Shipstern Bluff is surrounded by towering cliffs in south-eastern Tasmania, but for the intrepid surfers making their way through the rough waters, the only scenery that matters is the massive sets of 20-foot waves rolling in.

Just getting there was an epic journey for a group of surfers including Tyler Hollmer-Cross, Shaun Wallbank, Mikey Brennan and photographer Andrew Chisholm.

It required a 30-kilometre jet-ski ride through five-metre seas while being blasted by galeforce winds.

But it was worth the ride - it turned out to be one of the biggest ever days at "Shippies".

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And that makes it more dangerous than usual, with a huge amount of white water surging towards the rock shelf.

"There's a fair bit of fresh swell and it's got a lot of energy in it," Mikey said.

"It looks like it's pushing quite close into the rocks so you want to pick the right one and hope that it opens up for you, otherwise you're dancing with a little bit of danger I suppose."

But it does not put Mikey off and he is the first to charge out the back.

The waves move so fast that a jet ski has to tow the surfers into the path of the wave. And Mikey pulls it off.

From the support boat Shaun could not believe what he had seen.

"No way!" he screams. "He made that."

Inspired, the other surfers follow Mikey's lead and the next two hours are filled with quality rides and major wipe-outs.

Jet skis are required to tow surfers onto the waves. ( ABC News: David Fraser )

Challenging 'steps' make the waves unique

The waves have a special feature that makes it challenging for board riders who have to attempt to surf the different levels inside it, known as steps.

"You get like staircases in the wave and when you ride it you actually have to drop down them," Tyler said.

"I've never really seen it in another wave and it just makes it really unique and special."

The step proves to be Shaun's undoing on one wave.

After taking off on a 20-footer and almost completing the ride, he was flung off the step at the last moment.

He was dragged under water for 20 seconds and bashed his elbow on the rock shelf before being rescued.

"You just get this weightless feeling where you get drawn back up with the wave, and then you can feel yourself go back down as though you're in an elevator that's snapped its cord," he said.

"The impact after that is always pretty intense, you're always waiting out or watching out for the bottom and I just kind of brushed it on the way through but I hit it hard enough."

Injuries are part of surfing at Shipstern; Mikey had a serious back injury and James Hollmer-Cross, Tyler's brother, broke his arm there in March.

Fortunately, no-one has died but everyone admits that is a real possibility.

Shaun said it was something he has prepared for.

"You've made that decision and I for one I'm pretty happy to stand up and take responsibility for the fact," he said.

"That's my decision and I've definitely had that conversation with my parents because I know they worry about that."

'It's good entertainment'

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Andrew Chisholm was there to snap the record day and hopes the final product will end up on magazine covers and in centrefolds.

Shipstern is a globally renowned break and has been sought out by surfing legends like Kelly Slater, the late Andy Irons and Ross Clarke-Jones.

"Potentially a big swell like this could go worldwide [and] be seen by millions of people right around the world," Chisholm said.

The surfers will also use his pictures to try and claim money and bragging rights in big wave awards.

"It's definitely up there with one of the biggest swells ever," Chisholm said.

"The guys have gone out, had a good effort and really sort of put their bodies on the line and we've seen humans flying over the waves, so it's been good entertainment."

While Mikey said the award money would be nice, for him it was all about the rush of riding a monster wave.

"The adrenalin comes and it's quite a weird feeling," he said.

"Until I find myself in that zone, where I feel at one with everyone and everything's kind of quiet, I'm not content, not until I find myself in that feeling and once I've got that then the adrenalin just builds."