Darlington, Maria Island

Head a couple of hours up the east coast from Port Arthur, and a 30-minute boat ride from the little town of Triabunna brings you to one of the lesser-known of Tasmania’s five convict sites. 

The World Heritage-listed convict settlement Darlington pre-dates Port Arthur and displays unique convict history dating back to 1824. Despite its island location, escape proved just too easy, and Darlington was closed in 1832. Maria Island fell to nature, eventually becoming a sanctuary to Tasmanian native wildlife but the remains are a fascinating reminder of the convoluted convict history that has been such an extraordinary influence on this island.