established for the adoption of abandoned and injured wild animals, and its purpose is also to call on more people to protect wild animals and the natural environment. Maybe you would rather visit such a zoo than the kind that captures animals alive and puts them in A zoo with cages for people to watch. There is a unique animal in Tasmania - the little devil, which is as precious as our national treasure, the giant panda. This cute little animal that looks like a little black pig and a bit like a mouse is the famous Tasmanian devil. Its scientific name is the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilusharrisii). It is a marsupial carnivore that is only distributed in Australia today. In Tasmania, Tasmania, Tasmanian devils are relatively large carnivorous marsupials, and little devils are nocturnal animals with very few numbers, so they are generally difficult to meet in the wild.

Maria Island Gateway

Port Arthur Historic Site

Port Arthur is Australia's largest and most intact convict settlement, forming a key part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. Discover iconic ruins, over 30 historic buildings, immersive house museums, compelling exhibitions, and guided tours complemented by a scenic harbour cruise and self-guided audio experience. Set within 146 hectares of spectacular landscape, heritage gardens, and walking trails, visitors can relax and enjoy breathtaking views, shop for locally-made products and savour local flavours in our cafés and at our acclaimed 1830 Restaurant & Bar. More than 300,000 people visit Port Arthur every year, but the now sunny port has a dark history. In 1930, Captain Governor George Arthur chose the Tasman Peninsula in south-east Tasmania to hold prisoners who had reoffended during the colonial period. The peninsula and the mainland are only connected by a land less than 100 meters wide (that is, the Eagle Neck Gorge). From 1830 to 1877, 12,500 prisoners spent hard sentences in Port Arthur. The Tourist Services Center is located in the Port Arthur Historic Site building. Downstairs is a gallery with detailed explanations, where visitors can learn about the suffering of prisoners in exile in Tasmania. You can also take a cruise around the Island of the Dead (Island of the Dead) in the harbour, and if you are interested, you can visit the island. This is a hugely popular excursion in Port Arthur, a 90-minute ghost tour with a guided tour of many of the old buildings and stories of some of the creepy events that have happened here. If interested, be sure to book before 16:00 on the day.

Triabunna Barracks

Spring Bay Mill

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Tasmania

Tasmanian Devil Unzoo

Tasmanian Devil Unzoo is located on Tasmania Island, Australia, serving as a nature reserve dedicated to protecting and showcasing the region's unique wildlife. As an eco-tourism attraction, it offers visitors close encounters with Tasmanian devils while actively working to conserve this endangered species and its natural habitat. The Tasmanian Devil Unzoo features multiple exhibition areas dedicated to showcasing Tasmanian devils and other native wildlife like quolls and kangaroos. Visitors can learn about the devils' behavior, ecological role, and conservation challenges through guided tours with professional guides. The Unzoo's staff is committed to raising public awareness about protecting these unique creatures through education and research programs. Beyond animal viewing, Tasmanian Devil Unzoo offers a variety of interactive experiences. Visitors can participate in feeding sessions to observe Tasmanian devils' eating behaviors, or join night tours to explore Tasmania's nocturnal ecosystem. The nature trails within Tasmanian Devil Unzoo allow visitors to enjoy Tasmania's natural beauty while discovering local flora and fauna.

Spring beach