Gippsland
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near Lakes Entrance |
Scenic drives:
- Gourmet Deli Country:
Phillip Island - Drouin - Noojee - Trafalgar
- Walhalla & Mountain Rivers Trail: Moe to Traralgon via Erica, Rawson,
Walhalla & Tyers 80km, 1.8hrs
- Grand Ridge Road: 134km 5-6hrs, some unsealed roads - south of Warragul to
Tarra-Bulga National Park
- Power Trail: 80min around Morwell
- Wildlife Coast Nature Trail: 300km Sale - Yarram - Foster - Wilson's Prom
- High Country Adventure: Warragul - Piedmont - Mt Baw Baw - Moe - Traralgon
- Walhalla - Traralgon - Heyfield - Maffra
- Gippsland Lakes
- Cape Conran Coastal Drive
- Snowy River Country Trail
Rail trails:
- old railway lines converted for use by walkers or cyclists
- Bruthen
- Stony Creek Bridge
- Erica to Thomson
- Kilcunda trestle bridge
- Boolarra to Mirboo Nth
- Great Southern Rail Trail - Leongatha
- coastal from Anderson to Wonthaggi
West:
- Westernport Bay:
- Phillip Island:
- very nice beaches for both family & surf
- Fairy Penguin parades each night - one of Victoria's major tourist
attractions
- The Nobbies seal viewing resort
- Wildlife park
- Visit Phillip Island
- French Island:
- 18x12km relatively flat, isolated island with very few visitors
- no cars, no sealed roads, no electricity but it has:
- catch the ferry
to the island
-
- Mornington Peninsula
Princes
Highway route to Sydney:
- Drouin:
- bypassed by Freeway; pop. 4500; 97km from Melbourne;
- turn off to Mt Baw Baw snowfields before
reaching Drouin
- Warragul:
- pop 9000; 103km east of Melbourne
- Yarragon:
- pop. 700; 115km from Melbourne; Yarragon
website
- initially known as Waterloo, once a booming timber industry &
swampland, and survives despite devastating floods in 1934 and the Black
Friday bushfires in 1939.
- Trafalgar:
- pretty town on the Freeway nestled at foot of Strzelecki Ranges 121km
from Melbourne; pop 2200;
- fruits, berries, gourmet jams, olives, smoked meats; breads
- Battle of Trafalgar Festival in October
- Moe:
- bypassed by Freeway; 134km from Melbourne; pop. 16300;
- Gippsland Heritage Park - 1840-50's village
- Yallourn North:
- pop 1200; 10km northeast of Moe;
- site of the discovery of Gippsland's brown coal in 1889
- Old Brown Coal Mine Museum
- Morwell:
- last town bypassed by Freeway which then ends; pop. 14700; 150km from
Melbourne;
- PowerWorks tours of open cut coal mine & power plants which
generate 80% of Victoria's power;
- Morwell National Park - unique area of remnant forest in northern
foothills of Strzelecki Ranges;
- Traralgon:
- pop 19000; 164km from Melbourne;
- Yallourn coal power stations
- Tarra-Bulga National Park to the south
- within the Strzelecki Mountain Range, this tiny pocket of
untainted, timeless, rain forest is all that remains of a once
magnificent forest of treefern & thousand year old myrtle beech,
towering mountain ash that once covered the entire range.
- short walks to a suspension bridge & Cyathea waterfall
- very good picnicking facilities
- Tyers:
- rural town with pop. 270, 10km north of Traralgon
- Wirilda Environmental Park
- Moondarra Reservoir
- Peterson's Lookout over Tyers River Gorge
- Tyer's art show each November
- route to Walhalla historic township (48km
north of Traralgon)
- Heyfield:
- pop 1600; 42km northeast of Traralgon;
- largest hardwood sawmill in southern hemisphere;
- nearby Glenmaggie Weir
- Sale:
- pop. 14,000; 20min from surf of the 90 mile beach; 40min from the High
Country; 212km from Melbourne;
- popular petrol stop en route back from Merimbula;
- settled after explorer Strzelecki passed through in 1840
- Sale grew on the back of the gold rush in Omeo, Stringers Creek &
Crooked River in the 19thC, becoming established as a busy port for
steamers to Port Albert when the cutting of the Sale Canal in 1888
linked the Thomson River, and during the 1880's the swing bridge
operated 20 times a day to allow larger vessels to dock in the heart of
Sale.
- Sale Powder Magazine built in 1864 to store explosive powders used in
the gold industry is now restored.
