Gippsland Guides Attractions Events in Victoria

Head to Bairnsdale at any time of year and be rewarded with a busy regional centre from which to explore the vast Gippsland Lakes and spectacular Ninety Mile Beach, or the alpine highlights of Omeo, Dinner Plain and Mount Hotham.

The commercial centre for the local wool, dairy, agricultural and timber industries has plentiful accommodation and a wide range of shops and services. Wander around town on a self-guided heritage walk and explore local art galleries, museums, craft and antique shops. Visit the National Trust classified St Mary’s Catholic Church in Main Street with its unique murals and painted ceilings.

Bairnsdale is the best spot to stock up on outdoor, surfing, camping and fishing equipment. When you’ve got your gear, fish on the Mitchell River or nearby lakes and rivers. Take a walk through the Mitchell River National Park and visit the Den of Nargun. According to Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, the Nargun was a half-stone, half-human female creature with the power to repel and turn back spears and stones. You can also tour the Bataluk Cultural Trail and discover elements of Koorie history and culture or visit the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place to view artefacts and history on the Gunai/Kurnai people of East Gippsland.

Pick up a brochure from the local visitor information centre and drive along the Twin Rivers Food and Wine Trail, or cycle along the East Gippsland Rail Trail from Bairnsdale to Nowa Nowa. Bairnsdale is also a good starting point for the Great Alpine Road.

Popular local events include the Bairnsdale Country Music Festival in March and the Bairnsdale Cup in September.

Bairnsdale is three hours east of Melbourne along the Princes Highway.

Pack the sails and hit Inverloch's protected waters and make sure you grab the binoculars for a spot of bird watching in one of Victoria's most popular estuaries.

This pretty seaside town on the spectacular Gippsland coastline offers a convenient array of accommodation and boat launching facilities and is perfect for water-based activities like swimming or surfing. Anderson Inlet is a haven for wind surfers. The shallow estuary is constantly changing and at low tide its sandy bottom is exposed and many species of waterbirds line the shores.

Visit the excellent Bunurong Environment Centre, which interprets the natural surroundings, including the shells and dinosaur diggings of the area.

Various boardwalks and tracks provide tranquil places for shorter and longer strolls or bushwalks and hiking activities. Drive the Bunurong Coastal Drive to Cape Paterson and back for some awe-inspiring coastal photo opportunities.

Look out for Eagles Nest, a large rock structure adjacent to the coastline that resembles the top half of a map of Australia.

The large resident population ensures that most services and facilities are provided in and around the busy retail centre, while accommodation ranges from campsites to cabins, bed and breakfasts and resort style venues.

Inverloch is less than two hours from Melbourne. Travel along the South Gippsland Highway from Melbourne, turning onto the Bass Highway to follow the road through Grantville, Bass, Kilcunda and Wonthaggi before reaching Inverloch.

A much loved Victorian holiday spot, Lakes Entrance enjoys a spectacular position on the edge of Ninety Mile Beach where the Gippsland Lakes meet the Southern Ocean.

Relax in the easy seaside charm of the town or head to the waters for a myriad of activities. You can take it easy and enjoy a boat cruise on the Gippsland Lakes, the largest inland network of waterways in Australia, or get more active and hire a paddleboat or catamaran in the summer months.

Cross the footbridge to the popular Ninety Mile Beach surf beach, which is patrolled by lifesavers in summer, or take a hike to the entrance of the Lakes. Head to Jemmy’s Point Lookout for sweeping views of the town, lakes and the entrance.

Spoil yourself with a cruise aboard the Corque winery boat and savour tastings, lunch or dinner at Wyanga Park Winery. You can also catch your own fish or visit fresh seafood shops. Lakes Entrance is renowned for its seafood due to the large number of fishing trawlers operating in the area.

Make Lakes Entrance your base as you explore the historic Nyerimilang Homestead and Park and the beautiful Lake Tyers Township and the Lake Tyers Forest Park.

Play a round of golf at either one of the golf courses or, if 18 holes is not your style, try your hand at one of the mini golf parks.

Lakes Entrance is approximately four hours from Melbourne along the Princes Highway. It is serviced daily by rail to Bairnsdale and then coach to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne. Public transport is available from Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance.

