Just off the historic township of George Town at the mouth of the Tamar River, York Cove and the adjacent George Town Reef offer a superb temperate-water snorkelling experience. The reef drops steeply into Bass Strait, supporting a giant kelp forest and sponge gardens that teem with marine life. This area is famous among Tasmanian divers for its accessibility from shore and the remarkable concentration of reef structure, making it a top spot for those wanting to explore Tasmania's cool southern waters without a boat.
York Cove / George Town Reef
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Showing last known conditions
Wave Height 0.0 mSwell Period 3.8 sWind Speed 0.8 knPrecipitation 19 mmTidal Phase flood
Last evaluated
The spot
Community-maintained
Community contribution: submitted by Daniel
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Moderate risk: Strong Ocean Currents
The rocky reef drops steeply into deep water where strong ocean currents can sweep along the Bass Strait coastline, particularly on an outgoing tide.
Low risk: Cold Water Temperature
Tasmanian waters are temperate year-round. Even in summer water temperatures rarely exceed 18°C, requiring a thick wetsuit (5-7mm) for comfort and safety.
Low risk: Slippery Rocky Shore Entry
Access points along the reef may involve navigating slippery, algae-covered rocks when entering and exiting the water.
Wildlife Guide
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Getting in
Shore entry
Entry
George Town is approximately 45 minutes north of Launceston along the A7/B73 (East Tamar Highway). York Cove is located near the waterfront at 2 Ferry Blvd, George Town. The reef lies just offshore from the town's foreshore area, accessible from the rocky shoreline near the York Cove Hotel and adjacent reserve.
Parking & facilities
Parking available along Ferry Blvd and near the York Cove Hotel foreshore area. Limited street parking and public car parks within walking distance of the waterfront.
parkingtoilets
No fees for shore-based snorkelling. This is a public access area.
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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