Tasmania ~ East Coast

Tasmania’s east coast is the jewel in a crown filled with glorious wonders that make the island renown as the natural state, the “island of inspiration.” Here we find some of the world’s most dramatic dolerite cliffs close to Australia’s second oldest city first settled in 1803. A quaint delightful city beneath the protection of The Mountain with its fluted organ pipes standing proud and tall before some of Australia’s best waterways that spread from it like the blue folds of royalty. Tasmania’s east coast has everything. There are lonely bays backed by green forests while around an abrupt point lay the heinous remains of a convict settlement dating back to our earliest history. The fishing is some of the best, the walks are the best, and if you can handle the changeable weather and sometimes immense seas then an experience of a lifetime awaits you on Tasmania’s East Coast.

Non-stop action will start a few days after Boxing Day when the Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet rounds Tasman Island and races those last miles into Constitution Dock. A few short weeks later, one of the world’s greatest spectacles, the unique Wooden Boat Show will occupy the waterfront, followed shortly in mid-February by the start of the Van Diemens Land Circumnavigation, a challenging 800 nautical mile cruise-in-company around Tasmania with experienced, friendly people.

Navigators will need to verify the GPS positions given here.

A complete set of updated Cruising Notes for Tasmania, print ready/iPhone/Kindle, can be downloaded here.

HOBART

Hobart Map
Let’s begin our tour in Tasmania’s capital city where every facility will be found in one of the prettiest cities in Australia. Well sheltered marinas are available for visitors. We prefer living right downtown in Constitution Dock where a short walk takes us to so many places of interest like the museum, art gallery, and maritime display. Comprehensive shopping is close by, provision at the downtown Woolies or Salamanca Market, or visit numerous restaurants, bookstores and variety shops as well as several pubs within minutes from your vessel.

Constitution Dock
For more peaceful surroundings, the Royal Yacht Club offers visitor berths with a 20 minute walk to town. Free anchorage can be found either off Battery Point, which is close to Salamanca, or off Sandy Point at Nutgrove Beach near the Wrest Point Casino, a very long walk to the city. Other anchorages can be found upstream of the Tasman Bridge, but we have not explored this part of the Derwent.

Constitution Dock, Elizabeth Pier
Upon arrival, either contact Port Control on Ch 16 or Ch 88, or telephone Tas Ports directly 1300 366 742 manned 24/7. to see if space is available. If proceeding to Con Dock, you will be instructed to enter Kings Pier and tie alongside the wharf on the right side of the lifting bridge where a Tas Ports Official will have you complete the necessary paperwork. You will need to show public liability insurance. Credit Card Payment is preferred. When ready, the lifting Bridge will be raised for you to proceed into the basin. Be aware of your mast clearing this bridge, the masts of wide trimarans are particularly venerable to striking it.

We prefer mooring on the left side after the bridge, it’s the quietest as no road passes, but it is often full. Second best, directly right after the bridge, closest to the showers, quiet traffic. But if you want the full blast of Hobart, proceed straight across to the main street. In our two visits, each a month, we’ve not experience any security issues. Great hot showers and laundry facilities.

Banyandah

Constitution Dock FEES, 2021, inclusive of GST
vessels up to 15m – $162.80 /week   
15m to 21m – $308.00 /week
exceeding 21m – $484.00 / week

Sullivans Cove Constitution Dock

Royal Yacht Club
Ph 03 62234955      Email: RYCT@ryct.org.au
RYCT 2012 casual rates currently are :
Floating:
10M -$20/day        12M – $25/day       15M – $35/day
16M – $40/day       18M -$45/day        20M – $55/day
Fixed Piles:
Small – $15/day        Medium – $20/day        Large – $25/day        Extra Large – $30/day
Moorings are available at $52.50 per week

Sandy Point (Nutgrove Beach)
42°54.48’S ~ 147°21’E
Anchor just outside moored vessels in 11 m sand.
Good in all winds except easterlies and strong northerlies. Some swell in heavy weather.

