Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

A ray swims above a bed of kelp. Light rays come through the water.

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Explore

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary sits within an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong People. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Bunurong Traditional Owners have to these lands and waters, and we recognise their ongoing role in caring for Country.

Crystal clear shallow waters, sandstone reefs, sea caves, and rockpools make Ricketts Point the perfect place to discover the wonderful sea creatures of Port Phillip Bay. The beach, when patrolled, is a safe place for kids to swim. Grab your snorkel to meet zebrafish or even a Port Jackson Shark.

Ricketts Point is home to unique animals and plants that call the intertidal rock platforms home. Join a Junior Ranger program to get the most out of rockpooling and learn about Victoria’s rich underwater marine life. If you don’t drive, no need to worry. Ricketts Point is accessible by public transport.

The beach, with crystal clear shallow waters of less than 5 metres depth in most areas, is patrolled by Beaumaris Life Saving Club, making it a safe place to swim in summer.

Experienced divers and snorkelers can explore the offshore sandstone reefs and sea caves that are unique to this area.

As beaches and coasts are natural environments, you may encounter hazards. Follow our water safety advice to make sure your day out at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is a safe and enjoyable one.

Things to do in the area

Mum helps her young son as he jumps off a large piece of drift wood at West Cape Beach.

Beaches

Walk white sandy beaches, swim in cool coastal waters or surf the wild waves of the Southern Ocean.
A diver takes a photo a school of fish in the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park.

Scuba diving

Dive to the depths of the ocean floor in marine national parks or explore shipwrecks at the bottom of the bays.
Father and son bird watching on boardwalk

Bird watching

From bushland to wetlands and everything in between, parks provide habitat to an abundance of common and rare bird species. Go for a wander and see how many you can spot.
Four children and a ranger take a closer look at a rockpool.

Junior Rangers

Encourage the kids to explore Victoria's surprising plants and wildlife with a real Park Ranger, or download activities to complete anytime.
Snorkelling at Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary

Discover an underwater world

If you’re looking for the best places to see underwater ecosystems and encounter marine wildlife, look no further! We’ve rounded up some of the best ways to explore marine protected areas. So, pack your togs, wetsuit, a mask and snorkel and head to the coast!
A weedy seadragon swims along near the sea bed.

Meet some of our unique marine life

Marine national parks and sanctuaries exist to protect Victoria’s unique and diverse marine ecosystem, and the many plants and animals that live in them. Meet some of the marine life that these parks protect.

Tours and adventure experiences in parks

One of the best ways you can get into nature is with a Licensed Tour Operator.

There are more than 400 Licensed Tour Operators across Victoria who are ready and waiting to help you experience and connect with Victoria’s spectacular parks and waterways.

Discover more than 60 different types of nature-based experiences including hiking, mountain biking, boating, four-wheel driving, indigenous culture tours, birdwatching, surfing, diving and so much more. 

Licensed Tour Operators know all the best places to go and will plan and prepare your visit to ensure you are safe and can enjoy your nature-based adventure to the fullest.

Find a Licensed Tour Operator

How to get there

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

This park is a short drive from Melbourne (about 20mins) and is easy to access via the shore or boat (launching point in Black Rock or Mordialloc).
Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

When you're there

Download the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary visitor guide for more information about the park and the plethora of experiences to be had within its borders. 
 

Related Sites

When to go

This is the perfect time for families with young children to explore Ricketts Point. The Beaumaris Life Saving Club patrol the beach on weekends from Nov through to Easter each year. Experienced snorkellers, join the Great Victorian Fish Count in December.

Need to know

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

Accessibility

Visiting a park can be more of a challenge for people with disabilities, however in Victoria there are a wide range of facilities to help people of all abilities enjoy our wonderful parks around the state.

How we keep it special

The Management Plan for Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary directs all aspects of management of the sanctuary until the plan is reviewed.

Plants and animals

There are 75 bird species, including: pacific gull, crested tern, fairy tern, pelican, cormorants (pied, little pied, little black, great black).
You might also be lucky to spot a Rakali (native water rat) or see a bottlenose dolphin, Humpback Whales during their annual migration in June and August.

Octopus, squid, cuttlefish may also be spotted along with the huge diversity of fish, including: Dragonet, Ornate Cowfish, Cryptic Weedfish, Pygmy Leatherjacket, Southern Hulafish, Victorian Scalyfin and Red and Dusky Morwong,

Large varieties of Sharks and Rays live within the shallows including Port Jackson Shark, Banjo Shark and Smooth Rays.

In the shallows you will find Seagrass beds (Zostera muelleri and Zostera tasmanica) that are a nursery and feeding ground for many animals. Further offshore rock bommies are carpeted in Green Caulerpa and tall Brown Sargassum seaweed.

Parks Victoria

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