What body of water separates Australia and New Zealand?

The body of water that separates Australia and New Zealand is the Tasman Sea. It is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean lying between the two countries.

The sea is named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who became the first known European to cross it in 1642. British explorer James Cook later navigated the region extensively during his voyages in the 1770s. Australians and New Zealanders sometimes call the crossing “the Ditch,” reflecting the sea’s importance in travel and regional identity.

The Tasman Sea is roughly 2,000 kilometers across at its widest and extends about 2,800 kilometers from north to south. It contains island groups including Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, while the East Australian Current carries warm tropical water southward along Australia’s eastern coast.

A frequent mix-up is confusing the Tasman Sea with Cook Strait. Cook Strait separates New Zealand’s North and South Islands and connects the Tasman Sea with the South Pacific. The Tasman Sea itself is the much larger expanse between Australia and New Zealand.