Families · Surfers · Nature lovers · Couples
Summer for swimming and surf. Spring and autumn for fossil hunting at low tide on the Bunurong coast. Avoid the Christmas–January peak when accommodation prices triple.
Inverloch is the Bass Coast's quieter, more genuine alternative to Phillip Island — a laid-back surf town with excellent beaches, world-class fossil beds, and a thriving café scene, without the tour buses and penguin parade queues. The nearby Bunurong Coastal Park has produced some of Australia's most significant dinosaur fossil discoveries, and low tide exposes the fossil beds to curious visitors.
Why Inverloch makes a perfect Melbourne weekend getaway
The town sits at the mouth of the Anderson Inlet, a shallow tidal estuary that is one of the best spots in Victoria for flat-water kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The inlet's warm, shallow water makes it exceptionally safe for families with young children — a huge contrast to the exposed surf beaches on the ocean side of town.
The Bunurong Coastal Park stretches east of Inverloch for 12 kilometres along some of the most dramatic and least-visited coastline in Victoria. The fossil beds at Eagle's Nest and Flat Rocks are exposed at low tide, and fragments of 120-million-year-old dinosaur bone still erode from the cliffs — the Dinosaur Dreaming excavations here have produced over 100 new species. The drive along the Bunurong Road passes spectacular Cape Paterson and remote surf breaks.
Inverloch's café scene is excellent for a town its size — Café Perlo, the Point Café, and the Saturday morning Farmers' Market are all worth seeking out. The town is also the southern end of the Great Southern Rail Trail, a flat cycling trail running north to Leongatha through beautiful South Gippsland farmland.
Top things to do in Inverloch
Bunurong Fossil Beds
Among the world's most significant Early Cretaceous fossil sites — dinosaur bones, marine reptiles and ancient fish continue to erode from the cliffs at low tide. Eagle's Nest and Flat Rocks are the best access points. Check tide times before visiting.
Anderson Inlet Kayaking
One of Victoria's best flat-water kayaking spots — the shallow, warm tidal estuary is ideal for beginners and families. Hire kayaks from the Inverloch Surf Lifesaving Club or bring your own.
Eagles Nest Beach
A dramatic stretch of Bunurong coastline with towering sea stacks, blowholes, and a small sheltered beach accessible via a short walk through coastal scrub. One of the most photogenic spots on the Bass Coast.
Cape Paterson
A small, charming village 10 minutes east of Inverloch with an excellent surf break, a swimming beach, and the famous Cape Paterson pie shop. Much quieter than Inverloch itself.
Great Southern Rail Trail Cycling
A flat, sealed cycling trail running 38km from Inverloch north through rolling South Gippsland farmland to Leongatha. Suitable for all fitness levels and families — hire bikes in Inverloch or Leongatha.
Practical tips for your Inverloch trip
- Fossil hunting is best at low tide on an outgoing tide — download a tide chart app before visiting the Bunurong Coast. Never remove fossils; it's illegal and deprives scientists of important specimens.
- The Anderson Inlet is much warmer and calmer than the ocean beaches — ideal for young children who aren't confident swimmers.
- Book accommodation at least 2 months ahead for January and Easter — Inverloch is very popular with Melbourne families who discovered it post-COVID.
- The drive along Bunurong Road from Inverloch to Wonthaggi (25km) passes all the best coastal access points and is one of the prettiest coastal drives in Victoria.
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