The inlet adjoins Wilsons Promontory in the west, extends to Ninety Mile Beach in the east, and supports large numbers of migratory waders and other birds as well a rich marine flora and fauna.

[3] Corner Inlet lies within the traditional lands of the Brataolong clan of the Gunai nation.

In the early 1840s, European settlers moved into the area and established agricultural, mining and forestry enterprises.

[3] Some 720 square kilometres (280 sq mi) of land and water covering Corner Inlet has been recognised by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area.

Containing the most extensive intertidal mudflats in Victoria, it supports over 1% of the world populations of chestnut teal, Far Eastern curlew, red-necked stint, pied and sooty oystercatchers and the hooded plover.