Located 30km south of Sale and adjacent to Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park covers 5km of coastline. This untamed stretch of coastline runs alongside the slender strip of sand dunes that protect the Gippsland Lakes.

Beneath the water, vast plains of sand stretch in every direction. However, the sand is not a monotonous as it may appear; wave action and currents sort sand particles into different groups and layers whilst surface features, such as mounds and ripples, are a result of animal and wave action. The coast does not have any rocky headlands or platforms, and offshore there are only a few ribbons of reef which are periodically covered by sand. These formed as shorelines or sand dunes during ice-ages when the sea level was lower than today.

The huge subtidal sandy expanses characteristic of the area, are teeming with marine life. In fact, they are known to have one of the highest species diversity levels of any place on the planet, with 860 species discovered within 10 square meters. These sand dwelling critters can include tube building worms, small molluscs and many tiny crustaceans.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners
Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters. Indigenous tradition indicates that this park is part of the Country of the Gunaikurnai indigenous people.

Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.

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Local directions

Ninety Mile Beach Marine National Park is located 30 kilometres south of Sale, adjacent to the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.

Facilities

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Fauna
There are plenty of fish too and many feed on the seafloor smorgasbord of tiny animals. Schools of pelagic fish like pike, school whiting and snapper are common and the area appears to be a nursery ground for sharks. Young Great White Sharks can be found in the area chasing snapper, one of their favourite foods. Common Stargazer (Kathetostoma laeve) Although the Common Stargazer is one of the largest fish found near reefs on the underwater sandy plains, you would be lucky to see one. It is not that they are uncommon; they are just masters at making themselves obscure. They lie almost buried and motionless, with only their eyes and mouth peering out of the sand. With their skilful ambush tactics, Common Stargazers can rapidly lunge upward and their cavernous mouths can consume unsuspecting fish and crustaceans in one gulp. Heart Urchin (Echinocardium cordatum) Although only six centimetres in length, heart urchins are considered large animals of the sandy plains. Furrowing their way through the sand, heart urchins have a thick covering of short, slick-backed, hair-like spines that ease the movement of sand grains around the body, thereby reducing drag. They are scavengers, ingesting particles of sand and fine organic matter that is processed through the gut.

Looking After The Park
For the protection of the marine environment, a number of activities are prohibited within the boundaries of Victoria's marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. No fishing, netting, spearing, taking or killing of marine life. All methods of fishing, from the shore or the sea, are prohibited. As users of the marine environment, you can help minimise your impact on these areas by being mindful of the following points: * enjoy the marine environment without removing the plants and animals * minimise your impact while diving and snorkelling by: * being careful to avoid damage to marine life caused by fins * developing good skills in buoyancy control * securing all gauges and pressure hoses to avoid snagging them on objects * take any rubbish home with you - do not dump rubbish into the sea * avoid stressing marine life by not chasing or grabbing free-swimming animals * exercise great care if approached by large marine animals (including birds) & avoid blocking their paths if moving * take care where you anchor your boat (anchor in sand, rubble or mud, avoiding sensitive areas, and use mooring buoys where provided) * do not pollute the water with sewage - ensure that if your vessel has an onboard toilet that it has an approved sewage holding facility and that sewage is disposed of appropriately on land * take the time to learn more about Victoria's marine animals and plants and the habitats they depend upon Remember, Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries are NO TAKE ENVIRONMENTS. All objects (artefacts), animals eg. fish and crustaceans, plants, and the seabed are totally protected.

Precautions
For your own safety, only undertake activities appropriate to your skills and abilities. Take all necessary precautions, be aware of changing conditions, and watch for potential hazards, such as rips. A number of Victorian marine animals are potentially harmful if not treated with respect and care, so ensure that you familiarise yourself with these species. Sunburn and hypothermia are also potentially harmful but easily avoided. SCUBA diving is a potentially high risk activity and should only be undertaken by appropraitely qualified people that have completed recognised training and certification. Victoria's cool water environments can be extremely challenging to those used to diving in warmer waters so ensure that local knowledge is sought before undertaking a dive in a new location. Dive charter operators can provide some of the best advice on diving in Victoria.