The popular family holiday destination of Lakes Entrance, where the Gippsland Lakes meet the Southern Ocean in Victoria, has a host of ways to keep water lovers entertained, but that’s not all this town and region has to offer. Even with limited time, you can still enjoy some highlights of the region, from inland to the coast.

On and off the water you will find plenty to keep you busy and the seafood is sublime as you’d expect with a local fishing fleet, that distribute their catch via the co-op to local shops and restaurants as well as to the Melbourne Seafood Centre & Sydney Fish Market.

Some of the more popular species caught in the area are flathead, whiting, gummy shark, prawns, scallop, crabs, and octopus.

Day One:

Taking a scenic drive to Jemmys Point lookout, will give you an overview of Bass Strait, the entrance channel and part of the Gippsland lakes.  From there you can drive to Bullock Island, dolphin lookout and Reeve landing jetty for a closer look at the channel entrance.

Driving around the lake side of town on Marine Parade, you’ll see plenty of boats for hire, with everything from kayaks up to small cruisers that you can skipper for yourself, or if you’d prefer someone else to do the driving, Lakes Entrance has scenic cruises to take to see the waterways and local marine life.

If a dip or surf in the ocean is more your thing then the Cunninghame Arm footbridge links the town centre to the sand dunes of Ninety Mile beach, which is patrolled by lifesavers during the summer months.  Summer is also the time when everyone can enjoy fun times at Aqua Park, a course of inflatable platforms and slides that can be seen from the footbridge.

On the beachside of the bridge you’ll also find a great café with a quirky menu that’s worth the read while you’re choosing what to have for a snack or lunch.

For a really special meal and unique dining venue, head to Sodafish floating restaurant at Middle Boat Harbour on the Esplanade, for local caught fresh seafood and other locally sourced produce, prepared in simple but delicious ways. Downstairs at the venue is the more casual Crudo café where you can enjoy antipasto platters and pizzas while taking in the views of the waterway and fishing trawlers nearby.

Day two:

Take a drive of a little over 20 kilometres to the town of Nowa Nowa, a popular spot for cyclists to take a rail trail and other trails for walkers to enjoy including a short and easy lakeside sculpture walk, which enables you to enjoy a series of sculptures in the great outdoors.

The sculpture walk is a little over one kilometre long and is an easy stroll along the Nowa Nowa arm of Boggy Creek which meets up with Lake Tyers. The sculptures vary from stone to metal and there are carved seats to rest on which depict historical scenes of Nowa Nowa.

Afterwards take a drive a few kilometres out of town to see the Stony Creek Trestle Bridge, an original timber railway bridge which was built in 1916 and stands 20 metres high and 247 metres long, the largest bridge of its kind in Victoria.

It was built when the existing rail line from Melbourne to Bairnsdale was extended to the town of Orbost. Incredibly it was used up to 1988 when the last train crossed this red ironbark and grey box timber bridge.

From here take a drive to Lake Tyers Beach, known for its great swimming spots and you’ll also find a colourful mural on the local café, painted by artist Kaff-eine. The scene captures the essence of summer in Victoria and memories of seaside adventures.

Heading back to Lakes Entrance, park the car and take a walk along the Esplanade visiting the many small shops along the strip and make sure to include the Lakes Entrance shopping centre which features a vibrant mural by Italian born, Melbourne based artist Marco Pennacchia. 

The artist wanted to portray the town’s identity, environment and community and this beauty featuring a mermaid surrounded by dolphins, seals and jellyfish is the result.  The gentle and otherworldly scene celebrates the marine life of the area as well as reminding us of the ocean’s mystery.

While in Lakes Entrance we stayed at the NRMA Eastern Beach Holiday Resort which had spacious sites, a lovely camp kitchen with BBQ facilities and even pizza ovens to use.

Enjoy Lakes Entrance

Glenys