Mallacoota & East Gippsland

Mallacoota is one of those places that earns its mystique. Accessible only by a long drive from Melbourne (6+ hours) or a scenic route via Canberra, it sits at the far eastern edge of Victoria — backed by the vast wilderness of Croajingolong National Park and facing Bass Strait's open waters.

For birders, this remoteness is the point. Mallacoota Inlet is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in southeastern Australia, supporting large populations of waterbirds and shorebirds alongside a rich variety of forest species just moments from the water's edge. The town itself is surrounded by Croajingolong National Park — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — which protects some of the least-disturbed coastal temperate rainforest in Victoria.

The Inlet

Mallacoota Inlet is the star attraction. The upper and lower lakes system spans thousands of hectares of sheltered water, offering exceptional habitat for pelicans, cormorants, herons, egrets, spoonbills, and terns. The inlet narrows dramatically near the township, making it ideal for scanning from the shoreline. Local boat tours — including those run by Mallacoota Cruises — access parts of the inlet otherwise impossible to reach, bringing birders to undisturbed shorebird and waterbird assemblages.

The Forests

Croajingolong's forests are among the tallest in Victoria, dominated by mountain ash, silvertop ash, and coastal blackbutt. They support a rich assemblage of forest birds: Superb Lyrebirds are regularly heard and occasionally seen in the deep gullies, Glossy Black-Cockatoos feed in coastal sheoak stands, and a suite of honeyeaters and thornbills occupy different forest strata.

Pelagic and Seabird Interest

Mallacoota's exposed Bass Strait coastline and the proximity of warm East Australian Current eddies to cold southern water make it an excellent location for pelagic seabirds. Shearwaters, petrels, and albatrosses pass offshore on migration, particularly in autumn and spring. Boat trips out through the inlet bar can access pelagic species.

The Black Summer Legacy

Mallacoota gained global attention during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, when the town was cut off by fire and thousands of people sheltered on the beach as the sky turned black. The fires affected large areas of Croajingolong NP, but Mallacoota's core forest and inlet habitat survived largely intact. The recovery of fire-affected areas is ongoing — and the town's resilience, and the role played by local operators like Dale Winward of Mallacoota Cruises in wildlife rescue during the fires, is part of the destination's story.

Key birds to look for