Point Hicks Marine National Park

Point Hicks Marine National Park Information

Point Hicks Marine National Park is 4000ha and is located alongside Croajingolong National Park in East Gippsland. The granite cliffs of Point Hicks beautifully frame the marine park which represents Victoria's far-eastern marine environment. Within the waters one can discover a range of habitats including granite subtidal reef, intertidal rock platforms and offshore sands. Some notable features are front reef and Whaleback Rock which have deep gutters of 1-15m and support many invertebrates. The seafloor drops away rapidly from shore descending to 90m which makes it one of the deepest marine areas within Victoria. The site also contains two shipwrecks, the SS Kerangie and the SS Saros.

Throughout the park there is a startling diversity of marine life. Many creatures found here are not found further west because the water is too cold, for example, the large Black Sea Urchin. Through the remarkably clear water, one can see swaying brown seaweeds with colourful sponges, sea squirts and sea fans growing around their base. There are numerous brightly colour seastars, brittle stars, abalone, fan worms, sea shells, hermit crabs and delicate nudibranchs (sea slugs). The fish diversity is just as great including schools of pelagic (free-swimming) fish such as Butterfly Perch, Silver Sweep, Long-finned Pike and Banded Morwongs.

Before you go

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