Lakes Entrance

A holiday town where the Gippsland Lakes meet the Southern Ocean, with Ninety Mile Beach, lake cruises and the Buchan Caves nearby.

Lakes Entrance lies in East Gippsland Shire, Victoria, between the Gippsland Lakes and Bass Strait, beside a narrow strip of dunes. An artificial entrance cut in 1889 let the lake water reach the sea, which gave the town its name. It is one of Victoria's largest commercial fishing ports and a summer seaside getaway for Melburnians. The town centre spreads along the foreshore. Cross the footbridge to reach Ninety Mile Beach, and follow the entrance track to where the lake meets the sea. On the western hillside, the Jemmys Point lookout offers a panorama. The fishermen's co-op and the fish-and-chips shops by the wharf are not to be missed. Lake cruises let you see dolphins and stop at Metung for lunch.

Day trips nearby: to the west are Nyerimilang Heritage Park, Metung, Paynesville and Raymond Island, where you can see wild koalas. Also to the west are the Mitchell River silt jetties and the St Mary's Church mural in Bairnsdale. Further on is Nargun Cave in Mitchell River National Park. To the north, about 1 hour away, are the Buchan Caves. To the east are Lake Tyers and Cape Conran Coastal Park.

The best season is December–March, great for swimming, boat trips and seafood. Autumn has stable weather and fewer people. Winter is cool, but you can still visit the caves and see koalas. Accommodation is tight, and prices rise from Christmas to late January and over Easter.

Getting there: it is about 3.5–4 hours' drive from Melbourne along the Princes Highway. Alternatively, take a V/Line train to Bairnsdale and then a bus for about 40 minutes. Plan 2–3 days. The sights are spread out, so driving is most convenient. Surf can be big, so swim only in the patrolled flag areas, and watch for bushfire warnings in summer.

Top sights

• Ninety Mile Beach (Lakes Entrance) – One of Australia's longest unbroken beaches. A short walk over the footbridge from Lakes Entrance leads to it, with the Gippsland Lakes beh…
• Lakes Entrance Footbridge & Entrance Walk – A footbridge spanning Cunninghame Arm links the town and the beach. The eastern Entrance walking track runs along the dunes to the man-made…
• Gippsland Lakes Cruise – Lake cruises depart from the Lakes Entrance wharf, offering dolphin and pelican spotting, as well as trips to Metung or a winery for lunch…
• Raymond Island Koala Trail – A few minutes by free chain ferry from Paynesville, where wild koalas can be seen up close in the island's eucalyptus trees.
• Buchan Caves – Victoria's most famous limestone cave system. The stalactites in Fairy Cave and Royal Cave form dazzling layers, and entry is by guided tou…
• Jemmys Point Lookout – A lookout on the hillside west of town, with panoramic views of the Gippsland Lakes, the dunes of Ninety Mile Beach and the point where lak…
• Lakes Entrance Fishermen's Co-op – The fishermen's co-operative at one of Victoria's largest fishing ports, where you can buy the day's catch or eat fish and chips by the wha…
• Nyerimilang Heritage Park – A lakeside estate west of Lakes Entrance with 1930s farmhouse, gardens and cliff-top lookouts overlooking Lake King toward Raymond Island.
• Metung – A quiet holiday village on the shores of Lake King, with a marina, lakeside pubs and boardwalks, the most refined corner of the Gippsland L…
• Paynesville – The yachting capital of the Gippsland Lakes, with sailboats moored along the canals and ferries to Raymond Island, where you can see koalas.
• Mitchell River Silt Jetties – A narrow strip of land built up by sediment carried by the Mitchell River into Lake King, about 8 km long and one of the longest silt jetti…
• Lake Tyers & Lake Tyers Beach – A quiet lake and beach village east of Lakes Entrance, where a sandbar separates the lake from the ocean, good for kayaking, fishing and wa…
• Den of Nargun – A waterfall cave in Mitchell River National Park, where Gunaikurnai legend says the Nargun, a half-human, half-stone monster, lives.
• St Mary's Church, Bairnsdale – A Catholic church in the capital of East Gippsland, famous for murals and ceiling paintings by an Italian artist who worked there in the 19…
• Cape Conran Coastal Park – A wild coastline in East Gippsland, with red-brown rocky reefs, white-sand bays and Salmon Rocks, ideal for snorkelling, bushwalking and wi…

Where to eat

• Sodafish Floating Seafood Restaurant – Floating restaurant moored among the fishing boats at Middle Boat Harbour. The menu changes with the seasons and the ca…
• Fish-A-Fare Fish and Chips – A popular budget fish-and-chips takeaway on the Esplanade, with fresh scallops and calamari and generous portions.
• Funkey Monkey Café – Popular brunch café in Lakes Entrance, with praised eggs Benedict and freshly squeezed juice, busy with locals and visi…