Whether you are on holiday, walking, or just visiting the coast for a short outing, this book will enrich your appreciation of what you see. It will tell you about the plants and animals you may encounter, the way geology influences the landforms you pass and the history of each stretch of the coast.

There are fascinating stories of human enterprise such as Wilbraham Liardet’s original tourism business at Port Melbourne, and coastal industries such as a pioneering cement factory at Mornington in the 1860s and a depot at Altona for exporting explosives.

There are big geological events: the creation of the bay and its repeated filling and emptying over millions of years, and the fiery formation of the volcanic western shore.

Coastal guide is not confined to popular destinations, but takes you kilometre by kilometre around the entire coastline from Point Lonsdale to Point Nepean. The author has walked the 260 kilometre shore and has researched the stories which lie behind the features you will see.

Some parts of the coast are not easy to reach and the maps and advice in this book will help you find them.