Maria Island National Park protects the natural environment and Aboriginal and historic heritage of Maria Island. It's is a great place to visit and there are lots of opportunities to do it on a bike.
Remember, in national parks, use your bike to enjoy the environment, rather than using the environment to enjoy your bike.
Stay on the right track
Walking tracks on Maria Island are not designed to handle bike traffic, and riding bikes on walking tracks can be dangerous to walkers. Please do not use them.
You are welcome to ride on the roads and vehicular tracks, and in some places, on open paddocks. Places you can ride are shown on the map and are listed below.
- Fossil Cliffs circuit, including the paddocks on the route;
- Brick Fields circuit roads inland of Darlington;
- northern side of the Reservoir circuit (see map);
- Darlington to Oast House and return via Hopground Beach;
- Darlington to Frenchs Farm via the coast road;
- Darlington to Frenchs Farm via the inland road;
- Frenchs Farm to Encampment Cove campground;
- Frenchs Farm to Robeys Farm via the isthmus road; and
- Frenchs Farm to above Haunted Bay via the isthmus road.
Minimise your impact
Riding on the beach is not permitted because it can disturb shore breeding birds - some species of which are threatened. Getting onto and off the beach on your bike can cause track formation and erosion in the sand dunes. Sand dunes and other areas at the back of beaches often contain Aboriginal middens which can easily be damaged. And beach sand and salt water are not kind to your bike!
Skidding damages roads and tracks by removing the harder surface layer, leading to erosion, as does cutting corners and riding in wet, muddy areas.
The park is thought to be one of the few places in Tasmania free of Phytophthora, a disease that attacks many native plants. Phytophthora can be spread by soil from your bike, especially soil caught in wheels. When you arrive, use the washdown station located at Darlington Jetty to clean your bike.
Please look out for and look after the animals and plants.
The park is famous for its historic buildings and ruins, so please do not ride your bike on ruins, verandahs or into buildings.
Be safe, plan your trip
Don't forget to bring tools and equipment to repair your bike in an emergency. The roads and vehicular tracks on Maria Island can be rough on tyres. They can be equally rough on your head, so make sure you have a helmet - it's the law in Tasmania.
Just as walkers use the registration books to enter details of their walks, bike riders too are asked to fill in their details. These can be invaluable if you have an accident and are reported missing. Remember that these books are not checked until someone reports you as overdue, so always leave details of your trip intentions with a friend, family or police.