Fossil Cliffs Trail

A must-do, the Fossil Cliffs Trail is a fascinating 3 mi looped trail that starts and ends at the Visitors Centre in Maria Island National Park, Maria Island, Tasmania. On Tasmania’s list of ‘60 Great Short Walks’, this prehistoric walking trail is graded as Medium and is usually completed in 1 – 2 hours, and leads walkers to the island’s fossil cliffs containing 300-million-year-old marine fossils, whilst there is also plenty of wildlife to spot whilst on your walk including Forester Kangaroos and wombats. (For information on how we grade trails, please click here, and caution is advised on trail times as this depends on multiple variables. For more info, click here.) A family friendly walk, it’s fairly flat with no steep sections and mainly gravel track, and can be enjoyed as part of a day trip to Maria Island or a longer stay to discover more of the fascinating island’s cultural heritage. From the Darlington Probation Station, Convict Barn and Cemetery, to the spectacular Painted Cliffs, Fossil Cliffs and the island’s beautiful beaches, there’s so much to learn and lots to explore on Maria Island. A passenger ferry is available from coastal Triabunna to Darlington and takes around 45 minutes, and entrance fees to the national park apply. There are also basic camping facilities (including toilet, shower and water) available for a fee and visitors are expected to bring food, bedding and stoves with them if they wish to stay. Dogs are not allowed into Tasmania’s national parks and nature reserves.