The inlet is located within the Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

The inlet lies approximately 38 kilometres (24 mi) south of the town of Strahan and serves as the mouth of the Birchs, Pocacker and Sorell Rivers, three of several draining south-western Tasmania.

It has been at times an important access point for loggers working in the area for moving Huon Pine to Strahan.

It lies at the northern end of the Melaleuca to Birchs Inlet Important Bird Area.

[3][4] It is named after Thomas William Birch (1774-1821), a surgeon, whaler, merchant and shipowner who settled in Tasmania in 1808.