NutGrove Beach

Battery Point,
42°53.3’S ~ 147°20.4’E
Anchor just outside moored vessels in 15 m mud/sand. See map above. Rig a trip line at your discretion as there may old ballast or clutter on bottom.
Good in all winds except south-easterlies. Some swell in heavy weather.

Kingston Bay, Kingston,
42°59’S ~ 147°19.6’E
Anchor in 11 m sand. Good in westerly winds. Some swell in moderate weather.
Row ashore to boat launching site, pub nearby with meals. Supermarket, fuel and supplies close by. Long sandy beach, houses fill hillside.

Kingston

Kettering

Located 32 km by road from Hobart in the d’Entrecasteaux Channel, Kettering is surrounded by hills and enclosed by Bruny Island. This scenic bay probably offers the best protection in Tasmania.

Oyster Cove Marina
Ph 03 6267 4418  Fax 03 6276 4349
www.oystercovemarina.com.au      Email: admin@oystercovemarina.com.au

This newly refurbished marina is manned by the most helpful friendly staff we encountered on the island. A new travel hoist has recently been installed to compliment their existing multi rail and cradle slipway. A ship chandlery is onsite as well as a hotel featuring reasonably priced meals and accommodation. Marine Trades are ready to assist.

Length Week Quarter Year  
8m $55 $705 $2,820  
10m $68 $880 $3,520  
11m $75 $965 $3,860  
12m $82 $1,055 $4,220  
14m $95 $1,230 $4,920  
15m $102 $1,320 $5,280  
16m $109 $1,405 $5,620  
18m $122 $1,580 $6,320  
20m $135 $1,755 $7,020  
Catamaran wide 12m $98 $1,265 $5,060  
Casual Daily Rate: $25 (under review).  

Oyster Cove

Tasman Peninsula:

Nubeena
43°06.1’S ~ 147°44.3’E
Nearly landlocked bay on west side of Tasman Peninsula. Shelter from all winds, anchor in 6 to 10m mud. Shop, pub, jetty, district hospital.

Nubeena

White Beach,
43°07.3’S ~ 147°43.5’E
Anchorage off Wades Corner protected from N thru E to S in 4 to 10 m sand. No facilities.

White Beach

Norfolk Bay, Ironstone Bay,
Historical Coal Mine
The Coal Mines formed part of the system of convict discipline and punishment on the Tasman Peninsula. During its busiest years almost 600 prisoners with their jailers and their families lived and worked at the Mines. While the underground workings are no longer accessible, you may visit the picturesque ruins of houses, barracks, offices and punishment cells. Free Entry.

The Coal Mines Norfolk Bay

Anchorage near Plunkett Point,
42°59’S ~ 147°43.6’E
Protected from SW to N in 2 to 3 m sand and shell with ruins in sight. Watch for sunken rock off point.

Port Arthur, Masons Cove,
43°08.861’S ~ 147°51.313’E
Moorings in area, we borrowed one. Or you can anchor off Commandants Point sheltered from all winds in 10 – 12 m sand.

Port Arthur

The ruins of the penal settlement and museum are well worth visiting and form a surreal backdrop to the anchorage. Access to attraction via small jetty.

Port Arthur Penal Colony

Temporary anchorage off Dead Island if you care to visit the island of death.
For a quieter anchorage move further south, deeper into Carnarvon Bay, protected from all winds in 10 m sand.

Canoe Bay, Walkers Creek,  in Fortescue Bay
43°07.626’S, 147°57.328’E
Anchorage behind wreck awash, protected from all but strong E to ESE winds in 2 – 3 m mud with some weed.
Minimal swell in a lovely well-timbered isolated bay. Possible place to leave vessel for overnight Cape Pillar walk.

Fortesque Bay

Deeper into Fortescue Bay,
43°08.43’S, 147°57.88’E
Possible slight swell after negotiating around kelp, anchoring in 5 m sand with weed, protected from all but strong NE.
Great spot for day walk to Cape Hauy, The Lanterns, and Mitre Rock.

