, Sean Davey

Summary

+ Roaring forties exposure	- Windy and chilly winter surf
+ Beaches and points	- Occasionally flat SE coast
+ Peninsulas and indented coast	- Slow access
+ Uncrowded and mountainous	- Expensive

Around 10,000 years ago, AustraliaÕs sixth state was joined to the mainland but it is now about 240km away across the shallow Bass Strait. Tasmania has become synonymous with the incredible right ledge on the Tasman Peninsula known as Shipstern Bluff, where the slightly insane take on triple lips, stepped faces and huge screaming barrels. The majority of surfers will be seeking less life-threatening spots and Hobart makes a good base to explore from.

When to Go

The west coast is usually big and onshore, the north coast needs major swells and the east coast is inconsistent. The south coast has the best winter surf, since most spots don't face the SW swell and filter wave height down to a manageable 4-6ft and the regular SW-N winds blow offshore. The extremely indented coastline is useful for offshores or sideshores and the 1.4m tides are a fraction of the north coast, but affect the reefs and points.

Surf Spots

Nine ferries a day make the 20min journey between Hobart and Bruny Island, home of some big waves that hold size better than most Tassie breaks. Furthest west is a rivermouth spot called Lagoons, where there is potential for long rights on a big swell, with the right sandbank, high tides and W-NW winds. On a medium swell, scenic Cloudy Bay can produce good beachbreaks, favouring rights breaking into the rip. Stop by Coal Point if the swell is big, because this is BrunyÕs best pointbreak. Hairy lefts unload over rock and kelp, the first section being fast with a challenging take-off. Other spots like The Neck are less consistent but itÕs a small island and waves are fairly easy to find. There are quite a few places to stay or camp. Betsey Island sits 1km off the South ArmÕs coastline, forcing large swells to wrap around it and reform into the sucky barrels of the occasionally crowded Wedge. Access is through private property. Another fun stretch of exposed beachie is Goats but Clifton Beach is HobartÕs most popular spot, only 30min drive from the city centre. When the swell gets huge, other breaks on the east side get classic, small right points like Cremorne, Mays, Lauderdale or Seven Mile. Out on the Tasman Peninsula, the main town of Nubeena has access to Roaring BeachÕs often surfed beachbreak and Kelpies, a long, hollow left pointbreak. Shipstern Bluff or Fluffys, an ironic tribute to its power, has become one of the worldÕs iconic waves. Swells abruptly hit the granite ledge, only a few metres off a spectacular boulder-piled headland, creating a crazily difficult ride. Nowadays it is rarely ridden by paddle surfers and is the domain of a few crazy tow-in crews. Shipstern is a 2h/7km hike around the Tasman National Park. South of Port Arthur, Remarkable Caves is not only a tourist spot, but also has low tide peaks, and a scary paddle out past caves. A thin isthmus of land at Eaglehawk Neck attracts triangle sandbars along its extensive curve, plus a powerful, rare left point in NE swells. Tessos, a sucky, demanding, quality right over kelp-covered rock, is just next door. It needs huge SE swells to turn on but can handle any wind and works on high tide.

Statistics

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

dominant swell

S -SE

S -SE

S -SE

S -SE

S -SE

S -SE

swell size (ft)

2-3

4-5

5-6

6

5-6

3

consistency (%)

50

60

70

80

70

60

dominant wind

W -NW

SW -NW

W -N

SW -NW

W -N

W -NW

average force

F3-F5

F3-F5

F3-F5

F5

F4-F5

F4-F5

consistency (%)

34

53

58

59

58

38

water temp (C)

15

13

11

11

11

13

wetsuit

3/2

4/3

4/3

4/3

4/3

4/3

Travel Information

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