Maria Island is a relatively small island about 10 km off the east coast of Tasmania. The stretch of water between the Island and mainland Tasmania is called Mercury passage. The closest populated villages are Orford and Triabunna. Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Governor Premier Const. ... Orford is an attractive coastal hamlet located on the Prosser River located some 73 kilometers from Hobart, on the East Coast of Tasmania. ...

The Island is a National Park and the only permanent residents are National park rangers. The Island has a rich history and was once operated as a cement works. There are mountains on the Island and quite extensive native wild life including wallabies and bird life. Of interest some non native emus were located on the island as well as forester Kangaroos. Tasmanian Devils have recently been introduced to the island due to the effects of facial tumour disease on mainland populations. Other endangered species have also been relocated to the island as a safe haven to protect their populations from threats on the Tasmanian mainland. Red-necked Wallaby A wallaby (sometimes spelled wallabee) is any of about 30 species of macropod (family macropodidae). ... Binomial name Sarcophilus laniarius (Owen, 1838) Synonyms The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus laniarius), also referred to simply as the devil, is a carnivorous marsupial now found only in the Australian island state of Tasmania. ...

In the 1960s and 1970s seaweed was harvested in Mercury passage. Scallops and oysters were also harvested by dredging but more recently the passage has been used to culture scallops. Rock lobster, known locally as crayfish, and scale fish and abalone are harvested around the Island by both commercial and recreational fishermen. There is also a Marine reserve on western side of the Island. Mercury passage is a shark nursery used by gummy shark and school shark for pupping and raising young. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Seaweed covered rocks in the UK Phycologists consider seaweed to refer any of a large number of marine benthic algae that are multicellular, macrothallic (large-bodied), and thus differentiated from most algae that tend to be microscopic in size (Smith, 1944). ... Genera See text Scallops are the family Pectinidae of bivalve molluscs. ... Ostrea edulis, Marennes dOléron Ostrea edulis, Marennes dOléron The name oyster is used for a number of different groups of mollusks which grow for the most part in marine or brackish water. ... Rock Lobster was the B-52s first single, released in 1978. ... A piece of abalone shell The outside of an abalone shell The inside surface of an abalone shell The raw meat of abalone Abalone is the American English variant of the Spanish name [Abulón] used for various species of shellfish (mollusks) from the Haliotidae family (genus Haliotis). ... Orders Hexanchiformes Squaliformes Pristiophoriformes Squatiniformes Heterodontiformes Orectolobiformes Carcharhiniformes Lamniformes Sharks are a group (superorder Selachimorpha) of fish, with a full cartilaginous skeleton, a streamlined body plan, with normally 5, but up to 7 (depending on species) gill slits along the side of, or beginning slightly behind, the head (in some...

A ferry service provides a regular service mainly for day visitors. Some accommodation is available. Bush walking , fishing and diving are the main activities. Dolphins will often escort the ferry.

Bike rentals are often available next to ferry for the day. If you wish to see the Island in one day then a bike is very helpful. A fireroad runs through about half the length of the Island. The road continues , however the sand is very deep and difficult to ride or even walk. The beach is well worth the hike. There are two beaches back to back. It is often used to shorten the paddle around the Island.