South and West Islands

Made up of Mewstone, Pedra Branca, Eddystone and Sidmouth Rocks.

Mewstone is the largest of only three shy albatross breeding colonies in Australia. The census in 1997 revealed about 7,500 pairs. The World Heritage status and general lack of accessibility give the island adequate protection. The entire island is composed of Muscovite granite, which occurs on none of the adjacent islands or coast, making it an outstanding feature for the local region.

Pedra Branca is the site of a long-term program monitoring the populations of birds, seals and skinks and extensive ecological studies of their marine prey. Silver gulls are thought to be responsible for the declining numbers of the Pedra Branca skink, which, because its habitat is restricted to this one island, is listed as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 and the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. Australasian gannet populations have been steadily increasing. Unregulated visits to the island are prohibited due to the vulnerability of the resident species to disturbance.

Made up of Chicken Island, Hen Island, Ile de Golfe, Louisa Island and adjacent islets, De Witt Island, Flat Witch Island, Western Rocks, Maatsuyker Island, Walker Island, Flat Top Island, Round Top Island and Needle Rocks.

Maatsuyker Island is one of great historical significance, having the longest continual occupation of any island in Tasmania, with Aboriginal seafarers visiting possibly for thousands of years followed by a series of resident lighthouse keepers. It remains the only staffed lighthouse in Australia.

It is geomorphologically representative and outstanding for Australia due to unusual soils that have been influenced by activities (burrowing and nutrient addition) of the short-tailed shearwaters, combined with geology. Australian fur seals use the island as a haul-out site and New Zealand fur seals breed here, with 130 to 140 pups counted annually. Southern elephant seals have been seen on the island and their pups are known to have been born here.

These islands are pristine, topographically distinctive islands with geological features considered to be of outstanding significance. Most of the islands have a large seal haul-out.

Made up of Big Caroline Rock, Swainson Island, Hay Island, Shanks Island and Lourah Island.

Big Caroline Rock’s small size, pristine environment, diverse vegetation and the presence of skinks gives this island representative value in the south-west region.

Made up of Trumpeter Islet Group, The Coffee Pot, West Pyramid, Trumpeter Islets and Hobbs Island.

Hobbs Island, sometimes referred to as Green Island, is one of the more important breeding sites for the little penguin in the state’s southwest.

Made up of Montgomery Rocks, Leelinger Island, Hays Reef, Hibbs Pyramid, Entrance Island and Bonnet Island.

Entrance Island sits at the entrance to Macquarie Harbour. It is a small island (6.1 hectares/15 acres) rising to only five metres (16 feet). Signs of past habitation include an old house site, a light beacon and a jetty. Despite its size, the island supports a diverse array of fauna and flora.