Overview
Set sail into Gippsland's vast expanse of lakes and rivers to explore stunning coastal parks, secluded beaches and mountain streams just perfect for a spot of fishing. Stop in at portside towns and take advantage of the excellent pubs, restaurants, picnic facilities, public jetties and marinas on offer.
Boating options
Bring your own boat and you'll be set with launching ramps, public jetties and boat storage. Some accommodation businesses (including Bellevue, Captain's Cove, Edgewater Terraces, The Moorings, HolidayMakers and McMillans) offer private jetty mooring for their guests.
Sans boat? Try one of the many charter yachts, cruisers or day boats in the region, or sign up for a day cruise.
Must-see destinations
Embarking on a Gippsland Lakes boat journey will allow you to enjoy the scenery of these stunning waterways at a more leisurely pace.
Cruise the Tambo, Mitchell and Nicholson Rivers and on your travels pick the perfect fishing spot. The cliff areas of the Tambo and Mitchell are particularly picturesque. Meet local boaties at Barrier Landing, a thin strip of dune separating the Hopetoun Channel from Bass Strait. On the Channel side, discover a large public jetty and a good beach, and take a two-minute walk to Ninety Mile Beach. Steer into the recently redeveloped historic Port of Sale and enjoy cultural entertainment and quality restaurants along the marina.
Rotamah Island and Sperm Whale Head, part of the Lakes National Park, have public jetties, barbecues and walking tracks and an abundance of birdlife and native animals. Look out for the Bunga Arm, which runs east-west and boasts spectacular sunsets. For the length of the Bunga Arm, the ocean beach is a sand dune away.
McLennans Straits, connecting Lakes Victoria and Wellington, is a gently flowing channel with vast wetlands, outstanding bird life and good fishing. Boxes Creek, close to Metung and Duck Arm near Paynesville, offer all-weather moorings in idyllic settings.
The Mallacoota Inlet further down the coast offers a serene environment for boating with plenty of secluded getaway spots. Kick back and relax on one of several cruises on the Mallacoota Inlet or hire a boat and go exploring on your own.
