Port Officer's Information - Kettering - Little Oyster Cove, Tasmania

Please note Port Officer position is currently vacant so no contact details have been provided.

Kettering has long been a fishing port and was the most active scallop port in Tasmania between the wars. Crays are no longer caught in the Channel and Dover takes most of the deep water fishing boats. However pleasure craft have replaced the fishing fleet to keep Kettering a busy harbour. It is also the mainland terminal for the Bruny Island Ferry service.

Charts and Guides

Reference should be made to Aus 173 which includes a plan of Little Oyster Cove. A new edition was released in October 2008. The guidebook Cruising Southern Tasmania covers Kettering and the adjacent cruising grounds: the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island, and the Derwent and Huon Rivers. 

Approach

If arriving in southern Tasmania from the northeast, the D'Entrecasteaux northern entrance can be reached from Storm Bay after transiting the Denison Canal, or passing Tasman Island. From the southwest, it is a day sail from Recherche Bay up the Channel.

Anchorage

Avoid anchoring in the ferry fairway or near the terminal.

The mooring area is congested and it is not easy to find room to anchor. Off the southern shore dumped scallop shells make poor holding ground.

There is a shoal in the centre of the bay marked by a beacon at the eastern end and a stake at the western end. This shoal area extends northwest towards the mouth of the creek off which there is an extensive area exposed at low water.

The bay is well protected from everything except easterlies, which are rarely strong. However, the valleys to the west tend to concentrate the winds and very strong westerly gusts can be experienced. In strong westerly weather a quieter anchorage may be found under Oyster Cove Point, just to the north of Little Oyster Cove.

The Port Officers can sometimes assist with the use of moorings.

Facilities

There is a public jetty on southern shore where short stops are permitted. There is a dinghy landing at the rear of the jetty. The other jetties are all privately owned. There are two marinas that offer casual as well as long term berths. Berths are usually in short supply, so visitors are advised to make contact well in advance of their needs. The South Haven Marina (phone 03 6267 5006) is on the south shore near the Bruny Island Ferry terminal. It has floating pontoons and is convenient to the Visitor Centre. Berths have power and water.

Oyster Cove Marina (phone 03 6267 4418, email: ocm@tassie.net.au, web: http://www.oystercovemarina.com.au/) is in the southwest corner of the bay. Entry to the Oyster Cove Marina is marked by a green pile, with a light (Fl G 1s). There are drying banks outside the marked channel which is about 1 metre deep at chart datum. Diesel, petrol and LPG are available, and there is a chandlery (phone 03 6267 4300). The slipway can handle vessels to 26 tonnes, with 10 cradles. High pressure water washdown is available. All marine services can be arranged.

Fresh water and diesel are also available at the Kettering Marine (ph 03 6267 4727) jetty to the west of the public jetty. LPG refills are also available from the shop in Ferry Road and at the service station on the main road. Groceries are available at both shops and ice at the Ferry Road shop (block ice in summer). The hotel at the head of the bay provides meals and good views of the bay. New owners substantially refurbished the hotel in 2008, and a new chef has established an excellent reputation. The Mermaid Café at the ferry terminal offers daytime snacks, tea and coffee, and light lunches.

Public telephones are located: in the hotel; near the old ferry wharf, which is 250 metres west of the new terminal; and opposite the shop, north of the service station. The Post Office adjoins the service station on the main road. There is a weekday bus service to Hobart.

Significant reprovisioning will generally require a trip to Kingston, about 20 km north on the Channel Highway. The Port Officers can usually assist with organising transport.

Last updated 6 January 2009.