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GT Travel Awards 2008: Best adventure tourism

Maria Island Walk, Tas
Yes, you read it right. This is the second award for the amazing Maria Island Walk – we’ve also praised its founders Ian and Bronwyn Johnstone in our Best Eco-tourism Initiative, and for very good reason. There are, in Australia, places where you can camp in style on the beach, wander though wildlife sanctuaries, delve into fascinating colonial, Aboriginal or ancient history, indulge in fine wines and cuisine, or simply enjoy a guided walk though a beautiful national park. But there is perhaps only one place where you can do all of this, and that is Maria Island on Tasmania’s east coast. Established as a refuge for endangered wildlife in the 70s, Maria is now home to large populations of Cape Barren geese, forty-spotted pardalotes and Bennett’s wallabies. Since the Johnstones began their guided walks of the former Aboriginal settlement and penal colony, thousands of visitors have been introduced to this unique corner of our continent. 
Maria Island Walk, (03) 6227 8800, www.mariaislandwalk.com.au.

Runners-up: Bridgeclimb, NSW; Ningaloo Reef, WA.

PHOTOGRAPHY TASMANIA TOURISM