Estuarine Ecology at Screw Creek and Townsend Bluff

Explore the dynamic estuarine areas of Anderson's Inlet where you'll find coastal scrub, open woodlands, mangroves, saltmarsh and mudflats. Estuaries form a transition zone between river and ocean environments. Subjected to tides, waves and the influx of seawater, as well as flows of freshwater and sediment, they are some of the most productive natural habitats in the world. Screw Creek, with its easily accessible picnic facilities and toilets, is an ideal location to study the ecosystems and inhabitants of Anderson's Inlet, a significant site for wading birds, fish breeding and endangered species such as the orange bellied parrot. You will need sturdy shoes for walking on wet and slippery ground, appropriate clothing and protection for the weather, water and your own transport from the Bunurong Environment Centre in Inverloch to the field site. Our activities go ahead if it is drizzling. However, if the weather conditions pose a threat to the safety of participants we may cancel your ticket. In this event, we will email you so please monitor your email if the weather is bad. Please email bce@sgcs.org.au if you have any questions.

Meeting point:

Bunurong Environment Centre, Inverloch

What to bring:

• weather protection, including sunscreen, hats and raincoats
• closed toe no slip shoes
• a water bottle

Age restrictions: All ages welcome.

A guardian must accompany children under the age of 16. Please be advised that every person attending this activity (including the guardian accompanying the child) must have a ticket to attend this activity. If the guardian is yet to register for a ticket, please register for a ticket immediately.

Cancellations:

If you can no longer attend an activity you are registered for, please cancel your ticket so our activity leader knows and does not wait for you to arrive, and the ticket can be allocated to the waitlist.

This activity may be cancelled at short notice due to extreme weather conditions or changes in Victorian Government public health guidelines. You will be contacted if the activity is cancelled.

About:

Now in its 30th year, Summer by the Sea offers fun, educational activities along Victoria’s coastline. With the 2026 theme ‘The coast, the sea, and our community’, the program gives people the chance to explore our coastal and marine environments and learn how to help protect them for future generations.

Proudly supported by Coastcare Victoria and the Victorian Government, activities are delivered in partnership with environmental organisations and led by friendly, experienced, first aid–trained hosts.