Tasmania is where a lot of birders get their first real Southern Ocean day. The continental shelf sits close to the Tasman Peninsula, so a single day trip reaches deep water that on most coastlines needs an expedition. The Eaglehawk Neck Pelagic is the one listed trip in the state, and it is also one of the two most-visited trip listings on this site. This guide pulls together what you need to plan it.
The trip at a glance
- Departs from: Pirates Bay, Eaglehawk Neck, on the Tasman Peninsula
- Operator: Inala Nature Tours, with experienced guides including Paul Brooks of Inala Nature
- Boat size: 13 passengers, so departures fill early
- Length: roughly eight to nine hours
- Price: AUD 120–160 per person
- Schedule: selected dates, year-round
- Where to book: the operator’s own tour page is linked from the listing
The boat passes the Hippolyte Rocks and runs east to the shelf edge, where chumming draws birds into the slick at close range.
What you can see
The headline birds are albatrosses. Wandering, Royal, Shy, Black-browed and Light-mantled Albatrosses all appear, and on a good winter day six or seven albatross species are possible, including Campbell, Grey-headed and Indian Yellow-nosed. Among the smaller tubenoses, White-headed Petrel, Blue Petrel, Fairy Prion and Common Diving-Petrel are the Southern Ocean specialities that are hard to connect with elsewhere in mainland Australia. Wilson’s Storm-Petrel and Grey-backed Storm-Petrel feed in the chum slick, and Southern and Northern Giant-Petrels are regular.
For a deeper species-by-species look, see Where to See Albatrosses on Pelagic Birding Trips and Best Places to See Petrels.
When to go
- Winter (June to August): the standout season. Albatross diversity peaks, Wandering Albatross is most likely from June to September, and Sooty Albatross is much more common than at other times of year.
- April and May: Southern Fulmar and Westland Petrel are semi-regular off Tasmania, and genuine prizes for visiting birders.
- Spring: Shy Albatross breeds in September on three Tasmanian island colonies, so spring trips can meet breeding-plumaged birds. Wilson’s, Grey-backed and White-faced Storm-Petrels also become more frequent.
- Summer: the mix shifts towards shearwaters, with Hutton’s, Fluttering and Buller’s Shearwaters alongside the ever-present Short-tailed Shearwaters.
Light-mantled Albatross and Shy Albatross can be seen year-round off Tasmania, so no month is wasted. The full month-by-month picture is in When to Go Pelagic Birding in Australia.
Practical tips
- Book early. Thirteen places go quickly, especially for winter dates.
- Dress for the Southern Ocean. Warm, waterproof layers and a spray jacket are essential even in summer.
- Take seasickness medication. Start the night before and again on the morning of the trip. Our guide to preventing seasickness on a pelagic trip covers what works.
- Bring food and water. Most Australian pelagics do not provide catering, so pack your own food and at least 2 litres of water.
- Choose a waterproof 8x or 10x binocular over a spotting scope on a moving boat. See the gear checklist.
Beyond Tasmania
If you are building a longer Australian itinerary, the Best Pelagic Birding Trips in Australia guide compares this trip with Sydney, Kiama, Port MacDonnell, Southport and Bremer Canyon, and the full list is in our Australia directory.