Tucked away on a beautiful inlet in far-east Gippsland is Mallacoota, a popular year-round coastal destination that enjoys Victoria's warmest winter temperatures and cool ocean breezes in summer. Explore the magnificent wilderness of the Croajingolong National Park or watch the sun set over pristine coastline.

This pretty coastal town is a great escape. The best ways to explore the Top Lake, Bottom Lake, the inlets, cliffs and beaches are by water. Take a cruise and see Mallacoota Inlet with a local expert or paddle a canoe up the Genoa or Wallagaraugh rivers to Gipsy Point, a beautiful peninsula jutting into the top lake of the Mallacoota Inlet and home to a large mob of kangaroos. You can even hire a boat and spend a day fishing for bream in the Inlet, a popular local pastime.

Over 500 kilometres east of Melbourne you'll find an unspoilt coast, from the popular and patrolled Betka Beach and the rugged Quarry Beach where you can snorkel among the rocks, to the peaceful Secret Beach.

Don't miss your chance to explore the diverse landscapes in the Croajingolong National Park – from pure white sandy beaches to granite peaks and heathland. Visit Gabo Island Lightstation Reserve, home to a host of seabirds and one of the world's largest colonies of Little Penguins. Access is possible by boat or air and you can even stay overnight in the lighthouse keeper's cottage.

For a dose of style in the Gippsland Lakes, make your way to Metung. A great base for water sports enthusiasts, this tiny town features fine food and wine and a popular Sculpture Gallery.

The nearby Gippsland Lakes and sandy beaches mean there is over 400 square kilometres of water to explore. The village has a decidedly waterfront air and its compact size means you can enjoy leisurely walks along the water's edge to see docked yachts and cruisers, as well as the many quaint wooden boats.

Fish for flathead, mulloway and bream in Bancroft Bay, off Shaving Point and local jetties. If you'd prefer someone else to catch your meal, head to one of the harbourside restaurants for high quality local food and wine.

Visit the shores of Bancroft Bay, where there is a large rock known to the indigenous population as the Wallung. Part of the Batatuk Cultural Trail, the rock is the subject of a variety of stories that you can discover at the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place in Bairnsdale.

Metung is about four hours' drive from Melbourne just near Lakes Entrance, off the Princes Highway from Swan Reach. You can explore the Tambo River, the Colquhoun State Forest, the Mitchell River National Park as well as Fairy Dell, Lake Bunga and the Den of Nargen.

Omeo, a pioneering mountain town on the Great Alpine Road is a great base from which to discover more about the history of the high country, gold rush and cattlemen, or to make the most of Victoria's top snow resorts.

Known for its gold mining history, Omeo is also the place to get back to nature. Go white water rafting on the Mitta Mitta River, where you can fish for trout. You can also drop a line in the Cobungra River. Take a walk over the Bogong High Plains and spot majestic spring wildflowers. Just outside the town on the Great Alpine Road you can take in panoramic views of the Victorian alps and surrounding countryside at the Kosciusko Lookout.

In winter, spend a day cross-country skiing at nearby Dinner Plain. Mount Hotham and its magnificent downhill runs is just 40 minutes away, so you can combine world class skiing and snowboarding with your visit to one of Victoria's most well-preserved historic towns.

For a first hand glimpse of the town's renowned historic buildings, visit the A.M. Pearson Historical Park to see the original courthouse (1865), post office (1890s), log gaol (1858), blacksmith shop, stables and waterwheel.

If the 5.5 hour drive from Melbourne along the Princes and Omeo highways isn't enough, you can get closer to nature and go four-wheel driving along the 17-kilometre Knocker Track.

Visit Omeo at Easter time for a weekend of equine activity, with the Omeo Rodeo and the Geebung Polo match both taking place.

Take to the water in Paynesville, a charming village on the Gippsland Lakes interspersed with canals and inlets. Enjoy waterside walks, fishing, waterskiing and yachting on the lakes or coffee and cake by the water.

Paynesville is a popular destination with water sport enthusiasts who ski, sail, surf and fish on waters that are also home to flocks of water birds. Its canals and inlets offer plenty of sheltered moorings for yachts and cruisers that give the town its distinctive maritime feel and boating reputation.

Hit the waterways, hire a boat and explore, or take the free car and passenger ferry to Raymond Island, just a few minutes by ferry across the McMillan Strait. Spot koalas and 60 bird species as well as many ground orchids and wildflowers. For bird watching take a boat over to Rottamah Island Bird Observatory or spot some of the 140 species of native birds in the Lakes National Park.

