About the Area

Port Phillip Bay is a 2,000 square kilometre estuarine area that meets Bass Strait near the south eastern corner of Australia. It's the gateway to the busy commercial ports of Melbourne and Geelong, supports major commercial and recreational fishing activities and has over three million Victorians living on its shores.

Port Phillip Bay provides the people of Melbourne with a beautiful view and an amazing marine environment to explore, boasting more biodiversity than The Great Barrier Reef.

Studies show that our Bay is healthier and cleaner than comparable bays near large cities. It's shallow in many places, nearly half is less than 8 metres deep and its greatest depth is 24 metres. The shallowness of the water aids aeration, keeping the Bay in good condition and ensuring perfect habitat for over 1000 species of marine plants and animals and 500 species of fish.

Port Phillip Bay Pastimes

Our Bay offers the perfect conditions for recreational cycling, running, swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, boating, snorkelling and just about any other outdoor activity you can imagine. Port Phillip is home to 36 yacht clubs and numerous marinas and hosts the Melbourne to Hobart and Melbourne to Launceston Yacht Races. Dozens of lifesaving clubs dot our Bays shoreline, especially on the east coast from Altona to Frankston. The clubs provide volunteer lifesaving services, conduct sporting carnivals and ensure our Bay beaches are safe for the millions of visitors each year.