Maria Island is accessed by ferry from Triabunna. The ferry lands at Hopground Beach on the northern end of Maria Island.
A picturesque beach with white sand and views of Mt Bishop & Clerk. The beach was named after the hop fields cultivated there during the first convict settlement period in the early 19th century.
A place of great beauty with no hotels, shops, or internet access. The whole of Maria Island is steeped in history and remains largely unchanged. Interesting bird life and fauna exist all over the island.
Not far from the jetty is penitentiary accommodation and a campground. Basic bunk accommodation is available in the old penitentiary at Darlington, as well as free camping at several sites around the island.
Maria Island has a long and rich history, going back well before the colonial era. Remnants from the Aboriginal people of the Tyreddeme clan of the Oyster Bay tribe can still be seen today. In 1642, the island was named by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman after Maria van Diemen (née van Aelst), wife of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia.
