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Tassie’s Maria Island Walk is back, and this season it’s focused on food

One of Australia’s most popular walks is opening for the 2025/26 season with a focus on tasty local produce.

Tasmania is a particularly spectacular place for hikers, and one of its most lauded trails is the award-winning, guided four-day walking holiday on Maria Island run by Wild Bush Luxury. Open seasonally, the 2025/26 season is in operation from 1 October to 30 April. And this time, it’s focused on Tasmania’s incredible food offerings.

“The Maria Island Walk is about immersing yourself in wilderness, sharing your surrounds with wombats, kangaroos and incredible birdlife, exploring history and enjoying Tasmania’s world-renowned food culture," said Ben Brown, General Manager at Wild Bush Luxury. “This season we’re especially proud to highlight the producers who bring so much character to the experience, many of whom have been with us for years."

cheese plate served at Bernacchi House accommodation along the Maria Island Walk
Gourmet meals and beverages are included. (Image: Renee Thurston)

Alongside the renowned wilderness immersion, ten walkers at a time will embark on a culinary journey that celebrates Tasmania’s growers, winemakers and artisans. Taste the pioneering cool-climate wines of Bream Creek Vineyard , whose rieslings, chardonnays and pinot noirs were already a signature of the walk, paired with candlelit dinners in bush camps.

Sample sustainably caught scallops, blue eye trevalla and ling from the family-owned Mures Seafood in signature dishes, like saffron risotto with Tasmanian scallops and blue eye trevalla with roasted garlic and watercress mash.

Another staple on the walk’s menu is Ashgrove Cheese , a multi-generational family dairy in northern Tasmania, whose award-winning cheeses form part of the nightly Tasmanian tasting platters. These sit alongside artisanal products from Pigeon Whole Bakers , Island Berries Tasmania , Westhaven Dairy and Vermey’s Meats , for a Tasmanian paddock-to-plate showcase.

About the walk

mother and baby wombat on the maria island walk in tasmania
Spot wombats and Tasmanian Devils along the way. (Image: Renee Thurston)

A member of Great Walks of Australia, The Maria Island Walk is graded “easy to moderate" for walkers of ‘reasonable’ fitness. Guests will be guided along well-formed trails through sandy beaches and eucalyptus forests – with optional side walks available for those willing to tackle steeper slopes.

Forget setting up your own tent. Exclusive bush camps featuring secluded forest cabins and the recently refurbished 1880 heritage homestead, Bernacchi House , are all on the itinerary to ensure guests are well-rested for a new day of walking.

The Details

a middle aged couple enjoying a picnic provided by guides of the Maria Island Walk
End each day with Tasmania’s finest produce.

All just 90 minutes – and a short, scenic boat ride – from Hobart. The walk is priced from $3250 per person twin share. Winter Escape Walks follow from May to August 2026, from $1900 per person twin share.

Both options include return transfers from Hobart, a boat trip across Mercury Passage, accommodation, gourmet meals and beverages, expert guides, National Park fees, and use of waterproof jackets and packs. Bookings through the Maria Island Walk website.

Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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Why you should visit these iconic Tassie destinations

    Lee Mylne Lee Mylne
    Tasmania’s crisp clear air, misty mountains, lakes and ancient forests beckon as winter approaches.

    Travelling in the off season has many benefits, none more so in Tasmania, where it’s uncrowded and uncomplicated. Ease into winter with a getaway that spells relaxing with a glass of wine or local whisky, bathing under the stars, or gazing at reflections in pristine waters. Add fireside dining, wilderness walks, after-dark gallery visits and plenty of history and you’ve got a curated winter escape designed to make travelling in the quieter months of the year even more rewarding. NRMA Parks and Resorts’ Off Season Signature Packages across Tasmania (plus 10 per cent off for members) make all these things possible.

    Cosy up at Cradle Mountain

    two women walking aorund Cradle Mountain Hotel NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Immerse into the wilderness at Cradle Mountain Hotel.

