FIND FAIRHAVEN

The Museum of HMAS Cerberus is located within Flinders Naval Depot. Flinders Naval Depot was established on the 1st September 1920 and commissioned HMAS Cerberus 1st April 1921. Located on 4000 acres at the head of Hanns Inlet, HMAS Cerberus is regarded as the Premier Training establishment for the Royal Australian Navy. The present Museum of HMAS Cerberus was first established by Commander L G Wilson MBE RAN in 1980. The building was built in 1925 as the New Entry's study block, in 1930 when the Royal Australian Naval College was relocated from Jervis Bay the building then became the Cadets' Academic block. During WWII the facility was used as the Drafting Office and then later as the Supply School. Along with your visit to the Museum visitors are welcome to look through the Memorial Chapels and walk around the Memorial Gardens. There is also a Navy in Vietnam Room and Art Gallery where you can sit and have a cuppa and a light snack. Group bookings for Lunches are to be pre-booked. Please visit the website to view more information about Royal Australian Naval Museums.

Located 10km south of Tooradin, French Island Marine National Park is adjacent to the northern shoreline of French Island National Park in Western Port. Extending 15km along the shoreline, the park encompasses approximately 2800ha. It includes one of Victoria's most extensive areas of saltmarsh and mangrove communities and also includes mudflats of state geomorphological significance. The tidal channel system of varying depths, profiles and orientations, contributes to the high diversity of habitats, including many seagrass beds in the surrounding waters. These seagrass beds are particularly important as they have largely disappeared in other areas of the bay since the 1950s. These habitats are important feeding and roosting grounds for the 32 migratory wader bird species found in Western Port. Including these migratory birds, 295 bird species have been spotted in Western Port including Black Swans, Pied Oystercatchers and Royal Spoonbills. French Island Marine National Park is part of the Western Port RAMSAR site. In addition to the bird life, there is a rich diversity of marine life. The seagrass beds support many commercially viable species such as King George Whiting, Black Bream and Yellow-eyed Mullet. The mudflats support a wide variety of benthic animals such as worms and bivalves. These animals are important for nutrient cycling because they convert the detritus of the bay into animal tissue which is fed upon by birds and fishes. Before you go 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. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

French Island National Park is a true paradise. Accessible only by a 30 minute passenger ferry ride, French Island is a haven of peace and serenity, home to a diverse range of wildlife and containing environments ranging from mangrove saltmarsh areas to open woodlands. Explore the park at leisure by bus, bike or on foot, using the network of public roads and management tracks. There are whole day, half day and shorter walks and rides starting at Tankerton Foreshore Reserve. Before you go 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. Be bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Bushfire Safety section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.

This is a quiet stretch of Westernport Bay, weaving through the Woolley's Beach Reserve towards Stony Point. Although not a swimming beach this is a relaxing walk through the muddy mangrove filled shoreline along an undeveloped part of the Bay. The foreshore area is one of the last remaining examples of the original type of habitat of Western Port. The view looks out over the water towards French Island. This walk can be extended by connecting to the north from Jacks Beach at the Crib Point via the Warringine Park boardwalk to Hastings. From the picnic area at Jacks Beach it is a short walk to the Tan Pit used by the Jack brothers to tan their nets last century. The site is listed as a district Heritage Place....