Cape Pillar from Cape Hauy

Pirates Bay,
43°02’S, 147°56.4’E
We’ve not anchored in this bay sometimes affected by easterly swell, but have seen it both bumpy and calm. A beautiful spot near blowhole.
Anchor protected from SE – NW in 6 – 10 m over sand.

Lagoon Bay,
42°52.911’S, 147°57.610’E
Tricky entry this one. Plenty of thick kelp to skirt around. We tracked south, but visual navigation is necessary to find clear area nearer shore.
Once inside, anchor with good shelter from SE – N in 6 – 8 m sand. Lonely bay with a few sheep and one distant dwelling.

Denison Canal,
This canal is cut through the isthmus of the Forestier Peninsula in southern Tasmania and is the only purpose-built sea canal in Australia. In 1854, agitation by east coast settlers to improve transport by avoiding the longer, often rough voyage around Tasman Peninsula led to Lt-Governor Denison commissioning a report. Tenders were called in 1901, and the canal was opened in 1905. The canal proper is 895 metres long, and 2.42 km with dredged approaches. Its width is about 34 metres at ground level reducing to 7 metres wide at low tide. Water depth ranges from 2.6 to 3.9 metres according to tide. The original, hand-operated swing bridge was replaced by an electrically powered one in 1965. Formerly used by small vessels and east coast traders, the canal is now restricted to fishing and pleasure craft by shifting sand bars in Blackman Bay. Tidal scouring obviates the need for dredging of the canal itself.

Dunally Bridge details

The following information supplied by Marine and Safety Tasmania December 2011:
The Denison Canal can be transited between the hours of 8.00am and 5.00pm and it is recommended that contact is made with the Canal Superintendent one day prior to canal transit. Telephone: (03) 6253 5113 VHF Ch16 Call Sign “Denison Canal” 27MHz Radio: 27.880Mhz

Denison Canal

TIDAL STREAMS:
The main stream of the flood tide runs into Blackman Bay – ie, in a north-easterly direction at the Denison Canal and a south-westerly direction at the Marion Bay Narrows. The reverse applies for an ebb tide. Tidal streams of up to 3 knots can be experienced.
Tide times can be calculated with reference to tide tables with the following adjustments:
Flood Stream commences 2 hours 27 minutes after low water at Hobart.
Ebb Stream commences 2 hours 16 minutes after high water at Hobart.

DENISON CANAL APPROACH CHANNELS,
The minimum depth at the Dunalley Bay approach channel to the canal was 1.7 metres measured relative to chart datum on 12 December 2011. The minimum depth at the Blackman Bay approach channel to the canal was also 1.7 metres relative to chart datum on 12 December 2011. These measurements are based on Hobart tide tables and appropriate time adjustments.

 dennison canal

TRAVEL TIMES TO DENISON CANAL,
Southern Approach: From Hobart to Denison Canal is 31 nm requiring 5 hours at 6 knots, power vessels doing 20 knots require 1.5 hours
Northern Approach: From Chinaman’s Bay (Maria Island) to Marion Narrows is 13 miles requiring 2 hours  or only 40 minutes at 20 knots

Triabunna,
42°30.612’S, 147°54.9’E
Triabunna is a relaxing fishing village surrounding the sheltered harbour of Spring Bay. The town has a range of shopping facilities. Triabunna is the base for many crayfish, fishing boats and a boat club. The Maria Island ferry departs from Triabunna. Visitor Centre in Charles Street, Phone (03) 6257 4772

Triabunna entrance

Triabunna has traditionally been a centre for small industries with stock-keepers first settling in the 1820s. Other industries which have blossomed and then died out were whaling stations, sandstone quarries and tramways, the military garrison and the largest apple orchard in the southern hemisphere.

Triabunna

Alongside the new jetty costs $25/ day. See Stan, a very nice man, (03) 62573415.