- It became Gippsland's 1st city in 1950;
- it is a transfer base for the off-shore oil rigs in Bass Strait &
the home of the RAAF air base;
- Lake Wellington & Gippsland lakes to its east
- Holey Plains State Park to the south-west - camping & picnic
facilities
- Omega Navigation Facility - massive 427m tower - one of eight in the
world which link up to provide world-wide communications system for
navigation
- Stratford on Avon:
- small town on the Avon River with a Shakespearean theme & annual
festival in April
- pop 1300; 228km from Melbourne;
- Bairnsdale:
- gateway to Paynesville, Metung,
Lakes Entrance and the Gippsland Lakes and the infamous
Bairnsdale ulcer endemic mycobacterial infection
- usually a good spot to get relatively cheap petrol en route to
Merimbula as it costs more
further east
- if travelling further east, can take the Omeo Hway to Bruthen
then rejoin Princes Hway at Nowa Nowa and thus bypass the busy section
through Lakes Entrance. This also is the route to the Buchan
limestone caves.
- accommodation:
- Orbost:
- 380km from Melbourne bypassed by highway; forest logging region
- can take remote turn off north along the Bonang Hway to join the
Monaro Hway in NSW and travel to Bombala (unsealed)
- can take the Snowy River Country
Trail north into the alpine region
- approx. 14km to the mouth of the Snowy River and Marlo
and then along the coast to Cape Conran
- turn off southwards 23km to a lovely little town called Bemm
River on the Sydenham Inlet
- accommodation:
- Cann River:
- good spot for toilet stop & light meal en route to Merimbula; forest logging region
- can take remote turn off north along the Cann Valley to Delegate and
then to Bombala in NSW (unsealed)
- a central spot to access the Croajingalong
National Park to the south and east
- accommodation:
- three 2-3 star motels on the highway ~$80-100/n
- Genoa:
- highway from Cann River to Genoa has no overtaking lanes and
overtaking may not be possible, one should assume an average speed of
85-90kph is likely here as caravans can be a problem
- remote camping, fishing, bushwalking destination and turn off to Mallacoota
and the eastern part of the Croajingalong
National Park
- then to the very popular fishing/surf resort town of Merimbula
which is some 580km (6hr drive off-peak) from Pakenham on Melbourne's
outskirts (1hr in light traffic from Tullamarine airport) and the Sapphire
Coast in NSW
North:
- see also Warburton & surrounds
- Mt Baw Baw & Baw Baw National Park:
- see also Snow Skiing Resorts
- closest downhill snow fields to Melbourne 160km or 2.5hrs
- access via either:
- turn off on Princes Hway before Drouin
- Warburton Hway & turn off at Yarra Junction, then to
Powelltown then Noojee
- from Traralgon or Moe
- Mt Baw Baw website or
phone resort management ph: 5165 1136 or Vic Snow Report on 1902 240 523
- road conditions ph: 1300 651 136
- stop for coffee or snow
chain hire at either Noojee, Tanjil Bren or Icy Creek
- parking ($26/day) is next to the toboggan slopes & the village and
over-snow transport is not required
- luggage is transported to accommodation by snow machine
- the ski/snowboard slopes are a short walk from the car park
- Noojee:
- pop. 140; 40km north of Warragul near banks of the Latrobe River;
Festival in Forest in Feb;
- historic Noojee trestle bridge:
- in use 1919 - 1954 when the line to Warragul was closed
- Toorongo Falls (1.8km 1hr round walk) and Ampitheatre Falls
- Walhalla & Thomson River:
- historic gold mining region
- Long Tunnel Extended Mine tours - one of Vic's richest gold mines -
13.7 tonnes of gold from only 8.5km of tunnel - mine closed in
1911.
- steam train to view the spectacular scenery as it winds from Thomson
Station
- Walhalla website
- accommodation:
- Macalister River & Lake Glenmaggie:
- trout fishing
- township of Glenmaggie was flooded in 1920's to form Lake Glenmaggie
- Avon Mt Hedrick scenic area - 5700ha reserve for bushwalking,
horse-riding, fishing, etc
- alpine road to:
- Avon Wilderness Park
- Licola - former milling town, camping/accommodation, superb
sub-alpine scenery;
- Lake Tali Karng - popular walking destination since
1880's; this 'hidden' lake was formed 1500yrs ago by an enormous
landslide in the Valley of Destruction. It is the only permanent
deep highland lake not formed by glacial or volcanic processes.
