Be Bushfire Smart

• Rugged sandstone cliffs along much of the boundary of the park are a striking backdrop for beach activities, featuring sandy coves, rocky headlands, caves and rock pinnacles. Many of these are accessible to sightseers, sunbathers, swimmers and budding explorers.
• The George Bass Coastal Walk, adjacent to the park, offers panoramic coastal views from a narrow winding path, along clifftops rising high above the pounding surf of Bass Strait. The walk starts at the southern end of Punchbowl Road off the Phillip Island Tourist Road, is 7 km long and takes 2 hours one way.
• The seashore is a favourite place for all sorts of leisure activities like swimming, surfing, boating, fishing, rockpooling, or simply enjoying the spectacular scenery.

Take a Dive

• Put on a mask, snorkel and flippers and venture into the remarkable world that lies beneath the water's surface.
• Many areas within the park are suitable for snorkelling, including Flat Rocks with its profusion of large rock pools and The Caves which has a large pool opening out to the sea that is accessible at low tide.
• Qualified SCUBA divers can readily enter the sea from numerous coves or by walking to the edge of the rock platform. Popular areas for diving include Eagles Nest, Shack Bay, Cape Paterson and Flat Rocks.

• You will need to use a boat to explore the marine park further offshore, where some of the underwater landscapes are outstanding.
• There are boat launching facilities at Inverloch on Andersons Inlet, although the sand bar at the mouth of the inlet can be hazardous.
• A concrete boat ramp at Cape Paterson gives access to the park, but it is exposed and may also be dangerous in poor weather conditions.

Rockpool Rambling

• Rockpooling along intertidal rock platforms of the park is a rewarding way to understand and appreciate the diversity and beauty of marine life.
• There are gently sloping rock platforms in the Eastern Conservation Zone, such as Flat Rocks, which are ideal for educational activities because of their easy access. To see the greatest variety of marine life it is recommended that you visit the rock platforms within an hour or so of low tide.

Monash University, in conjunction with the Museum of Victoria, conducts annual excavations on the coast of Victoria near Inverloch. The rocky coastline, which stretches from San Remo to Inverloch, has been scientifically dated at approximately 115 - 120 million years old and contains the remains of ancient rivers that once flowed in this area.

The site was discovered in 1991 and has yielded more than 6000 bones and teeth of small dinosaurs, mammals, birds, turtles and fish. For more information on this site visit the Dinosaur Dreaming web site on: http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/msc/dinodream/inverloc/ or contact Monash University on (03) 9905 5161.

• Carparks and scenic lookouts are situated on the cliff tops along the Inverloch - Cape Paterson Road. Staircases provide access to the sheltered coves and beaches.
• Caravan parks, toilets, playgrounds and picnic areas are provided within the townships of Inverloch and Cape Paterson.

The Bunurong aboriginal people were custodians of this stretch of coast for thousands of years prior to white settlement. Five clans made up the Bunurong tribe.

The Yowenjerre clan occupied the area west from the Tarwin River along what is now the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park. They quarried the outcrops of volcanic roads which they fashioned into axeheads and which they used to trade with neighbouring tribes. Middens containing charcoal and shellfish mark the location of their campsites along the coast.

In 1797, George Bass set sail from Sydney in a whale boat to explore the southern mainland coast. He discovered and named the first natural harbour and the strait that bares this name.

In November 1840, Surveyor Townsend anchored off the entrance and camped on the site of present day Inverloch while he spent several days exploring and mapping the inlet and lower reaches of the Tarwin River. He named Anderson Inlet and the prominent bluff that bares this name.

During 1841 George Douglas Smythe surveyed the coast from Cape Paterson to Cape Liptrap including Anderson Inlet, the Tarwin River, lakes, creeks, swamps, scrubs, marshes and ranges within one day's walk of the coast. He named Eagles Nest, Petrel Rock and Point Symthe at the entrance to Anderson Inlet.

Industry and transport relied heavily on coal from New South Wales. When miners went on strike in 1909, the Victorian government commenced mining the Powlett River (later Wonthaggi) coalfields. A tent city sprang up in the bush and a railway line was quickly constructed from Nyora to transport the coal. Wonthaggi soon became the largest town in South Gippsland. Today it is the commerce centre of the district.

Large numbers of people visit the coast and inevitably place pressure on this fragile environment. The Bunurong Marine Park is being managed so that, while people enjoy the beach and the sea, the unique features and natural beauty of the sea are retained. It isn't always easy to see the damage that we do to marine habitats, but pollution and intensive fishing are harming marine life in may areas. Marine parks and reserves aim to preserve examples of our marine environment.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners
Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Gunai - Kurnai identify the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park as their Traditional Country.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria .

Although much of the area has been cleared for agriculture, the Bunurong Marine Park provides a haven for plants and wildlife.

Tussock grass and low growing shrubs including White Correa and Coast Beard-heath cling stubbornly to the windswept cliffstops, while the sheltered creek gullies and dune swales support Coast Banksia, Coast Tea-tree and Boobialla.

When enjoying a day in the park with your dog please be sure to follow these simple guidelines:

• Keep your dog on a lead unless signs advise otherwise;
• Make sure your dog is under your control at all times and not interfering with other visitors' enjoyment of the park;
• Clean up after your dog as you would in any public place;
• Please be aware that dog regulations may change according to the season.

• Bins are not provided within the park. Please take your rubbish with you.
• Keep to defined tracks and steps and stay away from cliff edges and bases.
• After observing animals and plants on the rock platform, it is important to replace organisms and rocks you may have turned over.
• Many creatures live on the underside of rocks and rely on the moisture and shade for their survival. Other animals lay their eggs under rocks to protect them from dehydration and predators. A lot of needless damage is caused by careless people who discard fishing hooks, lines and sinkers, plastic six-pack holders, polystyrene containers and plastic bags. Such rubbish can trap birds, seals and penguins, often sentencing them to a painful, lingering death. So please don't litter the beaches or the water.
• Take the trouble to find out the regulations that apply to the different zones of the Bunurong Marine Park and abide by them. Encourage others to do the same so that this special area is maintained for everyone to enjoy.

• Beware of strong currents and undertows on beaches. Observe all warning signs and seek local advice if in doubt.
• The sandstone cliffs along sections of the Bunurong coastline may be unstable. Keep to defined tracks and steps and stay away from cliff edges and bases.
• Wear shoes that grip well while walking along the rock platforms and beware of unexpected large waves. Don't put your hand in dark holes- the venomous Blue-ringed Octopus is not uncommon in the park.
• Watch out for jelly fish, as they can sting, even when stranded on the beach. Some anenomes and cone shells have also been reported to sting.
• Diving should only be undertaken by people who have had training or are accompanied by an experienced diver. When diving in marine parks you should have a recognised 'Open Water' diving qualification. Consult tide charts, dive with a buddy and have an on-board observer if diving from a boat.
• Beware of sudden changes in weather, especially when boating on open water. Consult AUS Chart 788 for navigation details around the Bunurong coast.

The Bunurong Marine Park, about 140 km southeast of Melbourne, stretches along the coast for about 17 km from Coal Point in the west to Wreck Creek near Inverloch and extends one kilometre out to sea from high water mark. The Inverloch - Cape Paterson Road provides access from the neighbouring towns to the many carparks situated along the coast.

• Corner Inlet Marine and Coastal Park
• Shallow Inlet Marine and Coastal Park
• Wilsons Promontory National Park
• Wonthaggi State Coal Mine