Learn, Relax, and Dine at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary Southland

You may be working all week, and the children are bored. You want to take your mind off work, so you start looking for a place to take the family for a fun, relaxing, and educational outing. The most common place that comes to mind is the beach. A great place to satisfy your thirst to get into nature is Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, located at Port Phillip Bay, Beaumaris VIC 3193, Australia.

Attractions and Activities

Ricketts Point offers several attractions to explore that both children and adults will surely enjoy!

Beaches

People go to Ricketts Point to enjoy the beach. The shallow, crystal clear water makes it great for children to swim and play in. You can go snorkelling and see fish such as zebrafish or catch a glimpse of the Port Jackson Shark. Make sure, though, that the beach is patrolled to ensure safety.

Scuba diving

A wide variety of marine life will greet scuba divers seeking to explore Ricketts Point. Ricketts Point is home to several marine species of leatherjacket fish, goby fish, flounder, seahorse, and stingray. There are also unique things to explore in this area, like sandstone reefs and sea caves.

You would be happy to learn that Ricketts Point is wheelchair accessible for disabled divers.

Bird watching

Bird watching at Ricketts Point is also an excellent pastime in the area and a great way to learn more about the diversity of wildlife. It's not only sea creatures that have but also roosting seabirds in their natural habitat. If luck is on your side, you will catch a glimpse of the colourful Rainbow Lorikeet, several types of Cormorants, and even a Little Penguin walking along the coastline!

Junior rangers

If you are looking for great activities for your children to do during the holidays or weekends, you can enrol them in the Junior Ranger program instead of keeping them idle at home. This activity is free for children (ages 6-12 years) and must be accompanied by their parent or guardian. A ranger will guide you and your children out to explore the park. Lots of fun activities await, such as flora and fauna discovery sessions, rockpool rambles, treasure hunts, and much more.

Underwater world discovery

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is considered the most accessible snorkelling spot in Melbourne. You can join licensed tour operators, go to a dive club, or do things on your own. You can still explore while being closer to land. Plenty of delightful rockpool rambles are conducted along the shoreline.

Always be careful when out in the water. You should be aware of the weather condition and waves and always keep safety in mind.

Unique marine life

A visit to Ricketts Point lets you see marine life — unique animals and abundant plants that call the intertidal rock platforms zone. Marine national parks and sanctuaries such as Ricketts Point are dedicated to protecting this flora and fauna. An example of such is the Australian Fur Seal. Seals at Ricketts Point were almost extinct, hunted down for their thick fur and almost waterproof skin. They are great swimmers and can dive to depths of 200 metres to catch prey. It is advisable to stay at least 30 metres away from these seals.

The Weedy Seadragon is the symbol of Victoria’s marine fauna. It is also unique to Southern Australia and is related to seahorses. Snorkellers and divers may catch a glimpse of this gentle sea creature though they may be hard to spot because of their camouflage that blends with kelp forests and seaweeds.

Other Destinations

Seeing the ocean and wildlife is not the only thing to do at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. There are other places where you can go to complete your visit.

Ricketts Point Cafe

What outing is complete without checking out the cuisine at a local venue or restaurant? The Ricketts Point Teahouse is there to handle your food cravings. Their menu is described as contemporary, offering pizza, sandwiches, and other gourmet platters. What about seafood, you ask? Of course, they have seafood! The view at the bar is amazing, which you can enjoy with your favourite beer or cocktail. You can also choose from their extensive list of local and imported wines.

The Moorabbin Air Museum

After visiting Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary and learning about the ocean and marine wildlife, another spot that could be very interesting if you’re a history buff is the Moorabbin Air Museum. Founded in 1962, the Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich aviation history of Australia.

Conclusion

Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is a wonderful place to be one with nature. It offers a mix of activities from relaxing to knowledge expansion. Whether you want to stay on land to take your mind off things, challenge yourself with a checklist of birds to spot, or go in the water to swim and explore an underwater world, Ricketts Point is the best escape place for you!

How to reach Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

The Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary is located at Port Phillip Bay, Beaumaris VIC 3193, Australia. If you love the wonderful sea creatures of Port Phillip Bay, then this place is for you. If you are coming from Eye Concepts, Southland, you can easily get there by car. Just head west on Bay Rd, turn left onto Reserve Rd, continue straight, then turn right onto Beach Rd. turn left, then another left. The destination will be on the right.

Eye Concepts, Southland

Did your eyes get strained from all the sightseeing? Did you feel like your vision needed correcting when during a session of birdwatching, and you could not see the birds clearly? Good thing there is Eye Concepts. Eye Concepts, Southland offer eye care services and has an array of eyeglasses and contact lenses ready should you need them.