Tasman Basin

basin, Pacific Ocean

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July 14, 2026

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The Tasman Basin is a significant feature within the southwestern Pacific Ocean, located between Australia and New Zealand. This oceanic basin, named after Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, is approximately 1,400 miles wide and covers an area of 2,300,000 square kilometers. Its deepest point exceeds 17,000 feet.1

The Tasman Geosyncline, a related geological feature, is a linear trough in eastern Australia where rocks from the Paleozoic Era were deposited. This geosyncline extends from Tasmania northward and has undergone several significant orogenic (mountain-building) events throughout its history.2

The Tasman Sea is a vital shipping route and contains economic resources such as fisheries and petroleum deposits.1

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Pacific Ocean
Principal ridges and basins
Extending southward from the Tasman Basin (between New Zealand and eastern Australia) is the Macquarie Ridge, which forms a major boundary between the deep waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The Hawaiian Ridge extends westward from Hawaii to the 180° meridian.
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Extending southward from the Tasman Basin (between New Zealand and eastern Australia) is the Macquarie Ridge, which forms a major boundary between the deep waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The Hawaiian Ridge extends westward from Hawaii to the 180° meridian.
Read More