Contents

Needle Rocks

Needle Rocks

Nickname: The Needles
Detailed map of Needle Rocks, with Maatsuyker Island, Walker Island and Western Rocks
Needle Rocks Location off the southern coast of Tasmania
Geography
Location	South West Tasmania
Coordinates	43°39′45″S 146°15′19″E / 43.66250°S 146.25528°E / -43.66250; 146.25528
Archipelago	Maatsuyker Islands Group
Adjacent to	Southern Ocean
Area	10.5 ha (26 acres)[1]
Administration
Australia
State	Tasmania
Region	South West
Demographics
Population	Unpopulated

The Needle Rocks, also known as the Needles, are a group of five main rock islets located close to the south-western coast of Tasmania, Australia. With a combined area of approximately 10.5 hectares (0.041 sq mi), the islets are part of the Maatsuyker Islands Group, and comprise part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site.^[1][2]

The Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse is located on Maatsuyker Island and illuminates the Needle Rocks.

Fauna[edit]

The vegetation is dominated by the pig face, a succulent plant.

The islets are part of the Maatsuyker Island Group Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds.^[3] Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are the little penguin (40 pairs), short-tailed shearwater (860 pairs), fairy prion (10,600 pairs), Pacific gull, silver gull, sooty oystercatcher and black-faced cormorant. The metallic skink is present. Up to 1200 Australian fur seals use the rocks as a regular haul-out site.^[2]

See also[edit]

Islands portal

• South East Cape
• South West Cape
• List of islands of Tasmania

References[edit]