Tasmania's Coastline in Brief
Scamander Photograph courtesy of
Wonderer Photographics, Garry Richardson
Tasmania has more coastline per unit land area than any other State in Australia - about 4900 km (not including Macquarie Island).
No place in Tasmania is more than 115 km from the sea and most population centres and major industries are on, or near, the coast. The principal landmass is surrounded by islands, and is indented by a myriad of bays and estuaries.
Describing the diverse coastal, estuarine and marine environments of Tasmania’s coastline is a challenge for they include rocky reefs, sandy beaches, sea cliffs, headlands, river estuaries, harbours and open coast. Our rich variety of marine life includes delicate basket stars and sea dragons, kelp forests, seagrass beds, sponge gardens, rarely seen endemic handfish, crustaceans, plankton, fairy penguins, great white sharks and migrating whales.
Contact: Coastal and Marine Branch
Coastal and Marine Branch
6th Floor, Lands Building, 134 Macquarie Street
GPO Box 1751
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 03 6233 3963
Fax: 03 6233 6800
Email: Coastal.Enquiries@environment.tas.gov.au