- Alpine National Park:
- once there by road, a 7.5km return walk to Bryces Gorge
& waterfalls
- thence to Jamiesson near Lake Eildon
- Dargo High Plains:
- Stratford on the Avon River - gemstone hunting, trout fishing,
gold fossicking
- Briagolong / Wombat Valley - B&B's
- the Blue Pool swimming hole & old gold mine
- Mitchell River National park
- Dargo - fishing, bushwalking, horse rides
- accommodation:
- Dargo Miners Cottage 2BR, wood fire; close to river; pets
welcome; ph: 5140 1251
- high country rustic farm property 1BR, mag. views; pets OK;
ph: 5140 1322
- unsealed summer only road across the Dargo High Plains to Mt Hotham
& Bright
- Dargo High Plains are 1200-1500m above sea level & was 1st crossed
by miners travelling to the gold diggings, and when mining stopped in
the early 1900's, the area was used for cattle grazing in summer.
- Spring is the best time to explore as wildflowers are in bloom &
views are particularly clear.
- Snowy River Country Trail:
- a looping 284km trail from Marlo, through Orbost and Buchan then to
Wulgulmerang 56km north of Buchan, and back via McKillop's Bridge,
Tubut, Bonang and Goongerah
- plenty of opportunities for adventure with horse riding, white water
rafting, canoeing, fishing, 4WD and tours of the limestone caves at Buchan
- many side trips including:
- 70km round trip to Raymond Creek Falls in the Snowy River National
Park just east of Buchan - 20-30min walking trail to the falls where
there is a 20m fall into a deep clear pool.
- Buchan Caves
- Suggan Buggan near the NSW border via the Snowy River Rd from
Wulgulmerang
- Little River Gorge is Victoria's deepest gorge and has a cliff-top
lookout downstream from the Little River Falls which are 600m high!
- Errinundra National Park:
- the largest remaining stand of coll temperate rainforest in
Victoria as well as an ancient tall wet eucalypt forest.
- turn off between Bonang & Goongerah, some 90km north of
Orbost
- Martins Creek Flora Reserve where the warm temperature rainforest
is rich with mosses, ferns & vines.
South:
- Korrumburra:
- Coal Creek Tourist Park
- accommodation:
- Hill End B&B - country cottage, views, private spa, 20min
beach, pets OK ph: 1800 632 648
- Wonthaggi / Cape Patterson:
- surf beaches with a safe picturesque family beach at Cape Patterson
- accommodation:
- beachfront homes see PBE
Real Estate
- Cape Escape 2BR cottage on 5 acres in rural setting 5 min to beach
ph: 9899 0824
- Inverloch:
- increasingly popular family beach
- accommodation:
- beachfront homes see PBE
Real Estate
- apartments: Reefs / Sails
/ 'Beachside' ph 0412 548 165
- cabins: Inverloch cabins 2BR ph: 5674 1217
- Venus Bay:
- alternative surf beach destination
- accommodation:
- Walkerville:
- situated on a south-east aspect ocean bay overlooking Wilson's Prom
with nice beaches & historic sites
- Wilson's Promontory:
- Foster:
- Port Albert:
- the original gateway to Gippsland during the gold rush
- fishing town
- 90 mile beach:
- 90 mile beach website
- Australia's longest stretch of unbroken sand beach
- Loch Sport
- Seaspray
- Golden Beach
- Paradise Beach
- real estate:
- Paynesville:
- 18km south of Bairnsdale, on the north shore of Lake Victoria and
west of Lake King
- accommodation:
- Metung:
- Metung is a quiet lakeside fishing village on a narrow peninsula to the west of Lakes Entrance, situated on the north shore of
Lake King
- can watch sunset or sunrise over the water from here
- accommodation:
- Lakes Entrance:
- 3.5hrs drive from Melbourne
- popular beach/fishing destination at ocean entrance of the Gippsland
Lakes
- accommodation:
- Holiday Makers
- Sherwood Lodge Motor Inn - $100-175/n dbl; ph: see on wotif
- apartments:
- Anchorage Units
1-2BR, pool, BBQ, town centre, quiet, beach;
- Bream Lodge 2BR
- Sun ' n'
Shore 2-3BR 3only; 50m shops, beach
- Sandpiper
1-3BR, pool, bbq, indoor spa, private garden setting
- Deja Vu Boutique B&B
- adults only; 6 suites; water views; ph: 5155 4330
- cabins:
- Lazy Acre tranquil, near
beach/shops; 1-3BR; pool/spa; playground; BBQ; see wotif
- cottages:
- Tambo Lodge 6 acre
