| Needle Rocks | |
| Sobriquet: | The Needles |
| Map: | Australia Tasmania |
| Map Width: | 280 |
| Map Relief: | 1 |
| Label: | Needle Rocks |
| Label Position: | left |
| Coordinates: | -43.6625°N 146.2553°W |
| Location: | South West Tasmania |
| Waterbody: | Southern Ocean |
| Area Ha: | 10.5 |
| Length M: | --> |
| Width M: | --> |
| Coastline M: | --> |
| Country: | Australia |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | State |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Tasmania |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Region |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | South West |
| 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 10.5ha, 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.
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]