Explore the Mitchell River silt jetties, second only in size to the immense silt jetties of the Mississippi River. There are good views from Eagle Point Bluff and a vehicle track that provides a closer view and leads to some fine fishing spots. Catch your fill of black bream and mullet or watch for dolphins playing in the water.

Soak up the charm of the village with a walk around the Newlands Arm walking track that follows the lake shore or visit the Paynesville Community Craft Centre, which showcases local artists’ work.

Paynesville is approximately three hours from Melbourne via the Princes Highway.

Retreat to the coastal town of Port Albert, Victoria's first established port and a renowned historic fishing village. Port Albert boasts Georgian and Victorian architecture and offers a variety of new accommodation options.

The quaint village is off the beaten track and more than 40 historic buildings still exist. Recent development in Port Albert has seen the opening of quality bed and breakfast and holiday accommodation.

Don't miss a meal of the famous local fish and chips, perhaps with a drink at the oldest continually licensed hotel in Victoria. Port Albert still operates as a commercial fishing port and has a reputation for recreational fishing, which sees its population swell considerably during summer.

Port Albert is the original gateway to Gippsland. It was the supply port for Gippsland's pioneers until the completion of the Melbourne-Sale railway in the late 1800s. It has berthed ships from Europe and America and welcomed thousands of Chinese on their way to the goldfields. Visit the Port Albert Maritime Museum to see artefacts like the cannon from the wreck of the Clonmell, navigational aids, charts and equipment, an extensive shell collection and a heritage exhibit portraying Port Albert's role in the Gippsland goldfields.

Find out more about Port Albert by following the Old Port Walking Trail, or soak up the fresh air with scenic boat tours, fishing trips and bird watching.

Port Albert is just over three hours from Melbourne along the South Gippsland Highway, via Korumburra, Leongatha, Foster and Welshpool.

Set sail from Sale to explore the entire Gippsland Lakes and get your fill of fresh air and outdoor activities before heading back to the Port of Sale for the café culture of a major regional hub.

The westernmost port in the Gippsland Lakes is central to Gippsland's countryside and beaches and offers many accommodation options. The traditionally prosperous city continues to flourish thanks to the offshore oil and gas fields of Bass Strait. The newly redeveloped Port of Sale precinct features a myriad of cafes and restaurants. The renowned Gippsland Art Gallery is also based in Sale.

From Sale you can explore the breathtaking high country areas of Dargo and Licola and the spectacular ocean wilderness of Ninety Mile Beach Coastal Park and Marine National Park.

Discover the bird life at the Sale Common, a Ramsar Convention internationally accredited wetland. Journey on to historic Port Albert, Victoria's oldest port, or the numerous villages and towns of the area including Yarram, with its historic buildings. Don't miss a chance to see the lush rainforests of nearby Tarra Bulga National Park.

Head to Sale from Melbourne on the Princes Highway (2.5 hours) or take the scenic route via the South Gippsland Highway (A440). Daily rail and coach services run from Melbourne.

Whether it’s a thriving regional centre you are seeking or a base for a whole host of nature based activities, Traralgon has plenty to offer.

The Gippsland town was a resting place for drovers during the gold rush, and today has grown to service the surrounding energy, agricultural, pastoral, papermaking and timber industries. Visitors now find it the perfect base for exploring the nearby Strzelecki Ranges and cool temperate rainforests of the Tarra Bulga National Park.

Another boon for visitors is Traralgon's standing as the entertainment capital of the Latrobe Valley. Enjoy alfresco dining and great shopping by day and excellent pubs and clubs by night. Sidewalk cafes, restaurants and shopping arcades mark the commercial centre of Traralgon and there is also a string of bars, pubs and clubs in the town hosting an array of live bands and entertainment. You can even take in a musical or comedy act at the Latrobe Performing Arts Centre.

A favourite destination for picnickers is Victory Park with its marble sculpture Lars Compatalis, historic band rotunda and beautiful gardens. A stroll over the creek along the footbridge leads to Newman Park featuring a huge adventure playground including miniature train rides operating on the fourth Sunday of every month.

Try your hand at a round of golf at Traralgon Golf Club or visit the Zanella Estate winery. For the more adventurous, visit the Latrobe Regional Airport to experience the thrill of sky diving and gliding or a scenic flight over the Gippsland region. Take a guided tour of the Loy Yang Open Cut Mine and Power Station south-east of Traralgon, one of Australia’s largest engineering projects.

