Eaglehawk Neck sits on the narrow isthmus joining the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas, not far from the legendary Shipstern Bluff. When south-easterly swells arrive with westerly winds, the breaks around the Neck come alive with powerful, dramatic waves set against towering dolerite cliffs. While it doesn't match the raw ferocity of nearby Shipstern, Eaglehawk Neck offers a more accessible taste of Tasmania's world-class surf in a stunning natural setting. The area is steeped in convict history, with the ruins of Port Arthur nearby.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Water temp
13°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: Drive from Hobart via Arthur Highway. Shore access.
Eaglehawk Neck is a beach break in Tasman Peninsula, Australia, with peaks that run both left and right.
Eaglehawk Neck picks up swell from the ESE round to the SSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSE. It starts working at around 0.5m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 1.6 to 2.4m. Period matters too: aim for 13s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
A WNW wind is dead offshore at Eaglehawk Neck, and anything from the W round to the NNW keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
Eaglehawk Neck is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.4m to 1.5m on the local chart.
The most reliable run of swell at Eaglehawk Neck comes Apr to Aug. There's a second window in Mar and Sep to Oct too. Best with SE swell and westerly winds. Same swell window as Shipstern.
The water at Eaglehawk Neck averages around 13°C, so you'll want a 4/3mm fullsuit. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Not really. It's rated 7/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 2/10). Dramatic cliffs. Powerful waves. Near Shipstern Bluff.
The nearest airport on our list is HBA, then it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive. Drive from Hobart via Arthur Highway. Shore access.
The closest breaks we track are Shipstern Bluff (19 km) and Clifton Beach (34 km), handy when Eaglehawk Neck isn't working.
Peak: Apr-Aug
Secondary: Mar, Sep, Oct
Best with SE swell and westerly winds. Same swell window as Shipstern.
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