Long before Maria Island earned its national park status in 1972, the land bore the heavy footprint of early agriculture, with large areas of native habitat cleared for sheep grazing and ambitious winemaking ventures. While much of the island has retained its natural wilderness, key coastal areas continue to suffer from erosion caused by land clearing more than half a century ago.
To bring the habitat back to its former state, The Maria Island Walk team has been actively working on a revegetation project at Four Mile Headland. "Back in 2014, we decided that we needed to assist in reversing the decline of habitat in this area," says Ben Brown, Operations Manager for The Maria Island Walk. "The main reasons were to stop erosion, but also to bring back some of the native birdlife."
"We'd had some really dry spells, and the wombats were digging up the soil, which led to a lot of runoff when it did rain," Brown clarifies. "So, we replanted with natives, and the bonus is the wildlife coming back."
Image credit: The Maria Island Walk
The team carefully selected species for the restoration, choosing Coastal Wattle and Casuarina because they were already thriving in other parts of the area. "We took seed from those local plants, grew them, and we've now planted about 1,000 trees over the last ten years," Brown explains.
The efforts are showing results. Wildlife has begun returning to the headland, including Bennett's Wallabies, wombats, and bird species such as Green Rosellas and thornbills. "Ultimately, we could potentially see Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, who like feeding in the Sheoaks," Brown notes.
Looking ahead, the team plans to extend the revegetation work further south. "We've been planting in stages since 2014. The original trees are about three metres tall now, and we're talking with Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service about continuing the planting," says Brown. Maintenance is ongoing, with guides removing tree guards and grow tubes as the trees mature.
With guests staying at the nearby White Gums Camp on night two of The Maria Island Walk, the Four Mile Headland Revegetation Project is a tangible example to share with guests about Wild Bush Luxury's long-term commitment to preserving Maria Island's natural environment.
Image credit: The Maria Island Walk
The Maria Island Walk
Maria Island National Park lies just a few kilometres off Tasmania's east coast, easily accessible from Hobart. It's spectacular landscapes, combined with a rich concentration of wildlife, has contributed to its nickname as 'Tasmania's Noah's Ark'.
Founded in 2002, The Maria Island Walk was created as a soft adventure experience accessible to most, where packs are light, the food is gourmet, the wine is Tasmania's best, and each night there is a comfortable bed. More than two decades on, The Maria Island Walk continues to showcase this remarkable destination to a new band of travellers that valued natural wildlife encounters in remote and tranquil settings, combined with world-class hospitality.
The team takes great pleasure in offering an authentic Tasmanian experience, bringing to life local history and culture, rare Tasmanian wildlife, spectacular scenery, and fascinating penal history. Testimony to the success of this unbeatable formula is the string of national and state awards that has made The Maria Island Walk one of the most desired guided experiences in the country.
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