Snorkelling beside the jetty
The amazing geology and clean waters of Maria Island make it a fabulous place for coastal exploration and rock pool rambling. A fantastic array of creatures live in the waters surrounding the jetty at Darlington. If you lie down on the jetty and peer into the waters below, you will see the colourful jewel anemones. True to their name, masses of these small polyps in orange, pink, white and purple are attached to the pylons. The Painted Cliffs are a great place to explore rock pools at low tide. Sea birds can be seen on any walk along the coast.
For snorkellers and divers, Darlington Bay and the Painted Cliffs are very popular spots as they are relatively protected and there is lots to be seen. The large underwater caverns and tunnels of Fossil Bay, which extend up to 40m into the limestone cliffs, are a must for divers with boats. Water temperatures range from 20°C in summer to 11°C in winter. Yachts and other vessels often moor overnight in Darlington Bay.
Convict-built bunk rooms provide very basic accommodation which is
particularly popular with family and school groups who wish to stay on
the island. For those with tents there is an extensive campground.
There is no shop on the island and visitors need to be entirely self
sufficient. Non-treated fresh water from the convict-built reservoir is
provided in the camping area and near the bunk rooms.
Boating is allowed within the marine reserve. However, please do not:
-
Pied oystercatcher
- Fish or set fishing gear within the marine reserve.
Please care for our coast and 'Don't Rubbish Our Sea'.
* Try to avoid anchoring boats within the reserve. If you must anchor, do so on kelp-covered reef or, preferably, sand. Avoid anchoring on sponge gardens or seagrass.
* Stow your rubbish, don't throw it. Plastic, ropes and fishing tackle can injure and kill marine life. Dumping rubbish at sea is illegal.
* Please take care with liquid wastes such as detergents, fuel and oil, and sewage. These can be toxic to marine life.
* Try to walk around plants and animals along the shoreline.