Port Phillip is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia, immediately to the south of Melbourne. It is nearly circular, with a surface area of approximately 1,930 square kilometres, making it the largest bay in Victoria with its coastline stretching around 264 kilometres. The bay's entrance, known as the "Rip", between Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean, is only about 3.5 kilometres wide.
The waters of Port Phillip are typically quite shallow, with much of the bay being less than 8 metres in depth. It is home to a wide variety of marine life, including dolphins, seals and various species of fish and birds.
Notable features around the bay include the city of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, and the Bellarine Peninsula. The suburb of Port Melbourne also borders the bay, with a number of popular beaches along the coastline.
Port Phillip also serves as a major port area, with the Port of Melbourne located at its mouth which is the largest port for containerised and general cargo in Australia. Various forms of water-based activities such as sailing, fishing and diving are also popular in and around the bay.
Overall, Port Phillip plays a vital role in both the natural ecosystem and the human economy of the region.
