Facing the
Southern Ocean, Discovery Bay extends approximately from
Cape Northumberland, near
Port MacDonnell, South Australia in the northwest, to
Cape Bridgewater in the southeast, west of
Portland in western Victoria. Cape Northumberland is the southernmost point of mainland South Australia. The
Glenelg River is the principal inflow and enters the bay near the town of
Nelson. The bay was named by explorer
Thomas Mitchell when he came down the river on 20 August 1836. The South Australian section of the bay's coastline is protected by the
Lower South East Marine Park while the Victorian section of the coast is protected in the
Discovery Bay Coastal Park. The waters at the eastern end of the bay, adjacent to Cape Bridgewater, are protected by the
Discovery Bay Marine National Park. ==See also==