South Gippsland Water Activities Guide
The Prom Country of South Gippsland is famous for beaches, coastal walks, fishing, windsurfing and boating. The region is a relaxing seaside, country destination.
Discover the coastal diversity of the region with a visit to one of the many beaches. Sandy Point and Waratah Bay offer visitors safe surf beaches framed by the majestic mountains of the Prom. Venus Bay also has five superb surf beaches with golden sand.
The sheltered waters of Shallow Inlet provide a secluded setting for a variety of water-based activities such as wind surfing and are ideal for those with young children.
Spend hours exploring rock pools and sandy coves at Walkerville or discover the fishing villages of Port Welshpool, Port Franklin and Port Albert.
High-speed adventure tours operate out of Port Franklin providing an alternative way to view Wilsons Promontory or Corner Inlet.
Summary of South Gippsland & Wilsons Promontory Beaches
* Patrol times vary
Summary of Swimming Pools
South Gippsland Splash Aquatic Centre (Leongatha)
Description: Indoor heated 25m pool, toddler pool and Program pool
Open: Open 7 days per week. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday, reduced trading on public holidays.
Korumburra Outdoor Pool (Korumburra)
Description: 50m outdoor pool and a shaded toddlers pool
Open: Dec - Mid/Early March
Foster Outdoor Pool (Foster)
Description: 25m outdoor pool and a learners pool
Open: Dec - Mid/Early March
Mirboo North Outdoor Pool (Mirboo North)
Description: 25m outdoor pool, learners pool and shaded toddlers pool
Open: Dec - Mid/Early March
Toora Outdoor Pool (Toora)
Description: 25m outdoor heated pool and a shaded toddlers pool
Open: Dec - Mid/Early March
Poowong Outdoor Pool (Poowong)
Description: 25m outdoor pool and a shaded toddlers pool
Open: Dec - Mid/Early March
Surfing
Surfing is a popular leisure pursuit in the region. There are many surf beaches with conditions to suit the beginner or experienced surfer. Some of the most popular locations are:
Sandy Point
Moderately exposed beach break providing reasonably reliable surfing conditions year round. Offshore winds from the north, northeast. Ground and good swell from the south, southwest. Beach breaks offer lefts and rights.
Walkerville
Semi exposed reef break with inconsistent surf. Northwest winds provide optimum conditions. Mixed ground and wind swells, with best conditions generated from the southeast. Right hand reef break. Beware of rips. Conditions can be hazardous.
Wilsons Promontory (Tidal River)
Reasonably exposed beach break with fairly consistent surf. Good conditions produced with an offshore wind from the northeast. Groundswell with best conditions from the southwest. Can be crowded during summer months.
Venus Bay
Venus Bay receives high southwest waves averaging 1.8m. The surf zone is 400m wide and consists of an inner bar cut by strong rips every 350m, then a deep trough, with an outer bar cut by rips every few hundred metres. The beach is prone to westerly winds that blow out the surf and intensify the currents.
Surf Life Saving
Patrolled beaches in and around South Gippsland include:
During the summer months beaches are patrolled by volunteer lifesavers on weekends and most public holidays from the last weekend of November through to Easter Monday. Employed lifeguards provide additional services during peak times.
Wilsons Promontory (Tidal River)
Life Saving Victoria operates a Lifeguard service each summer from 26 December each day until 26 January. Times of operation are 10am - 6pm.
Sandy Point, Venus Bay, Inverloch, Cape Paterson
Saturday afternoons, Sundays and public holidays from the last weekend in November through to Easter Monday.
Remember to always swim between the flags at a patrolled beach. Lifesavers are only on duty when the red and yellow flags are displayed. Additional services may operate during peak times.
Fishing Locations
Waratah Bay
Waratah Bay - King George whiting, flathead, barracouta,. Australian salmon, snook, gummy shark.
