A marginal sea located in the southwest Pacific centred at about 160° E and 37° S off the southwest coast of Australia. It is also surrounded by New Zealand to the east, Tasmania to the southwest, and the Coral Sea to the north. The maximum depth is 5943 m. The bathymetry is essentially composed of the east Australian Basin in the westerly part and the depression of New Caledonia to the east, with the two separated by the Lord Howe Sill.