It’s hard to put the magic of Maria Island into words. Just an hour’s drive east from Hobart plus a 30 minute ferry ride, this otherworldly island keeps its own time, far from the demands of modern life.

As soon as you step off the boat you’ll notice the quietness, the wildness, the sense of history. There are no vehicles here but plenty of traffic; Maria Island island is home to vast numbers of wombats, wallabies, Cape Barren Geese and Tasmanian Devils that wander all over the place.

Explore the world heritage listed Darlington settlement, a beautifully preserved probational convict camp that’s considered the best in the world. Walk with us to the Painted Cliffs, an easy 4.5km round trip, seeing surreal and colourful sandstone formations up close. And we finish with the Fossil Cliffs walk, another easy 4.5km circuit, traversing the western side of the island over windswept hills and cliffs of 300 million year old fossils.

Along the way there’s plenty of space to play in the rockpools, relax on the beach, spot local wildlife and take photos of the stunning scenery, proving it wasn’t all just a dream.

This tour returns to Hobart around 5pm.