Freycinet_IconFreycinet National Park consists of knuckles of granite mountains all but surrounded by azure bays and white sand beaches. The dramatic peaks of the Hazards welcome you as you enter the park. Freycinet is effectively two eroded blocks of granite – the Hazards and the Mt Graham/Mt Freycinet sections of the peninsula – joined by a sand isthmus.

freycinet_np_guide

Walkers Map Freycinet NP


Coles Bay,

42°07.76’S, 148°17.71’E
Magnificent scenery with small market and eatery, easy walk to Freycinet National Park.
Anchorage open to west, provides shelter from N thru E to S in 10 m poor holding shell/mud.

Coles Bay

Promise Bay, Refuge Island,
42°10.47’S, 148°16.42’E
Alternative anchorage to Coles Bay with direct access to Hazard Mountain walk. Access boardwalk on shore.
Watch for three above water rocks between shore and Refuge Island plus another isolated one near point. Night entry unwise.

Constitution Dock

Wineglass Bay,
42°10.441’S, 148°18.469’E
Anchor in south corner to avoid swell in 6 m sand, protected from N thru W to S.
Beautiful anchorage with purple hue Hazard Mountains and crescent shaped white sand beach. Walking trails accessed from beach.
A friend of ours lost his vessel on this beach when a sudden Easterly blew up. Unable to pull her off, she eventually broke up. In Tasmanian waters, a keen weather eye needs to be kept.

 Freycinet NP 3 anchorages

Bryans Corner,
42°15.404’S, 148°16.735’E
Anchor in 2 – 4 m sand and weed with protection from NW thru NE. We dragged in a 30kt northerly when closer in at: 42°15.370’S, 148°16.610’E
Uninhabited beach with pleasant walk thru scrub forest to Cooks Corner campsite.

Schouten Island,
42°17.905’S, 148°17.125’E Crockets Bay
42°17.930’S, 148°16.800’E Moreys Bay
Here is a picture of Reliance sailing into Moreys Bay with Crocketts Bay astern. These bays are the southern part of the “Schouten Shuffle,” meaning when the wind goes anywhere South, boats leaves Bryans Corner and cross Schouten Pass. Moreys Bay is the larger of the two anchorages and you can access the track to Bear Hill from both.

Schouten Island

St Helens,
A very pleasant town, scenic, with good shopping and many outdoor cafes popular with tourists.
Known for its dangerous entrance across a shallow, sometimes breaking sandbar, best attempted with local knowledge.
If conditions permit, there is an anchorage in the outside bay, exposed to easterly swell, at approximately 41°16.47’S, 148°20.615’E, to await the tide or a trawler to follow.
St Helens Marine Rescue monitor VHF ch 16 & ch 88,  (24/7)

St Helens

The channel through the bar is located near the northern shore with breakers often showing its position. Unexpected swells can attack at anytime.

St Helens Bar

Once inside, dangerous swell ceases, but there are numerous sandbanks, so extreme care and a rising tide are recommended. Numerous channel markers guide vessels the five miles to the town of St Helens. Recent dredging (2011) at Pelican Point has deepened this area to 2.2 m min.

St Helens channel

Anchorage can be taken off the town, 41°19.63’S, 148°14.99’E,  protected from all winds in 2 to 5 m mud and shell.

St Helens is approximately two-hours drive east of Launceston (163 kilometres/101 miles) and 265 kilometres (165 miles) from Hobart.

If you take the walking tour of St Helens the result is one of depression. The Bayside Inn, once an attractive hotel beside the bay, is now a modern style hotel motel with no character. Similarly the Uniting Church, once an interesting wooden building, has been replaced by a rather dreary construction. Even Fair Lea, which once had gracious grounds running down to the water has had two modern houses stuck in front of it. St Helens has become an important tourist destination and like any typical holiday resort it sprawls.

Great Musselroe Bay,
40°50.00’S, 148°10.00’E
Isolated spot on the far NE corner of the island. Good take off point for Flinders, if the wind is anywhere from the south. Dangerous in northerly.
Fair anchorage in 5 m sand with a few houses some distance away.

© 2018 Tujays Publications

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