Shallow Inlet - Whiting, flathead, trevally, barracouta, tailor, Australian salmon, snapper, flounder, garfish and prawns.
Anderson Inlet
Anderson Inlet - King George whiting, pinkie, snapper, silver trevally, Australian salmon.
Tarwin River - Estuary perch, bream.
Inverloch Jetty - Various.
Anderson Inlet entrance - Snapper, King George whiting, whiting.
Back beaches Anderson Inlet/Venus Bay - Australian salmon, mullet, trevally.
Port Albert
Channel north of Sunday Island and channels near Port Albert entrance - Snapper, King George whiting, flathead, gummy shark, Australian salmon, bream, pike, trevally, school shark, gurnard, flounder, snook.
Corner Inlet
Singapore Deep - Snapper.
Franklin Channel -Snapper.
Middle Channel - Flathead, whiting, mullet, silver trevally, gummy shark, snapper, pike, Australian salmon, flounder.
Duck Point Channel - Flathead, whiting.
Doughboy Channel - Flathead, whiting, mullet, silver trevally, gummy shark.
Stockyard Channel - Flathead, whiting, mullet, silver trevally, gummy shark, snapper, pike, Australian salmon, flounder.
Toora Channel - Flathead, whiting, mullet, silver trevally, gummy shark, snapper, pike, Australian salmon, flounder.
Lewis Channel off Port Welshpool - King George whiting.
Port Welshpool jetties - Whiting, flathead, mullet, flounder, garfish, trevally, pike.
Recreational Fishing Licence
A Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) covers all forms of recreational fishing in all of Victoria's marine, estuarine and fresh waters. Unless you are exempt, an RFL is required when taking, or attempting to take from public waters, any species of fish by any method, including line fishing, bait collection, gathering shellfish, yabby fishing, prawning and spear fishing.
Exemptions - You do not need a RFL if you are:
RFLs can be purchased online at vfa.vic.gov.au or at local outlets. Validity periods of 48 hours, 28 days, one year or three years are available. RFLs issued by other states or territories are not valid in Victoria.
Boat Ramps at Corner Inlet
Port Welshpool
Location: Lewis Street, Port Welshpool
Description: 24 hour water access, all tides. A tide board is situated on Fisherman's Jetty. 3-lane ramp, holding jetty.
Toora Beach
Location: Jetty Road, Toora
Description: Water access restricted by tidal movement to 45 min either side of high tide. Launching and recovery recommended around high tide.
Yanakie Beach
Location: Duck Point, end of Foley Road, Yanakie
Description: Water access restricted by tidal movement to 30 min either side of high tide.
Foster
Location: Stockyard Creek landing
Description: Access restricted by tide. Launching and recovery recommended around high tide. Local knowledge required.
Port Albert
Location: Wharf Street, Port Albert
Description: Two lane boat launching ramp with boarding jetties. Adjacent sealed car/trailer park, boat wash down, fish cleaning, toilets.
Boat Ramps at Shallow & Anderson Inlet
Inverloch Boat Ramp
Location: The Esplanade, Inverloch
Description: Launching all tides. Tide board located on adjacent jetty.
Maher's Landing
Location: Maher's Landing Road, Maher's Landing
Description: Launching tide affected. Recommended for smaller craft only.
Walkerville North & Walkerville South
Location: Beach Launch
Description: Launching for small boats. Local knowledge recommended.
Venus Bay
Location: End of Fisherman's Way
Description: Water restricted by tidal movement. A shallow channel that can only be navigated by shallow drafted, suitably designed vessels during favourable tide conditions.
Tarwin River
Location: River Drive, Tarwin Lower
Description: River access. Tidal constraints. Suitable for shallow drafted vessels only.
Shallow Inlet
Location: Lester Road, Yanakie
Description: Sand access and tide affected. For small and large craft into Shallow Inlet.
Sandy Point
Location: Western Beach
Description: Sand access for launching. Tide affected.
