EAST COAST CRUISES ACHIEVES ECOTOURISM CERTIFICATION
Congratulations to our newest certified operator, East Coast Cruises, for achieving Ecotourism certification for their One Day on Maria - Circumnavigation walking and cruise tour and their One Day on Maria - Ile Des Phoques walking and cruise tour.
Maria Island National Park is located off the beautiful east coast of Tasmania and is the only island park in the state. It is accessible from Triabunna, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Hobart. Maria Island is renowned for its breathtaking coastline, its stunning variety of landscapes, its abundant wildlife and its convict history listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Ile Des Phoques (French for Island of Seals) is a small granite island 30 minutes north of Maria Island.
East Coast Cruises allow visitors to enjoy Maria Island or the Ile Des Phoques with a journey on their boat, Spirit of Maria. Their two cruises are an excellent day trip from Hobart as they offer pickup and transport in their shuttle to the Triabunna marina. Developed by marine scientists, their intimate tours combine an interpretive morning scenic cruise and an afternoon guided walk on Maria Island. Tours are designed to provide an exciting, informative and unforgettable day.
The Circumnavigation Cruise gives passengers a chance to see as much as possible of Maria Island in one day by taking them around the entire coastline of the island. The Ile Des Phoques Cruise goes to a remote granite island to watch playful Australian fur seals and explore the inside of one of the biggest granite sea caves in Australia.
Each cruise docks on Maria Island in the afternoon for a guided walk of the Darlington convict settlement and encounters with the island's wildlife. The list of possible native wildlife encounters when joining East Coast Cruises tours is exciting whether it is on land, in the sea or in the air. In one day, participants may see humpback whales during the migration season, Australian fur seals, Tasmanian devils, the infamous Cape Barron geese, eagles, the friendly wombats and kangaroos, and many more.
It is also an opportunity for visitors to hear stories about the Indigenous culture of Wukaluwkiwayna (Maria Island).
The tours also include a scenic buffet lunch with local gourmet food served onboard in a secluded and protected bay.
You can have a peek at their tours with two videos published on YouTube for Maria Island and Ile Des Phoques.
East Coast Cruises have developed interactions with local wildlife, especially seals and wombats, for more than 12 years. Tours are run by trained professionals who educate passengers and apply strict policies to protect the animals and their habitats. They make great effort to reduce their carbon and waste footprint. For example, they compost their own waste and use bio-products that can quickly degrade in the ocean and not harm marine life in case an item accidently goes overboard. They are also dedicated to minimising their emission from transport for both their boat and buses with good practice and efficient engines.
Congratulations once again to East Coast Cruises for achieving Ecotourism Certification and welcome to the Ecotourism Australia family!
For more information about East Coast Cruises visit their website, their Facebook page or their Instagram.
[Pictures sourced from East Coast Cruises website or Facebook.]