BEST DAY ON EXPEDITION | THE SOUTHERNMOST ISLAND

Submitted By: Elizabeth Webb

I travelled on a Tasmania expedition in January 2018. I had never witnessed the beauty of the southern coastline of Tasmania, and the trip also gave me first-hand experience of the flexibility of an expedition voyage.

 The weather was perfect, providing the best sea conditions you could want on the southern waters of Australia. After visiting Port Davey, we steamed past De Witt Island. Here, Captain Gary Wilson made the announcement that he had not experienced such perfect conditions in a long time and he asked if we would mind making a small detour.

All passengers on board agreed, as what we were about to experience was very rare – sailing to Pedra Branca, the most southernmost point of Tamania (save for the Bishop & Clerk islets) and almost to the edge of the Australian continental shelf. Pedra Branca, an exposed outcrop of rock south of Maatsuyker Island, is an erosional remnant of the Tasmanian mainland. The might of the Southern Ocean smashes into this rocky islet – just large enough to be called an island – along with Eddystone and Sidmouth Rock, columns of stone that rise out of the ocean nearby. Pedra Branca is an important bird area, and is also known for its ferocious surf breaks.

 We were able to take a detour to see this awe-inspiring and isolated location, due to the unusually calm weather that day. To be able to say I have been to the most southern part of Australia continues to amaze me to this day.  The remote tranquillity of the towering rock faces brought a sense of calm and peace over me.  All the guests onboard had the same feeling of wonder and awe.