Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary

Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary is located on the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong People, who have a deep and ongoing connection to these lands and waters. This park is the largest marine protected area in Victoria, covering 290ha of shoreline on the north-western side of Port Phillip. It features sandy beaches, rocky reefs and mudflats that host a variety of marine and coastal life. The park also has basalt cliffs that are remnants of an ancient lava flow.

The park is home to many marine animals and plants that live on the rocks, in the crevices, on the sponges and among the algae. You can also find tube worms, anemones, sea urchins and small sharks and skates. The park attracts pods of bottlenose dolphins and swarms of jellyfish.

The park is also important for migratory wader birds that feed on the small animals hiding in the kelp and algae. Some of the bird species that visit the park are the Double-banded Plover and the Lesser Golden Plover.

If you are looking for a relaxing day at Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary, you can enjoy walking along the beach or sitting on the soft dunes while listening to the caressing sounds of the sea shore. You can also admire the winter’s sun shining on the sea’s surface or watch how nature changes with different seasons.

Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary offers a range of activities for visitors of all ages and interests. Here are some of the things you can do in this park:

Rockpooling

The rocky shore at Point Cooke is a great place to observe the fascinating creatures that live in the intertidal zone. You can find starfish, sea urchins, crabs, snails and anemones among the rocks and pools. Be careful not to disturb or damage them and always put them back where you found them. Also note,A series of basalt cliffs rise from the muddy sea floor at Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary. 

Snorkelling and diving

If you are feeling adventurous, you can try snorkelling or diving in the underwater world of Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary. You will be surprised by what you can see there. You might encounter bottlenose dolphins that are grey in colour with an off-white belly, have a short-rounded snout that looks like a bottle-shaped nose, a smooth rounded melon face and a large dorsal fin.

They are sleek and streamlined animals that can swim at high speeds. They are also very social species that feed together using echo-location to find their prey and communicate with each other using clicking sounds and whistles. They can trap schools of fishes or squids by rounding them up and diving into them.

They can also make considerable distances by whistling to each other. When Bottlenose dolphins visit the sanctuary, they make it a home and calves are born in water after a gestation period of 12 months and suckle from their mothers for up to 18 months. They are long-lived species that can live up to 50 years in the wild.

 Photography and bird watching

 Point Cooke is a photographer’s paradise, with stunning views of the bay, the city skyline and the You Yangs. You can also capture the beauty of the marine life and the birds that frequent the park. Point Cooke is part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site, which supports thousands of migratory and resident shorebirds. You can see pelicans, cormorants, terns, gulls and oystercatchers among others.

Discover Marine Life

You might also discover other marine life such as common kelp (Ecklonia Radiata) which is a brown seaweed that has leaves with spikes that give it a grooved appearance with a saw-toothed edge; brown algae which is another type of seaweed that grows in shallow water; invertebrates such as starfish sea urchins crabs snails anemones seahorses octopuses rays; fish such as small sharks skates; crabs jellyfish squid; wading shore birds such as pelicans cormorants terns gulls oystercatchers.

If you are a diver, you can try shallow descent, which is a technique that allows you to explore more areas without going too deep. You can see more of the marine life and the underwater landscape without using too much air or risking decompression sickness. You can also enjoy the sunlight and the colours of the water more.

Turbulence: Experience the Irregular Movement of Water

You can also experience the turbulence of the water, which is a condition that causes it to move irregularly. This can create interesting patterns and effects on the surface and below. You can feel the force of the water and see how it affects marine life and plants. You can also learn about the causes and consequences of turbulence for the marine ecosystem.

St Kilda: Visit a Vibrant Suburb with a Beach, a Pier & MoreNew Paragraph

If you want to explore more of Melbourne, you can visit St Kilda, which is a suburb that has a beach, a pier, cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. You can relax on the beach, walk on the pier, enjoy a coffee or a meal, browse the shops or join the nightlife. You can also see some historical buildings and landmarks, such as the Luna Park amusement park, the Palais Theatre and the St Kilda Sea Baths.

International Bird Sanctuary: See More Than 200 Species of Birds

If you love birds, you can go to the International Bird Sanctuary, which is a place where you can see more than 200 species of birds, including migratory ones. You can observe them in their natural habitats, such as wetlands, grasslands and woodlands. You can also learn about their behaviours, diets and conservation status. You can also join guided tours, birdwatching walks and workshops.

Club House: Meet, Socialise and Play Games with Other Members

You can also join the club house, which is a building where members of a club meet, socialise and play games. You can make new friends, share your interests and hobbies, have fun and relax. You can also participate in events, activities and competitions organised by the club. You can choose from different types of clubs, such as sports clubs, hobby clubs or community clubs.