Ile Des Phoques and Maria Island Cruise and Walk Day Tour with Lunch
Description
Join our team to visit the most remarkable places in Tasmania, if not the World! Our expert team of marine scientists have been the only cruise to Ile Des Phoques and Maria Island since 2006. 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, giant sea caves, mountain peaks and the stunning granite cliffs of Maria Island's east coast. Award winning and only cruise and day tour 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. Our shuttle bus service is available for guests who require transport from Hobart! Please choose the Tour + Bus option when booking.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
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.
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
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
For guests requiring bus transfer from Hobart, please meet at Brooke Street Pier at 6:45am. Please select the TOUR + BUS option.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please choose the Tour + Bus option if you do require the Hobart shuttle bus.
- Designed and guided by professional scientists
- Maria Island 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 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 28 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 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 (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc) and Tasmanian premium lager are also provided during lunch. A single serve is complimentary with your tour.
Reviews(265)
The best tour I have ever done in Tasmania. Well organised, well run, wonderful crew and the most spectacular scenery. The day could not have been better.
Our recent tour received a five-star rating from our group of four. The weather conditions were ideal. We arrived early and enjoyed coffee and breakfast at the cafe. The highlight of our day was undoubtedly the Ile Des Phoques cave and the seal encounters. Additionally, the painted cliffs and Maria Island presented remarkable natural beauty. The provided lunch was exceptionally flavorful and generously portioned. The staff demonstrated remarkable friendliness and approachability. We extend our sincere gratitude for an outstanding day.
Visited Ile des Phoques with a group of 14 people and had an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. I boarded the bus from the Hobart CBD pickup location, and Racheal picked me up right on time. We arrived in Triabunna promptly and everything throughout the day was extremely well organized. The entire trip was excellent. We were lucky enough to see dolphins, seals, and the stunning Rainbow Caves. We also enjoyed a guided walk around Maria Island and took plenty of photos of the amazing wildlife, especially the cute wombats. The staff were outstanding, the lunch was excellent, and the whole experience was memorable and enjoyable. A big thank you to Racheal, Micheal, and Steve for making the trip so special. Highly recommended!
Thankyou for your kind words. I will pass your comments onto Michael, Rachael and Steve. We are so glad you had such a memorable experience as a solo traveller from start to finish and that we were able to showcase our special part of Tassie (Maria Island and her surrounds) to you. Kind Regards Rosemary/Bookings
Wonderful day. Perfect weather. Michael and Freya were wonderful in sharing information and making the day truly one to be remembered. The seals, caves, cruise and lunch all were perfect. Totally recommended.
Thanks so much for the review, we are so glad to hear you enjoyed your day and got lucky with some wonderful weather! Wishing you all the best. Kindest regards, Rachel / Bookings
Amazing experience. Both the boat captain, Michael, and guide Freya were great. Very friendly and knowledgeable. The time spent at the seals, sea caves, and on the island was perfect. Lots of historical commentary as we were on the tour. The boat was comfortable. Great value for money.
Thank you for the kind words! We are so glad to hear you had a great day! Kindest regards, Rachel / Bookings
We had an amazing experience with Freya and Steve on our island cruise and tour. Steve’s boating skills must be second to none the way he navigated the caves. Freya was so awesome as well. Well priced for the experience and inclusions. A full day with these legends is well worth it. The atmosphere on the boat and the guided walk was great. The commentary was both informative and entertaining. We seen the beautiful caves, dolphins frolicking, whales breaching and seals swimming/sunbaking on the rocks in their colony. The whole trip exceeded expectations.
What an amazing day! Thank you for the kind words. Steve and Freya certainly are great at what they do and love to share these special places with you! Sounds like you were very lucky with some special wildlife interactions too! Wishing you all the best! Kindest regards, Rachel / Bookings
We had the most incredible experience exploring Maria Island—this trip was truly something special. From the moment we arrived, the scenery was breathtaking, with crystal clear water, rugged cliffs, and that peaceful, untouched feeling you just don’t get everywhere. Seeing the wildlife up close was a real highlight—wombats casually wandering around, Cape Barren geese, and so much birdlife. It felt like stepping into their world. The seals were another standout, playful and full of character, especially watching them out on the rocks and in the water. The caves and cliffs were absolutely stunning, with the colours and textures of the rock formations creating such a unique landscape. Cruising into the caves was unforgettable—the light hitting the water inside was just magic. Everything about the day felt well-paced and relaxed, giving us time to take it all in without feeling rushed. It’s one of those experiences that stays with you long after you leave. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to see some of Tasmania’s most beautiful and untouched natural scenery—you won’t be disappointed.
Thank you so much for the beautiful review, your words really capture a special day! We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your cruise, and some great wildlife interactions! It really is an incredible place, and we are so glad we got to share it with you. Kindest regards, Rachel / Bookings
Cruise was well run with a clear plan for the day activities. Nonetheless we diverted somewhat as a whale was spotted along with a tuna fish pod. We witnessed a spectacular display from the whale for over an hour. And still saw the beautiful coastline and caves. Would recommend to anyone considering as it is unique to other types along the east cost. We actually did this trip back in 2018 and they have maintained the quality offering.
Wow, thank you so much for the kind words! It's always extra special to have return visitors, and we are so glad you got to experience such a special whale encounter and explore our beautiful coastline - we just love being able to share it with you. Wishing you all the best - maybe we'll even see you for a third time in the future! Kindest regards, Rachel / Bookings
Great day out. Very professionally run. Felt safe all day.
Thank you so much for the review! So glad to hear you had a great day! Rachel / Bookings
A lovely day out with the family, fantastic guide and skipper for the day, they were so knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely recommend this trip.
Hello! Thank you very much for your review! We really appreciate the support and thoroughly enjoyed having you on board. Kind Regards, Ruby / Guide