Traralgon is approximately two hours' drive from Melbourne on the Princes Highway.

Travel just 2.5 hours from Melbourne and step back into another time. Discover a tiny township that was once one of Australia’s richest towns and is now home to around 20 residents who enjoy a lovingly restored historic centre near alpine wilderness.

Following the discovery of one of the largest gold reefs ever found in Australia in 1863, Walhalla experienced a typical gold rush boom. The profitable Long Tunnel Mine operated between 1865 and 1914. Today you can explore the mine and even pan for gold. Find out more about Walhalla's golden years with a ride on the restored Walhalla Goldfields Railway, the Walhalla Transport Co horse and carriage, or the exciting Copper Mine Adventure four-wheel drive tour.

During most of the 20th century Walhalla was virtually frozen in time; electricity was only connected in 1998. After nearly becoming a ghost town, many of its buildings and services have been restored to offer historic attractions and a range of accommodation, tours, shops and eateries.

Follow the historic town walk signs to discover the history of Walhalla. See the Corner Store and Museum, the Old Fire Station, the Mountaineer Brass Band Rotunda, the Mechanics Institute, the Bank Vault, the local Post and Telegraph Office, St Johns Church and the hillside cemetery with its vertical graves.

Immerse yourself in the great outdoors and go horse riding, climbing or hiking in nearby national parks. Drop a line in a clear mountain stream or explore the scenic trails along the Thomson River. Hit the slopes at nearby Mt St Gwinear or Mt Baw Baw for some cross-country or downhill skiing in serene surrounds.

Walhalla is 182 kilometres east of Melbourne and is 45 kilometres north of Traralgon and Moe via a sealed road.

Step back to Victoria's mining past at Wonthaggi, home to Victoria's only winnable underground black coal, and soak up the great outdoors and sweeping coastal views.

A town built on black coal reserves, Wonthaggi was used by the Victorian Government in response to the disastrous New South Wales coal strikes at the turn of the century. Discover more about the tough nature of mining history by following the heritage walk around the mine site, exploring historic buildings housing photographs from the past and mining remnants. Tours and interpretation points show a town that was controlled by the mine whistle, which is still heard at noon every day.

Wonthaggi is also the starting point for the amazing 16 kilometre Bass Coast Rail Trail, Victoria's only coastal rail trail. This trail is best known for the trestle bridge at Kilcunda, which has a surf beach as its backdrop.

Keep your walking shoes on and explore the Wonthaggi Wetlands, the North School Wild Flowers Reserve, the Old Rescue Station and the State Coal Mine Above Ground Walk – all easy short walks with wheelchair access.

Discover the trails of Cape Paterson and the boardwalks and at nearby Kilcunda, home to the Old Kilcunda Rail Bridge, take in the spectacular views with a walk along the cliff tops on the George Bass Coastal Walk to San Remo.

Wonthaggi is less than two hours' drive from Melbourne. Travel along the South Gippsland Highway from Melbourne, turning onto the Bass Highway. Then follow the road through Grantville, Bass and Kilcunda before reaching Wonthaggi.

Nestled in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges and with views of green rolling hills, Yarragon is a charming country town with an abundance of shops, antiques and accommodation options.

Yarragon boasts one of Gippsland's leading antique stores and a fascinating gallery renowned for its quality original artwork, exquisite jewellery, beautiful hand blown glass and much more. Forage through the antique shops for old china or furnishings and be rewarded. Browse through the many gift shops in town that feature everything from soaps, candles, linen and lace to clothing, paint brushes and easels.

Local wines and produce are mouth-wateringly. Sample award winning cheeses from Tarago River and Jindi Cheese, or if you have more of a sweet tooth, visit the lolly shop to buy delicious sweets. Spend some time over Devonshire teas in a quaint tea room or enjoy a coffee in one of the local cafés.

Make the most of the nearby Strzelecki Ranges and take walks through dense mountain ash and wattle, and take a rest beside a bubbling stream. Head to the local trout farm to catch a delicious dinner.

Accommodation in and around Yarragon, just 80 minutes' drive east of Melbourne, is plentiful and ranges from motels to B&Bs, self-contained cottages, and country retreats.