Kelso Jetty juts into the placid waters of the Tamar River estuary near its mouth at Bass Strait, on Tasmania's north-east coast. This calm, low-energy beach is fronted by sand and rock flats that broaden from 300 m in the north to 100 m at the jetty itself. Sheltered from wild ocean swells, the jetty's structure attracts schooling fish and the surrounding seagrass beds and rocky reef provide excellent temperate-water snorkelling. With shallow, protected conditions, it's a peaceful spot to explore the underwater world of the Tamar Valley without battling currents or surf.
Kelso Jetty
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.1 mSwell Period 5.3 sWind Speed 5.4 knPrecipitation 14 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
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Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Cold water temperatures
Tasmanian estuarine waters are cold year-round, especially in winter. Extended exposure risks hypothermia without a wetsuit.
Low risk: Boat traffic
Kelso Jetty is adjacent to a busy all-tide boat ramp with a pontoon platform. Snorkellers should be vigilant for boats launching, retrieving, and transiting near the jetty.
Low risk: Soft mud and sand flats
Extensive sand and mud flats exposed at low tide can make entry and exit slippery and difficult. Some areas are very soft underfoot.
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
From Launceston, take the A8 north towards George Town, cross the Tamar River via the Batman Bridge, then continue on the A7 north to Kelso. Turn onto Beach Road to reach the jetty and boat ramp area.
Parking & facilities
Parking available near the Kelso Boat Ramp on Beach Road, adjacent to the jetty.
parkingboat_ramp
No fees for snorkelling or parking at Kelso Jetty.
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About this data
- Conditions last evaluated
- Spot data last updated
- Data sources
- Open-Meteo (marine & weather conditions), tide predictions via UTide, community contributors (descriptions, hazards, marine life).
- License
- Spot content licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. How's the Spot is open source.
Weather & swell ┬╖ Open-Meteo marine & weather APIs Tides ┬╖ UTide harmonic analysis Sea & safety ┬╖ community reports