2/2/2008 - Maria Island

My last post described a west coast wander to round out 2007.  While discussing options for that trip, we contemplated Maria Island.  As we knew very little about Maria, we left it for another time.  As 2008 dawned, we started to hatch a plan.  We read that the island was suitable for cycling so When a family member offered us a bike rack, we jumped at the opportunity to try something a bit different.

On the Australia Day weekend, we set off from the NW coast to Triabunna via Hobart with bikes, bags and children in tow.  The  Hobart detour was hastily arranged to pickup a 'trailer-bike' we sourced via ebay.  Our 2 year old son was accommodated with a seat on the back of my mountain bike while our 6 year old daughter was able to get an easier ride using the trailer that consisted of seat handle bar, gears and a rear wheel attached behind mum's mountain bike.  Our 9 year old son had a tough deal with a single speed stunt bike which made for very sore calf muscles and quads for the poor fella by the end of the trip.

The ferry crossing was fun on a hybrid vessel (an over sized rubber duckie with 3 very large outboard motors and a clear plastic canopy).  A south easterly sea was riding over a strong north westerly swell.  The pushbikes loosely tied to the bow made a funny sight floating weightlessly as we mounted each crest.

Once on the island, the remainder of day one only permitted a quick swim in Darlington Bay then dinner and bed.

Fossil Cliffs with Bishop & Clerk in the background

The following morning, we were unsure how the trailer arrangement would go.  We tackled the cirquit from Darlington to the Fossil Cliffs, returning via the air strip.  After only a few minutes riding, we were surprised to arrive at our destination.   These sea cliffs are spectacular as they sweep upward toward Bishop and Clerk which towers over the north east tip of Maria.

Once back in Darlington, we participated in a lunch-time Ranger activity before tackling the main north-south road that heads towards French's Farm 11km away.  With the available energy in our collective legs, we made it to Four Mile Beach before we decided that was far enough.  The beach was deserted and in the hour that we paddled and relaxed, we did not see a soul.  We had this beatiful crescent of brilliant white sand and clear blue water to ourselves.

Four Mile Beach

Our ride north back to Darlington was a bit tougher as a stiff northerly breeze made its presence felt.  The Painted Cliffs provided a pretty distraction before we tackled the final hill keeping us from our penitentiary cell at Darlington.

Painted Cliffs

In the 'cells,' Vinyl mattresses made the rooms a bit more comfortable than the average bushwalking cabin.  The solid walls maintained a near-constant temperature that was pleasantly cool during the day and warm at night.

On our final day, we completed 2 more rides, taking in the water supply reservoir and an old  oast house before packing bikes and bags on the ferry and then the car for an evening drive home via Swansea and Campbell Town.

Maria is certainly a mountain biker's paradise with several well formed gravel roads, no cars and magnificent scenery.  We were there on a mid-summer long weekend and I would guess there were less than 100 people in the entire park at any one time.