Maatsuyker Islands

The Maatsuyker Islands are a group of islands and rocks located off the south coast of Tasmania, Australia. Maatsuyker Island is the southernmost island of the group and of the Australian continental shelf. There are exposed rocks further south of Maatsuyker but they do not meet the definition of "islands". Macquarie Island, far to the south, is also Australian territory but it is an upthrust piece of ocean floor in the remote Southern Ocean and is in a geological sense completely separate from the continent.The group is noted for its rich marine wildlife, predominantly wet and windy weather conditions, and Australia's most southerly lighthouse. The group are contained within the Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site.GeographyMain groupThe group consists of at least six islands and two groups of rocks. The main island after which the group is named, Maatsuyker Island, is approximately long north/south at its longest on a bearing of 196°, by wide east/west at its widest on a bearing of 105°. Needle Rocks, also known unofficially as The Needles lie just off the south west tip of Maatsuyker Island. Walker Island, Flat Witch Island and the Western Rocks lie just to the north. De Witt Island lies some to the north-east, and the remaining two islands, Flat Top Island and Round Top Island, are some to the east. Maatsuyker Island is near the south side of the group, and its distance from the Tasmanian mainland is around.