Maatsuyker IslandAbout Maatsuyker Island
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.
Nearby Attractions to Maatsuyker Island
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.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 11° - 18° | 14° | 95 mm | - | - | 8.4 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 10° - 18° | 14° | 86 mm | - | - | 7.6 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 10° - 17° | 13° | 93 mm | - | - | 7.7 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 7° - 15° | 11° | 133 mm | - | - | 7.4 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 6° - 13° | 6° | 136 mm | - | - | 8.1 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 6° - 12° | 5° | 134 mm | - | - | 8.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 4° - 11° | 4° | 164 mm | - | - | 7.8 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 5° - 12° | 4° | 150 mm | - | - | 8.2 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 6° - 12° | 6° | 136 mm | - | - | 7.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 7° - 14° | 10° | 127 mm | - | - | 8.1 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 8° - 15° | 11° | 100 mm | - | - | 6.9 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 9° - 16° | 13° | 111 mm | - | - | 7.4 m/s | - | - |
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.