Maatsuyker Island
Island Remote Tasmanian island with historic lighthouse
At Tasmania’s southern edge, Maatsuyker Island hosts a 19th-century lighthouse and rough southern-ocean seas; visitors arrive via boat or expedition cruise for lighthouse history, seabirds and dramatic coastal weather.
Maatsuyker Island is a small island off the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is part of the Maatsuyker Islands group and is notable for maritime navigation aids located there.
The island contains the Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse and associated keeper buildings, which mark an exposed position important for shipping in the surrounding Southern Ocean. The terrain is rugged and characteristic of subantarctic-influenced Tasmanian islands.
A lighthouse station and supporting structures were established on the island to serve coastal navigation; staffing and operations have changed over time with automation of many lighthouses.
The island sits off southern Tasmania at approximately 43.64918 S, 146.27687 E and is part of the Maatsuyker Islands archipelago, managed under Tasmania’s protected area arrangements.
- Access: Located off the southwest coast of Tasmania; reached by boat or limited helicopter access from the Tasmanian mainland, visits are weather dependent.
What to See #
- Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse: An operational aid to navigation located on the island; the station marks a remote, exposed position off southern Tasmania and is associated with maritime safety in Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean.
How to Get to Maatsuyker Island #
Access is via specialist charter boats or private yachts from southern Tasmanian ports (Hobart is the usual departure point). Some tour operators and private charters offer occasional landings or circumnavigations; check Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service for permits and seasonal restrictions.
Tips for Visiting Maatsuyker Island #
- If landing, bring wet-weather gear and stout footwear - the southern seas are unforgiving and landings often tricky.
- Visit the nearby Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse for dramatic coastal scenery; helicopter or specialized boat operators run scheduled trips in season.
- Respect seabird nesting areas; many colonies are seasonally sensitive to disturbance.
Best Time to Visit Maatsuyker Island #
Best in summer when charter access and weather are most reliable; strict conservation rules govern landings.
Weather & Climate near Maatsuyker Island #
Temperate climate with cool summers (peaking in February) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 4°C to 18°C. Abundant rainfall (1465 mm/year), wettest in July.
January
January is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 11°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and breezy conditions.
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February
February is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and breezy conditions.
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March
March is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (93 mm) and breezy conditions.
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April
April is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (133 mm) and breezy conditions.
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May
May is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (136 mm) and breezy conditions.
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June
June is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (134 mm) and breezy conditions.
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July
July is the coolest month with highs of 11°C and lows of 4°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (164 mm) and breezy conditions.
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August
August is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (150 mm) and breezy conditions.
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September
September is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (136 mm) and breezy conditions.
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October
October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (127 mm) and breezy conditions.
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November
November is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (100 mm) and breezy conditions.
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December
December is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm) and breezy conditions.
