Tasmania (East Coast)

Tasmania's east coast is among the most spectacular and least-sailed cruising grounds in the southern hemisphere. The Freycinet Peninsula, with Wineglass Bay's perfect crescent of sand beneath pink granite peaks, is the visual centrepiece, but the coast from Hobart north to the Bay of Fires offers a sequence of anchorages, national parks, and wildlife encounters that repay the effort of sailing in cooler, less predictable conditions. The charter fleet is small — a handful of operators based in Hobart or at Kettering, south of the city. The passage from Hobart north along the east coast takes the yacht through the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, past Bruny Island — where a detour into Adventure Bay provides a sheltered anchorage and a chance to see white wallabies — and out into the open Tasman Sea. Maria Island, roughly 60 nautical miles north of Hobart, is a national park with no permanent residents and a growing population of Tasmanian devils, introduced to create an insurance colony against the facial tumour disease devastating mainland populations. The anchorage at Darlington, beneath the ruins of a 19th-century convict settlement, provides a rare combination of historical interest and wildlife immersion. Freycinet, further north, has the marquee anchorage: Wineglass Bay, accessible from the sea through a passage that requires settled conditions and careful approach. The bay is exposed to the east and should only be used as an overnight stop in light westerly or calm conditions. Coles Bay, on the peninsula's northern side, offers better shelter and access to the national park's walking tracks. The weather is the defining challenge. Summer temperatures are pleasant — 18-25 degrees — but the wind is variable, with north-westerlies, south-westerlies, and sea breezes all possible in a single day. Cold fronts pass through every few days, bringing strong south-westerly winds and rough seas. Water temperature is cold year-round — a wetsuit is advisable for swimming. Provisioning in Hobart is excellent — the Salamanca Market on Saturday mornings is one of Australia's finest. Fuel and water are available at Kettering and Hobart. The east coast has minimal facilities between ports. Tasmania's east coast rewards experienced sailors with scenery and solitude that justify the demanding conditions.