Bunurong Marine Park

Bunurong Marine Park Victoria
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
The Caves Beach, near Eagles Nest in Inverloch.
Bunurong Marine Park
Nearest town or city	Cape Paterson
Coordinates	38°40′19″S 145°36′58″E / 38.67194°S 145.61611°E / -38.67194; 145.61611Coordinates: 38°40′19″S 145°36′58″E / 38.67194°S 145.61611°E / -38.67194; 145.61611
Established	17 December 1991 (1991-12-17)
Area	12.03 km2 (4.6 sq mi)
Visitation	circa 250,000 (in 2005)
Managing authorities	Parks Victoria
Website	Bunurong Marine Park
See also	Protected areas of Victoria

Bunurong Coastal Park Victoria
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)
Coal Point
Nearest town or city	Cape Paterson
Established	June 1984 (1984-06)
Area	92.9 km2 (35.9 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Parks Victoria
Website	Bunurong Coastal Park
See also	Protected areas of Victoria

The Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park (pronunciation: /ˈbʌnʌrɒŋ/) collectively are a marine park and a coastal park located along the reef and coast of Harmers Haven, Cape Paterson and Inverloch in the South Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. Collectively, the parks are located approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) southeast of Melbourne, between Coal Point in the west to Wreck Creek in the east, and are used for walking, picnicking, boating, education and research.

The 1,203-hectare (2,970-acre) Bunurong Marine Park comprises two separate areas along 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of coastline and was gazetted on 17 December 1991 (1991-12-17). The broad rock platforms and underwater reefs of Bunurong Marine Park support a remarkable range of habitats, containing a diverse array of plants and animals.

The 93-hectare (230-acre) Bunurong Coastal Park includes the narrow strip of public land adjacent to Bunurong Marine Park and Bunurong Marine National Park, between the eastern boundary of the Cape Paterson Foreshore Reserve at Undertow Bay in the west and Wreck Creek in the east, and was gazetted in June 1984.

Both parks draw their name from the Australian Aboriginal Bunurong people who are the traditional owners of the land and water in the region.

The Bunurong parks are named after the Bunurong Aboriginal people whom were custodians of this stretch of coast for thousands of years prior to white settlement. The Boakoolawal clan lived in the Kilcunda area south of the Bass River, and the Yowenjerre were west of the Tarwin River along what is now the Bunurong Marine and Coastal Parks near Wonthaggi. Middens containing charcoal and shellfish mark the location of their campsites along the coast.