Bunurong Marine National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bunurong Marine National ParkVictoria |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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A cliff at Cape Paterson, located adjacent to the marine park.
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 Bunurong Marine National Park
Location in Victoria
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| Nearest town or city | Cape Paterson |
| Established | 16 November 2002 |
| Area | 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) |
| Visitation | circa 250,000 (in 2005) |
| Managing authorities | Parks Victoria |
| Website | Bunurong Marine National Park |
| See also | Protected areas of Victoria |
The Bunurong Marine National Park is a special ocean park in Victoria, Australia. It's located off the coast near Cape Paterson in the South Gippsland area. This amazing ocean park covers about 2,100 hectares. That's like 2,100 football fields! It's about 6 km southwest of Inverloch and 5 km from the coastline.
The park's waters are cool, similar to other parts of Victoria's coast. They are also quite safe from big waves. This is because King Island in Tasmania helps to block the strong south-westerly swells. The Bunurong Marine National Park is part of a larger area called the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park. Both parks are named after the Bunurong Aboriginal people. They are the traditional owners of this land and water.
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Why Is It Called Bunurong?
The Bunurong parks get their name from the Bunurong Aboriginal people. They cared for this coast for thousands of years. This was long before European settlers arrived. Different groups of the Bunurong people lived here. For example, the Boakoolawal clan lived near Kilcunda. The Yowenjerre lived west of the Tarwin River.
You can still find signs of their ancient camps. These are called middens. They are piles of charcoal and shellfish shells. They show where the Bunurong people used to gather and live along the coast.
What Can You See and Do?
The Bunurong Marine National Park has some amazing rock formations. One famous one is called Eagles Nest. It's right next to the coast at the park's eastern end. Eagles Nest even looks like the top half of a map of Australia!
Another cool spot is Flat Rocks. Here, you'll find large rockpools. These are perfect for exploring and finding sea creatures. You can easily get to Flat Rocks from the Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road.
Many people visit the marine national park. A popular entry point is near the Cape Paterson caravan park. This spot has a special rockpool that's safe for swimming. You can also reach the park from other car parks along the Cape Paterson-Inverloch Road.
Fun Activities in the Park
Exploring the rockpools is a favorite activity. Snorkelling and scuba diving are also very popular here. You can see lots of amazing marine life underwater. If you have a boat, you can launch it at Inverloch. This is located on Anderson Inlet.
Dinosaur Discoveries
Did you know that Australia's first dinosaur bone was found here? It was called the Cape Paterson Claw. William Ferguson discovered it in 1903. This happened at Eagles Nest beach, which is now part of the Bunurong Marine Park.
Since then, over 6,000 bones and teeth have been found! These include small dinosaurs, mammals, birds, turtles, and fish. You can learn more about these discoveries at the Inverloch Shell Museum. They have a special dinosaur exhibition.
Marine Life and Rules
The Bunurong Marine National Park is home to many different sea animals. This includes seastars, featherstars, crabs, and snails. There are also 87 different types of fish! You might even spot whales and seals.
The park has a huge variety of invertebrates. These are animals without backbones. It has more types of invertebrates than anywhere else in eastern Victoria. You'll also find a wide range of seaweed species.
Important Rules for the Park
To protect this special place, there are some rules. In the Bunurong Marine National Park, you are not allowed to kill or take anything. This means you cannot catch fish. You also cannot collect seashells. And you cannot harm any sea or land creature, whether it's alive or dead.
However, in the nearby Bunurong Marine Park, you are allowed to fish. But you can only use a rod. This helps to keep the marine national park a safe home for all its amazing creatures.
