Jawbone Flora & Fauna Reserve

Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve is a unique coastal landscape where wetlands, mangroves and open grasslands meet Port Phillip Bay. An accessible boardwalk winds through saltmarsh and mangrove environments, allowing visitors to experience these sensitive habitats up close without disturbing them. Along the way, bird hides provide excellent opportunities to quietly observe migratory shorebirds and local waterbirds that rely on the reserve’s wetlands, lakes and tidal flats. These rich ecosystems sit within the traditional Country of the Bunurong People, whose deep and enduring connection to land and sea continues to shape the cultural significance of the area.

From elevated points across the reserve, visitors are rewarded with expansive views across the bay to Point Cook, the You Yangs, Altona and the Bellarine Peninsula on clear days. Two wetland lakes, Wader Beach, Kororoit Creek and surrounding grasslands support both wildlife and low‑key recreation, creating a place for reflection, walking and nature discovery. The reserve forms part of a continuous chain of conservation sites stretching from the West Gate Bridge through Williamstown and Altona to Cheetham Wetlands and Point Cook, just 8 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD.

The northern edge of the reserve connects to the Bay Trail, welcoming walkers and cyclists with seating, playgrounds and landscaped native plantings. Paths link the open grassland areas with nearby neighbourhoods, making Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve an easily accessible green space where community, culture and nature come together.

Jawbone Marine Sanctuary

Nestled within the broader Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve, Jawbone Marine Sanctuary protects a rich and surprisingly diverse underwater environment just offshore from Williamstown. Beneath the calm waters of northern Port Phillip Bay, the sanctuary features seagrass meadows, sandy patches and basalt reefs that support colourful algae, sponges, nudibranchs, fish and invertebrates. Sheltered from prevailing winds, the water conditions are often gentle, making this one of Melbourne’s most accessible and rewarding spots to explore the bay’s marine life. At low tide, rockpools along the shoreline reveal crabs, sea snails and small fish, while further out snorkellers may spot rays gliding over sand channels or fish sheltering among reef and seagrass.

Snorkelling and swimming are popular ways to experience the sanctuary, with easy shore access from the reserve and clear views in shallow water. The in‑water habitats here are fully protected, helping marine life flourish and offering visitors a chance to see a healthy bay ecosystem up close. Ongoing care and community stewardship are supported by local volunteers, including the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Care Group, who help protect this special environment so it can continue to be enjoyed as part of the wider Jawbone reserve experience.

Getting there

The reserve stretches from Bayview Street to Maddox Road, south of Kororoit Creek Road in Williamstown. Access to the site can be achieved by the Bay Trail which has sidetracks leading visitors to viewing points at several places in the reserve before it crosses the lower lake in a boardwalk on its way to Altona.

More information

Jawbone Flora & Fauna Reserve PDF

Location

Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve, enter at Bayview street or Maddox Road, Williamstown 3016  View Map

-37.860133,144.8732758

Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve, enter at Bayview street or Maddox Road , Williamstown 3016

Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve, enter at Bayview street or Maddox Road , Williamstown 3016

Jawbone Flora & Fauna Reserve