Waratah Bay
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BasincountriesAustralia
| Waratah Bay | |
|---|---|
  Waratah Bay Location in Victoria | |
| Location | Gippsland, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 38°50′35″S 146°01′59″E / 38.84306°S 146.03306°E[1] |
| Primary outflows | Bass Strait |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. depth | ~50 m (160 ft) |
| Frozen | never |
| Settlements | Sandy Point, Waratah Bay, Walkerville |
The Waratah Bay is located in south Gippsland, Victoria. The bay is an arc of almost 20 kilometres of flat sandy beach framed by Cape Liptrap to the west and Wilsons Promontory in the east.
Prior to the last glacial maximum, 20,000 years ago, Waratah bay and the rest of bass strait, between mainland Australia and Tasmania were exposed above sea level, and consisted of low-lying grassy fields, steppes, dunes, and tidal flats. It was along this land bridge that early humans first settled Tasmania. Sea levels rose to present levels roughly 7,000 years ago, flooding the land bridge and forming the present day bay and strait.
