Ile Des Phoques and Maria Island Cruise: Day Tour with Scenic Views and Wildlife Encounters

Embark on a thrilling day tour to Ile Des Phoques and Maria Island in Tasmania. Experience breathtaking views, encounter wildlife, and explore famous landmarks and geological wonders.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Ile Des Phoques - 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…
What's Included
  • Guided walk of Darlington convict settlement
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Lunch
  • Landing and/or facility fees
  • Live commentary on board
  • Professional Guide
  • Tea and coffee
  • 2-hour stay on Maria Island
  • Free Hobart shuttle bus transfers
  • Seal viewing
  • Snacks
  • Dolphin and Whale watching
  • 4-hour scenic cruise
  • Kangaroo and Wombat viewing
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup. Contact us directly for hotel pickups 0362571300. Additional $25 per person return
Additional Information

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…

Location
21 Vicary St
Vicary Street
Please meet at our Cafe (Maria Island Cruises) at 8am for checkin of your tour. Secure parking is available behind our cafe.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(196 Ratings)
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Discover42110256198
May 13, 2025
What a great, wonderful, exceptional day out....Well Done - Michael was our Skipper and Hugh our guide for the day. Michael's skill over the water and into some of the caves on Ile Des Phoque was exceptional. His passion and knowledge for the area was just as great. We had a remarkable lunch watching seals in their natural environment playing and talking with 1 another. Then down to Fossil Bay to view the cliffs and around to Painted Cliffs before docking at Darlington on Maria Island where Hugh took us around to talk about it's history. We also saw wombats, Cape Barron geese and some kangaroos. On the way home we heard there was a couple of Orca's in our vicinity, so Michael diverted the boat for a time to see if we could find them. Unfortunately not, so we headed for home. An absolutely wonderful day. Glad we opted for the boat tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cruiser48979686318
May 1, 2025
Amazing trip, thank you Maria island cruises - The crew were absolutely amazing and the arrangements were also perfect. The entire experience in all was really good and we all enjoyed a lot
Review provided by Tripadvisor
613unnurh
Apr 25, 2025
Maria Island is a Fabulous Treasure - Á brilliant, breathtaking tour with Michael and Rachel as our tour guides. Maria Island offered so much, views, history and abundant wildlife. Lunch was delicious and it was overly eating on the boat anchored in a sheltered bay. I will be recommending this company to friends and family.👏👏👏👏👏👏🥰👌
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cindyae2800je
Apr 21, 2025
Amazing, wild cruise - Amazing day exploring the rugged coastline of wild Maria Island. An exciting cruise which got up close to the ancient fossil and painted cliffs, and wildlife while always respecting the environment. The experienced and friendly crew made us feel safe and comfortable. The great skipper was very knowledgeable and passionate about the nature with interesting and entertaining commentary. Very lucky to see many seals, Eagles and wombats in the wild. Loved the delicious lunch and a local wine moored in beautiful Shoal Bay, according to the skipper, "The best beach in Tassie!" Spent a relaxing 2hours wandering amongst the wombats, historical settlement and birdlife on shore. One of the best tours I've done in Tasmania!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L8107hcjudithn
Apr 17, 2025
Maria Island Cruise - Great day we were looked after exceptionally well. We encourage all visitors to Tasmania to spend the day with Mike and his team, an amazing history of a beautiful island. Thank you Mike and Tamsi
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patricians6029jb
Apr 15, 2025
ILES DES PHOQUES CRUISE - An entertaining mixture of seals, dolphins, wombats and wallabies. Combined with coastal views and fascinating sea caves. Crew is helpful and courteous. Skipper is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. This tour is highly recommended 👌 👏 👍
Review provided by Tripadvisor
87angieh
Apr 14, 2025
Circumnavigating of Maria Island - I went from Hobart to Sorrell and was picked up by a bus to Traiabunna. There, we boarded a small ship. I was travelling solo but was friendly with all the other passengers; most of them had a partner. The captain of the small ship was very learned and explained everything in detail. The assistant, by the name of Tamsin, was extremely helpful and also had a wealth of knowledge about the rock formation and history of the island. The food was excellent, and the entire trip around Maria Island was breathtaking. The 2-hour walk on Maria Island was also rewarding as we saw abundant wildlife. The entire trip was indeed very rewarding,
Review provided by Tripadvisor
230leeannt
Apr 9, 2025
Amazing Island Tour - This boat trip around Maria Island was extraordinary! The staff was amazing, the boat was comfortable, and the lunch was so delicious! The tour around the island was breathtaking and getting to stroll around the island with wombats and local wildlife was an absolutely unforgettable experience! Don’t miss this trip!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Noeyh2025
Apr 7, 2025
Unforgettable Maria Island Experience - Our visit to Maria Island in March 2025 was something we’ll never forget, and that’s all thanks to the incredible efforts of Tanisha and Michael. This wasn’t your average tour—it was so much more. It felt like a personal adventure, packed with knowledge, heart, and genuine care. Both Michael and Tanisha went above and beyond to make sure we had an experience that was far beyond what we expected. Michael’s passion for what he does is so clear. He’s not just a tour guide—he’s someone who truly loves sharing the history and natural beauty of Maria Island. You can tell he’s dedicated to giving everyone a rich, meaningful experience. Tanisha is the perfect complement to Michael’s leadership. Her warmth and constant care made a real difference, especially for me, as I was feeling a bit under the weather from seasickness. She checked in on me often, making sure I was okay, which I really appreciated. Michael also made sure I was comfortable and constantly reassured me throughout the day. Maria Island itself is an absolute must-see. It feels so peaceful and untouched, like it’s completely isolated from the rest of the world. The nature is wild, pure, and beautiful—it's where you can easily spot wombats, wallabies, and kangaroos in their natural habitat. The beach was pristine, the views stunning, and everything about the place was just serene. The weather can be a bit unpredictable, but Michael was always upfront about it and kept us informed, making sure that if the tour was on, we would still have an amazing experience.Even though I wasn’t feeling my best due to seasickness, I still had a fantastic time, thanks to how thoughtful and caring Tanisha and Michael were. If you’re looking for something more than just a tour, this is it. Maria Island is a true gem, and I couldn’t recommend it more!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Genkayt
Apr 7, 2025
A great day!!! - This was one of the best days we had in Tassie. The cruise around the island was spectacular, then we got 2 hours on the island to meet the wildlife. Our captain and guide were very well informed and entertaining, the food was great, it's a small boat that you can wander around to get the best view. Very highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor