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Voykit pocket guide · Australia
Triabunna
Stay one night only if you are catching the Maria Island ferry; otherwise pass through, or stop for lunch on the Hobart–east coast drive.
Triabunna is a small east-coast fishing town of about 870 people, an hour's drive north of Hobart on the Tasman Highway. Its one real job for travellers is the ferry to Maria Island, 30 minutes across the Mercury Passage. The town itself has a handful of convict-era buildings, a working wharf and a fish van. Most people sleep here the night before an early ferry, or stop for lunch on the way to Bicheno and Coles Bay.
- Country
- Australia
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cold, wet, some ferries cancelled by weather)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- AUD
- Money
- Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$). Contactless cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, including public transport in the big cities; some small cafes are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget A$90–140 excl. bed · Mid A$150–230 excl. bed · High A$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 000 · From mobiles 112
- Plugs
- Types I · 230 V · 50 Hz · Angled two- or three-pin Type I, shared with NZ, Fiji and China; sockets have their own switch — turn it on.
- Tipping
- Cafés and casual meals: Nothing; a tip jar is optional.; Restaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.; Taxi / rideshare: Round up or nothing.; Tours and guides: Optional; A$10–20 for a great day guide.; Surcharges: Weekend and public-holiday surcharges of 10–15% are legal if shown on the menu.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps. Carry plenty on any outback drive or walk.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | A$4–6 |
| Fish and chips at the wharf | A$15–25 |
| Counter meal in a pub | A$25–40 |
| Beer, schooner in a pub | A$8–12 |
| Fuel, per litre | A$1.80–2.10 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | A$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HBA · Hobart Airport
- About 1 h 15 min by car via the Tasman Highway (A3); no scheduled public bus to Triabunna, so hire a car or book a shuttle
Typical fares
- Maria Island ferry, return
- about A$60 per person, 30 min (check)
- Hobart → Triabunna by car
- about 1 h via the A3
- Triabunna → Bicheno by car
- about 1 h 15 min via the A3
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is small enough to walk in 15 minutes. There is no local bus. A car is effectively required for the region: the Tasman Highway (A3) runs south to Hobart (about 1 h) and north to Swansea and Bicheno. Fuel up here or in Orford before long east-coast drives.
See and do
Known for
- Maria Island ferry
- Working fishing wharf
- Convict-era buildings
- East Coast seafood
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maria Island | Ferry from the Triabunna wharf across the Mercury Passage | About 1 h plus a full day on the island |
| Orford | Drive south on the A3, about 10 min | About 15 min |
| Bicheno | Drive north on the A3, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
| Coles Bay and Freycinet | Drive north on the A3 then the C302, about 1 h 30 min | About 1.5–2 h |
Sleep
- Town centre and wharf
- Walk to the ferry pier, the fish van and the caravan park; best for a pre-ferry night.
- Tasman Highway edge
- Motel-style rooms with parking on the highway; quieter, but a 10–15 min walk to the wharf.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thanks |
| Where is the ferry wharf? | Where's the ferry wharf? |
| Can I pay by card? | Card OK? |
| Is the ferry running today? | Is the ferry running? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where's the loo? |
| One coffee, please | One coffee, thanks |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake or 'G'day' / 'How are you going?'; first names from the start; avoid: Formal titles; long answers to 'how are you'
- Rounds: Buy your round ('shout') when drinking in a group; avoid: Leaving before your shout
- Queues: Queue patiently; sitting in the front seat of a taxi when alone is common; avoid: Pushing in — it is noticed
- Country: Listen to Welcomes and Acknowledgements; use local place names when offered; avoid: Touching artefacts or photographing ceremonies without permission
- Beach: Swim between the flags; respect lifesavers' instructions; avoid: Swimming at unpatrolled beaches alone
- Humour: Expect teasing and understatement; laugh along; avoid: Taking dry sarcasm literally or boasting
- Walking and driving: Keep left on footpaths and escalators; wave thanks to drivers who let you in; avoid: Stopping on the road to photograph kangaroos
Scams and watch-outs
- No scheduled public bus from Hobart: without a car or a booked shuttle, reaching the town is difficult.
- Maria Island ferry sailings are weather-dependent and can be cancelled; build a spare day into the plan.
- Book the ferry and any island bed well ahead in summer (Dec–Feb) and school holidays.
- Kangaroos and wallabies on the highway at dawn and dusk; the A3 is winding in places.
- Fuel and food options are limited late in the evening; eat before you arrive late.
A quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are wildlife on the highway at dawn and dusk, cold water and weather that cancels ferry sailings. Tell someone your plan before walking on Maria Island.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Triabunna yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Maria Island ferry
- Working fishing wharf
- Convict-era buildings
- East Coast seafood
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Maria Island Ferry and Eco Tours: www.mariaislandferry.com.au/
- Triabunna Cabin & Caravan Park: triabunnaaccommodation.com.au/
- Wikivoyage: Triabunna, revision 5242659 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242659
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Triabunna
To this address, thanks
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No consulates in Triabunna; the nearest are in Hobart.
No scheduled public bus serves Triabunna: arrange a car or a booked shuttle before you commit to a ferry time.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/triabunna). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.