    For an alpine wilderness experience like no other, chose Cradle Mountain Hotel for a winter getaway. You may even wake up to gently falling snow. Explore nearby Dove Lake, gaze at Cradle Mountain is and listen to the gush of waterfalls.

    As Cradle Mountain works its charm, slow down to enjoy the crisp alpine air away from the hustle of the city. There are no crowds here, just serenity and the chance to recalibrate.

    Cradle Mountain’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, a bottle of wine (Retreat rom bookings only) and off-season dessert with dinner. Then sip on mulled wine as you wander through the Wilderness Gallery admiring the work of Tasmanian artists.

    Finding the flavours of Freycinet

    aerial of Freycinet Lodge NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Stay at the only accommodation within beautiful Freycinet National Park.

    As the only accommodation within Freycinet National Park, among the many reasons for staying at Freycinet Lodge is its easy access to stunning Wineglass Bay, Mt Amos and Honeymoon Bay.

    By day it’s the place for communing with nature, taking hikes in some of Tasmania’s most beautiful locations. By night, savour the regional seasonal flavours of the east coast, sip mulled wine to keep out the chill and gaze up at the star-studded skies. This is slow coastal indulgence at its best.

    Freycinet Lodge’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, a hosted Flavours of the East Coast food and wine tasting experience and mulled wine under the stars, or beside the fire, after dinner.

    Escape to lakeside Pumphouse Point

    interior of pumphouse point NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Stay cosy while looking out onto Lake St Clair.

    Set on the edge of beautiful Lake St Clair in native bushland in the heart of Tasmania’s Central Highlands, Pumphouse Point has launched a new era for its boutique accommodation with the opening of two new luxury retreat rooms last October.

    Each of the trio of rooms are thoughtfully designed, with an indoor fireplace and deep-soak bathtub, both perfect for a winter escape. This retreat offers dining and an expanded collection of hosted experiences, including a guided tour to learn more about this historic place, chocolate tastings and whisky tasting from local artisans – with more to come later in the season.

    Borrow an e-bike and explore on your own, throw a line in, head off for a hike in the ancient forests that surround the lake, book a relaxing massage, or just settle in for an evening by the fire as the lake works its own magic.

    Pumphouse Point’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast, larder lunch and dinner, a bottle of wine with dinner each night, and a chocolate or whisky tasting experience, as well as two $50 massage vouchers.

    Slow down in Strahan Village

    aerial of boat going through strahan tasmania
    Explore UNESCO world heritage wilderness.

    As the gateway to UNESCO world heritage wilderness, picturesque Strahan Village is the ideal base for exploring Tassie’s west coast. With a wide range of accommodation choices, from cosy waterfront colonial-style cottages to hotel rooms with sweeping views over Macquarie Harbour, it’s the perfect place for slow travel.

    Join Gordon River Cruises to explore ancient wilderness and magical reflections on the Gordon River, wander through the village at your own pace or hire a bike to discover local secrets and attractions, including the iconic West Coast Wilderness Railway . Thrill-seekers can hire taboggans to hit the towering Henty Dunes.

    Strahan’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, a Gordon River cruise for two and mulled wine at Hamer’s Bistro .

    Delve into history in Port Arthur

    interior of glamping tent at Port Arthur Holiday Park NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Glamp under the stars at Port Arthur Holiday Park.

    Spend your evenings glamping under the stars and your days stepping back in time as you explore the captivating stories of the World Heritage listed Port Arthur Historic Site. Port Arthur Holiday Park is the perfect base for exploring the Tasman Peninsula and uncovering the stories of Australia’s colonial and convict past.

    Surrounded by nature and history, this off-season escape has the all the makings of an unforgettable getaway. All glamping tents are heated to keep you warm during the off-season months when the nights get a little cooler, and have private bathrooms. Stargazing tents have the added luxury of an outdoor bath on the verandah.

    The Port Arthur Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, a Port Arthur Historic Site tour for two and 10 per cent discount for dining at local restaurant On The Bay during your stay.

    Start planning an unforgetable trip to Tasmania with NRMA Resorts at nrmaparksandresorts.com.au.