Britannica
Sources used in this answer
When did Abel Tasman first reach Tasmania?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Abel Tasman first reached Tasmania—which he named Van Diemen’s Land—on November 24, 1642.12
During his 1642–43 voyage in the service of the Dutch East India Company, Tasman discovered the land at 42°20′ S and proceeded to skirt its southern shores. He was the first European to sight the island, which was later renamed in his honor.21