gardens, pool, tennis, close to Metung/Lakes Entrance
- Kalimna Woods
rainforest setting; spas; wood fires
- houses:
- Lake Tyers:
- Lake Tyers is a coastal town on an estuary some 11km to the east of
lakes Entrance
- accommodation:
- The Lakes Beachfront Holiday Retreat ph: 5156 5582
East:
- Bruthen:
- on the Omeo Hway (which continues north to Omeo) and the Tambo River
- a popular shortcut to bypass Lakes Entrance
as well as the route to Buchan
-
- Buchan:
- between Lakes Entrance and Orbost and approx. 50km north of highway ,
take the Bruthen route & then the turn off before Nowa Nowa
- Buchan Caves:
- limestone caves from limestone belt deposited 350-400
million years ago
- daily tours except Xmas Day; ph: 13 1963
- road then roughly follows the Snowy River & the Snowy River
National Park northwards to the Snowy Mountains in NSW and Jindabyne and
forms the Snowy River Country Trail
- accommodation:
- Buchan Valley Log
Cabins - 2 cottages with panoramic views, tennis, adjacent
Buchan Caves ph: 5155 9494
- Buchan Caves - campground & log cabins ph: 13 1963
- Buchan Motel - 7 acres; spectacular views; ph: 5155 9201
- Marlo:
- coastal town at the inlet of the Snowy River 14km south of h'way just
past Orbost
- accommodation:
- AA Homes - large
waterfront house, great view & fishing
- Tabbara Lodge apartment - bbq, pool, hot spa ph: 5154 8231
- Marlo Caravan Park & Motel ph: 5154 8226
- Marlo Ocean Views Caravan & Camping Park ph: 5154 8268
- Cape Conran (18km east of Marlo; stunning beaches; Yeerung
River fishing;)
- Cape Conran cabins, camping - ph: 5154 8438
- Bemm River:
- small bayside town on the Sydenham Inlet, 23km southeast of the
Princes Hway between Orbost & Cann River
- Bemm River Holiday Lodge & Boat Hire - email: bemmriverholidaylodge@net-tech.com.au
- Croajingalong National Park:
- a spectacular coastal
rainforest running from the Sydenham Inlet to Cape Howe
- listed
since 1977 as a World Biosphere Reserve.
- best of the park:
- Tamboon Inlet of the Cann River - boating, swimming,
camping, bird-watching
- walk to the mysterious Clinton Rocks area where giant granite
boulders covered in bright orange lichen line the coast - but
you will need to boat up the river & cross the inlet to the
beach as there are no vehicle access points
- Thurra River:
- Dunes Walk - 2nd highest sand dunes in southern hemisphere
rising 150m
- Mt Everard Lookout
- Thurra River camping ground
- Point Hicks Lighthouse
- 50min from Cann River; remote lighthouse & camping ground,
accommodation ph: 51584268
- Wingan Inlet:
- Lake Elusive Walk - tranquil spot with orchids & dazzling
wild flowers in spring & summer
- Wingan Rapids Walk - a delightfully cool spot on a hot
summer's day
- Wingan Nature Walk - easy walk includes boardwalks through
changing vegetation & birdlife as you approach the sea.
- Shipwreck Creek:
- remote sandy beaches, heathlands and inland, cool eucalypt
forests
- Genoa Peak:
- Mallacoota:
- see Mallacoota website
- 22km south from Genoa & sited at the ocean outlet of the Genoa
River
- surrounded by the Croajingalong
National Park
- not far from Cape Howe, the most easterly part of Victoria and Gabo
Island
- Easter: Festival of the Southern Ocean and Iron Man event
- accommodation:
- Banksia Mudbrick holiday flats ph: 5158 0044
- Adobe mudbrick
flats 1-3BR, 78acres rainforest; panoramic views lake, ocean,
mountains; wood fire; birds
- Melaleuca Grove 2BR units ph: 5158 0407
- Mallacoota houseboats 6 berth; ph: 5158 0775 9am-6pm M-F
- Blue Waters 4x1BR cottages; lake views; private deck; bbq; ph: 5158
0261
- Karbeethong Lodge
- 11BR historic guest house on waterfront with spectacular views.
ph: 5158 0411
- Mallacoota Hotel Motel - 20 units; ph: 5158 0455
- Mallacoota Motor
Inn - $75-99/n; ph: 5158 0544
- Shady Gully Caravan
Park - cabins, pool; ph: 5158 0362
- Mallacoota Foreshore Camp Park - 70 acres; onsite vans; 600 camp
sites; 250m to town; ph: 5158 0300
- A'Wangralea Caravan Park - cabins; ph: 5158 0222
- Grevillea Grove
Apartments - 1-2BR; ph: 5158 0223
- Gipsy Point inland from Mallacoota on the Genoa River before it
becomes estuary lakes: