Tessellated Pavement

The Tessellated Pavement is a natural intertidal rock platform at Eaglehawk Neck on the Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania. It is renowned for its striking mosaic-like appearance created by natural jointing and erosion of Permian siltstone. The flat foreshore displays distinct pan and loaf formations, making it one of Tasmania's most photographed geological sites and a key attraction within the Tasman National Park area.

Visitors can expect a flat, exposed coastal rock platform divided into geometric tiles overlooking Pirates Bay and the Tasman Sea. The site features two distinct sections - the pan formation with shallow concave depressions and the loaf formation with raised convex blocks - separated by a central rock ridge. Access is via a short walking track and steps from the car park to the foreshore, with viewing areas, interpretive signs and coastal views. The platform is intertidal and best viewed when exposed at low tide.

Geological formation of Permian siltstone dating back approximately 280-300 million years. The tessellated pattern results from three stages of jointing, erosion and salt and sand crystallisation within fractures, creating the distinctive pan (concave) and loaf (convex) formations. Recognised as a significant geological site on the Tasman Peninsula and managed within the Tasman National Park reserve.