Summer timetable (September to April) as published by the operator and read on 15 October 2026; the operator names months only (summer September to April, winter May to August) and has announced no dates, so the winter pattern is loaded here from May 2027 as our reading of those months. · Representative services only — check the operator for today's full timetable
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~30 min
Operator
Encounter Maria Island (Encounter Tasmania Pty Ltd)
Map – Maria Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, same-day return | $59.00 |
| Concession (Pension Card or Health Care Card), same-day return | $47.50 |
| Secondary student, same-day return | $36.50 |
| Child (4 to 16), same-day return | $36.50 |
| Adult, overnight return | $70.00 |
| Concession, overnight return | $59.50 |
| Secondary student, overnight return | $47.50 |
| Child (4 to 16), overnight return | $43.00 |
| Infant (0 to 3), either ticket type | Free |
| Bicycle (up to 15 kg), freight charge | $20.00 |
| Each extra piece of luggage up to 17 kg | $11.00 |
| Kayak | $28.00 |
| National park daily pass, per person (paid to Parks and Wildlife Service, not part of the ferry fare) | $24.55 |
Ferry prices are return fares only; the operator does not list a one-way ticket on its fares page. There are two ticket types: same-day return (back from Maria Island on the day you leave Triabunna) and overnight return (back on a different day). Every ticket includes a 7 kg carry-on bag; overnight tickets add two larger bags of up to 17 kg each. Park entry is not part of the ferry price. The Parks and Wildlife Service lists a daily pass, valid up to 24 hours, at $24.55 a person for people travelling by bus, bike or on foot (children under 5 free); check the pass price shown at booking, and you can add a pass while booking or buy one at the Maria Island Gateway when you check in. The ferry operator's fares page was read on 15 October 2026 and carries no date of its own. All fares in Australian dollars (AUD).
Maria Island has no road link, no shop and no bins, so everything starts at Triabunna wharf on Tasmania's east coast. Encounter Maria Island runs the passenger boat from there to Darlington, the old convict probation settlement on the island's western side. Its own website calls it the official ferry operator for the Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Service's park page sends visitors to the same booking site.
The operator says the crossing takes about 30 minutes; the park page says around 45. Either way the day is built around four departures from Triabunna and four returns, and the last boat leaves the island at 4:15 p.m. The ferry fare and the park entry fee are two separate purchases. A parks pass can be added while you book or bought at the Maria Island Gateway beside the wharf, and proof of one is checked at check-in.
Check-in is at that Gateway building, 45 minutes before sailing. For the first boat of the summer timetable that means 7:45 a.m., which is also when the Gateway's visitor desk opens from September to April. Bring food, water and a bag for your rubbish: the operator's own pages say there are no shops or bins on the island, though drinks and snacks are sold on board.
Two timetables apply. From September to April the boat runs every day except Christmas Day. From May to August it does not run on Tuesdays or Thursdays and the earliest sailing is 10:00 a.m. Because the operator states that departures depend on demand and sea conditions, treat the times as the planned pattern and rely on the online booking screen and your confirmation message for the sailing you hold.
Bikes can go across for a fee and each is carried as freight, with panniers removed and checked as luggage. E-scooters are not allowed. Cars cannot cross, and the free parking is at the Triabunna marina and surrounding streets. Upgrade works around Darlington were due to finish around November 2026, according to the park's alert.
- Arrive at the terminal a few minutes before departure; vehicle boarding usually closes earlier.
- Check the operator's service alerts before travelling — weather, tides and river levels affect services.
- Confirm accepted payment methods and whether a booking is required for vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Encounter Maria Island says the crossing from Triabunna to Darlington takes about 30 minutes. The Parks and Wildlife Service page says around 45 minutes, so allow up to three-quarters of an hour. You also need to be at the Maria Island Gateway for check-in 45 minutes before departure.
An adult same-day return is $59 and an adult overnight return is $70. Concession is $47.50 or $59.50, a child aged 4 to 16 pays $36.50 or $43, and infants aged 0 to 3 travel free. These are return prices; no one-way fare is listed.
No. The ferry ticket and the parks pass are bought separately. The Parks and Wildlife Service lists a daily pass, valid up to 24 hours, at $24.55 a person for people travelling by bus, bike or on foot, with children under 5 free. An overnight stay needs more than one daily pass or a longer pass. You can add a pass during online booking or buy one at the Maria Island Gateway when you check in.
From September to April it runs every day except Christmas Day. From May to August it does not run on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Departures are subject to demand and safe sailing conditions, according to the operator's timetable page.
The last return sailing from Darlington is 4:15 p.m. in both the summer and winter timetables. Earlier returns leave at 9:15 a.m. (summer only), 10:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Cars cannot go; the only vehicles on the island belong to the Parks and Wildlife Service. Bicycles up to 15 kg are carried for $20 each, with panniers removed and checked as luggage. E-bikes must meet park rules and e-scooters are not permitted.
Parks and Wildlife Service says bookings are essential to visit the island, and the operator recommends booking as early as possible. It will not squeeze extra people onto a sold-out departure, because each sailing has a legal maximum capacity.
The skipper may delay or cancel a sailing for safety, and the operator says it will give as much notice as it can. Tickets are not refunded for a change of mind, but a booking can be moved to another scheduled service if you ask at least 24 hours before travel.