Leschenault Inlet

Leschenault Inlet Bunbury is a coastal lagoon located on the south coast of Western Australia, between Mandurah and Bunbury.

It is the southernmost of the four large estuaries in the area, with a lagoon situated to the north of Bunbury. The inlet's flow to the Indian Ocean has been altered by the harbour works of Bunbury and the creation of The Cut north of its historical location.

The estuary has a length of approximately 13.5 kilometers and a maximum width of around 2.5 kilometers. It covers a total area of 25 square kilometers and is separated from the ocean by the Leschenault Peninsula, a thin peninsula of sand dunes. The estuary is primarily fed by the Collie and Preston Rivers, which enter from the southern end and discharge into the Indian Ocean via The Cut.

The sand dune system that formed the shore began around 7,000 years ago. Over time, it created a long barred estuarine lagoon, separating it from the ocean. Approximately 4,500 years ago, the dune system met the eastern shore, dividing the lagoon into two sections and leaving the southern section as the estuary we see today. The construction of The Cut, a channel that connects the estuary to the ocean, began in 1950.

The estuary is home to a white mangrove colony, the southernmost mangroves in Western Australia, believed to be 2,500 years old. Visitors can explore this area through a boardwalk with informative signage. The estuary also attracts a variety of waterbirds, with up to 62 species using the area, particularly in the tidal salt-marshes. It serves as an