Heading to Maria Island? Great choice! It’s a spectacular part of the world and an area we really enjoy visiting with our kids.
However, once you decide to go, you need to work out where to stay! Finding out about accommodation on Maria Island can be more difficult than most places because the whole island is a national park home to a UNESCO listed convict settlement.
So you may be wondering whether there even is Maria Island accommodation Tasmania or if you need to stay elsewhere.
Maria Island camping in Darlington
Below, I help you sort this out so you can find the perfect Maria Island Tasmania accommodation whether that’s on the island itself or nearby (because you can do either!).
Table of Contents
Maria Island Accommodation
Maria Island penitentiary accommodation
Before I share all your accommodation Maria Island options, do note that Maria Island is an island with no bridges. Travel here is by ferry only. So if you want to visit for multiple days, you should stay on the island.
If, however, you are happy with a Maria Island day trip, you can do this and stay near the ferry instead which gives you better options. A day trip is also a great way to visit Maria Island.
On the island you have two choices…
Maria Island Accommodation Penitentiary
Maria Island penitentiary accommodation
If you don’t want to camp, your only option on Maria Island itself is the Maria Island penitentiary accommodation.
Housing convicts from 1830, today it provides dorm accommodation across 9 rooms. Each one having three bunk beds (so six beds in total) with one having room for 14.
The rooms are reasonably spacious with shelving and a picnic style table and chairs as well as the beds themselves. There is also a wood fired stove heater. There is no power or running water. Quite a few families were staying here when Iwe were here as well as groups of all ages.
Inside one of the rooms
There is a long undercover porch at the front of the building which people were enjoying thanks to some on and off rain.
Close by, the penitentiary Maria Island accommodation also has toilets, a rainwater tank and a mess hall which has power and includes a kitchen with sinks and gas cookers. There are also more tables and chairs in here and it’s a nice area.
You can also use the BBQ area at the camping grounds. Everything is very clean.
Mess Hall
It’s all simple and functional but better than I expected for national park accommodation on an island.
For a Maria Island penitentiary accommodation booking, phone 03 6256 5072 up to six months before. Dorms start at $44 when I visited for two adults.
Maria Island Camping
Maria Island Camp Ground at Darlington
The other option of Maria Island accommodation Tas is to camp.
There are several camping grounds on Maria Island with the main one being near the ferry by the sea in Darlington close to the penitentiary accommodation.
A wombat visits a tent
It’s a great big camp ground with enough trees and bushes to be able to find a private spot and wildlife all around – we found a wombat trying to visit one tent!
There’s a big bathroom block with toilets and coin operated showers which are currently out of operation until further notice.
BBQ and cooking area
Toilet block with washing up facilities
Toilet block
There’s also a big shelter with free gas BBQs and gas cooking. There’s washing up facilities next to the toilet block.
Fees apply to camp here. There is no need to make a camping Maria Island accommodation booking. You can sort it out on arrival. It’s a lovely spot.
Best Option For Maria Island Holiday Accommodation Nearby – Eastcoaster Resort
The main restaurant and fishing area at the Eastcoaster Resort
If you want a nicer option where you have more choices of activities, the Eastcoaster Resort is my top recommendation.
Located 6 minutes from the ferry to Maria Island, it’s very convenient for day trips.
There are a range of room types here from studio motel options to cabins and villas which work for couples, friends or family travellers. We stayed in a family motel suite and had a good amount of room and facilities for our family of five.
Inside the Family Suite at the Eastcoaster
Our favourite spot – the indoor pool!
The best part of staying here, however, is all the facilities. There are both indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, basketball and squash courts, a gym, playground, BBQ areas walking trails and a great restaurant right by the water.
It’s the perfect place to stay while exploring Maria Island and for some recreation time. It’s also quite economical especially for everything you get. The best part compared to the Maria Island national park accommodation can be the hot showers though!
Click here to see the latest prices or here to read our full review.
We hope you found this Maria Island hotels article useful and you have now decided on your perfect place to stay for your Maria adventures. To help you plan the rest of your trip, read about the ferry to Maria Island here. You can also read about visiting the Fossil Cliffs on Maria here.
Looking for more information for your trip? Find our full East Coast travel guide here.
Sharon grew up in Tasmania, moved away and then came back with her family twenty years later. She loves re-discovering her home state and sharing it with you here.
