Shallow Inlet is a marine inlet located on the south coast of Victoria, Australia, opening onto Waratah Bay on the western side of the Yanakie Isthmus in the South Gippsland region. It lies approximately 180 kilometers by road from the Melbourne CBD and is situated near the small holiday communities of Sandy Point and Yanakie, adjacent to Wilsons Promontory and the Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Geography
The inlet is a shallow, curving tidal embayment covering approximately 18 square kilometers, with a single channel connecting it to the sea. On its seaward side, it is enclosed by a barrier of sandy spits, bars, and mobile dunes. Much of the inlet dries at low water, and the depth in the entrance varies significantly. The inlet features extensive intertidal mudflats and areas of sand, fringed by saltmarsh vegetation.
Coordinates
- Coordinates: 38°48′28″S 146°08′56″E
- Primary outflow: Waratah Bay
- Basin countries: Australia
- Settlements: Sandy Point; Yanakie
Ecology and Birdlife
Shallow Inlet has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports over 1% of the global populations of double-banded plovers and red-necked stints. It has also supported the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot. Other bird species recorded in significant numbers at the site include eastern curlews, Pacific golden plovers, curlew sandpipers, and sanderlings. The inlet's intertidal mudflats and sand areas provide essential habitat for these waders and shorebirds.
Recreation and Management
The inlet is a popular destination for fishing, swimming, sailing, surfing, sea kayaking, windsurfing, sailboarding, and kite surfing. The surrounding area includes the Shallow Inlet Marine and Coastal Park, managed by Parks Victoria. A caravan park is located nearby, and the area offers bushwalking opportunities, including a short walk to Shallow Inlet beach commencing at Hourigan Camp Lane. The waterway is also managed by Gippsland Ports as part of its port management responsibilities.
