The solitude of Tasmania’s south-west wilderness coast beckons this summer.
I hope to join the Cruising Yacht club of Tasmania’s cruise in company to Port Davey from 8-20 March 2021. This cruise has been scheduled to coincide with the Frienda of Melaleuca Wildcare working bee.
I have purchased an inReach Mini satellite communicator to stay in touch with family as there is no mobile coverage in most of these locations. This will also provide access to up-to-date weather forecasts as, despite Tas Maritime Radios excellent coverage of the coast, there are black-spots in the VHF network from the entrance of Port Davey to Bathurst Harbour.
Chris Gudgin reports:
“Tasmania Maritime Radio (TMRR) has an extensive VHF/HF radio network with three weather broadcasts daily. Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour are surrounded by mountains, which block VHF as you enter Port Davey all the way to Bathurst Harbour; so all the favourite anchorages, like Brambles Cove, Schooner Cove and Frogs Hollow are in VHF blackout spots.
Once in Bathurst Harbour, however, particularly around Clayton’s Corner, clear two-way VHF was maintained with TMR throughout all weather conditions.“
Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour
Only a 100 nautical nile, two-day cruise from Kettering via Recherche Bay, the Port Davey/Bathurst Harbour Estuary has “been described as unique, because it is the only large estuary in southern Australia without road access or significant human impact.” Jack and Jude report that “there are numerous anchorages within Bathurst Harbour, which is over 10 miles long. Some are no more than quiet out of the way spots; others offer outings and historical remnants.”
Macquarie Harbour
I won’t make it this far but 85 nautical miles north of Port Davey lies Macquarie Harbour.
Macquarie Harbour, is the second-largest natural harbour in Australia after Port Phillip Bay. It is six times the size of Sydney Harbour. However, its real glory is not its size, but its setting. The surrounding wilderness and the Gordon River that flows through it are otherworldly. Macquarie Harbour is a superb cruising area offering numerous isolated anchorages.
Supplies can be had at Strahan, “a small, picturesque frontier-style town with an abundance of character and a variety of stories to tell of the West Coast’s pioneering days.”
Getting there from Port Davey is a hefty 18+ hour sail but Jack and Jude report an anchorage half way on either side of Point Hibbs with Hibbs Pyramid at the northern end, behind Bird Island at the southern end. This article on mysailing.com.au contains more valuable information about this anchorage and sailing Tasmania’s will west coast.
