Port Phillip is the entrance to Australia’s busiest port and is one of Victoria’s most popular recreational destinations. Although Port Phillip is commonly referred to as ‘the Bay’ or ‘Port Phillip Bay’, Port Phillip is actually not a bay at all. It’s a local port area that is actually made up of over 16 bays.

Every year millions of people enjoy its vast coastline, world-class swimming beaches and coastal parks. An entirely different perspective however is available to those who explore Port Phillip by boat. Island, shipwrecks and marine reserves dot Port Phillip, while scuba diving and fishing reveal the colourful diversity of Port Phillip’s marine life.

Over 3.2 million people live around its shore, making Port Phillip Australia’s most densely populated catchment. Port Phillip is a large expanse of water that is surprisingly shallow in many places.

Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.