Shipstern

Edit Spot
About

A paddle out here will change your life.

Atmosphere:
Bushwalk in, its a beautiful place. Even if you don't have a death wish, its something you have to see. awesome, surrounded by huge cliffs, large bolders and very deep water 1.5 hr walk from car park or 30 min boat trip. Quite inhabitated. Not many people but the scenery of the area makes up for the lack of lavatores and so on.

Additional Info:
Bluff Reef was not a very famous or local spot people would surf. It Requires S-SE winds, 6 foot swell and can hold up to 30 foot. This rigthander also requires a medium to high tide to cover the sharp treacherous reef below. It is located 150m offshore from a cliff boat or long paddle required. It is a big A-Frame take-off that can be imtimidating. It peels for about 40m, it is fast, hollow and extremely powerful. You might need a 7ft plus board to surf it.
Advice: Don't try to take-off on the shoulder, you will probably get pitched on to the reef. The peak may seem bigger but it's alot safer.
Bluff reef or Shipsterns Bluff is now known as Australias most Heaviest, Biggest and Dangerous surf spot. They say Bluff's when it is doing its thing can match the same power and danger as Pipeline, Hawaii or Teahpoo, Tahiti.
Do not surf it unless you know what your doing or you don't care if you die. This Spot is the heavest wave in Australia,and offers the biggest barrel anywhere Australia also, there is a far chance that you could die if you blow the take off when it is solid, If you want to surf this wave just ask someone at the Airport in Hobart Only for absolute dare devils. Hook up with locals to take you there, if you've got the guts, no-one will stop you heading out.Ship Stern is no hoax. It is a serious wave which breaks best on a HUGE SW swell. The prevailing wind patterns of Tasmania are what can make it and surfing in Tasmania as a whole inconsistent. Many local surfers are terrified that a hord of outsiders will inundate the state and spoil there surfing life. But the fact is not many will return because the Antarctic weather patterns that produce Tassies best swells also produce freezing cold water and a changable climate that will leave most short stay visitors wishing they had gone somewhere else. As for Ship Stern there are a number of local surfers who are far from BIG wave experts who surf this wave, and even those whos surf ability is far from a World Class level. But don't get me wrong this is a SERIOUS wave it may NOT be Australias biggest nor HEAVIEST wave but as surf photographer Sean Davey said during the 2001 easter sessions. It is the most dangerous place to surf he had seen. I personaly feel it is only a matter of time before some surf cowboy finds the life smashed out of them on the very close truck sized boulders in front of the wave face. As yet NO ONE has surfed this wave when it is huge. And even the local LEGENDS were far away when the largest SW swell in a long time created 25 foot plus perfect conditions. And I have hardcopy photos of an empty line up to prove that one. All I have to say to the Tassie localism is grow-up ... I think you should show some respect for those outsiders who are willing to surf this place. Most of you, even the hardcore had never even set eyes on the place before it was all exposed in 2001.

Location
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Access

45 minute bushwalk through rough terrain.Nubeena region. get to marrawah and head towards arthur river until you see a sign saying bluff hill point and head down turn off to the lighthouse and you shall see it

Edit: Man, whoever wrote that and the extended description below has his head firmly buried you know where.
Shipsterns Bluff and Bluff Point or Bluff reef as locals refer to it are two entirely different waves at opposite ends of the island. You have mixed up both directions to get to either place and descriptions of the paddle out / wave type at the two breaks.
If you want to get your name in bright lights at least get your facts straight...

WalkLong walk (>30 min)
Public accessYes
4x4 requiredYes
Boat requiredNo
Wave Characteristics
TypeReef (rocky)
DirectionRight
BottomBoulders
PowerUnknown
FrequencySometimes breaks (50 days/year)
Normal lengthNormal (50 to 150m)
Good day lengthNormal (50 to 150m)
Ideal Conditions
Wind directionUnknown
Swell directionUnknown
Swell size6ft-8ft - 16ft and over
TideLow tide only
Tide movementRising and falling tides
Crowd
WeekEmpty
WeekendEmpty
Dangers

None

Videos

None

Nearby spots
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Roaring Beach

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