We decided to go on a two- to three-day trip for the long weekend. Since we couldn’t find accommodation in Lake Entrance, we settled on Loch Sport, and it turned out to be quite nice in the surrounding areas. Loch Sport is relatively lesser-known, and you can reach it in a little over two hours from Melbourne.
Best Things to Do near Gippsland
Lakes Entrance
Lakes Entrance is probably the most renowned travel destination in Gippsland. You can take a leisurely walk along the long sandy beach, soak up the sun, and even go crabbing.
Sodafish is a restaurant on a boat with fresh ingredients and good flavours. It’s a unique experience, and there’s also a Chinese restaurant called Floating Dragon that offers something similar.
For brunch, you can choose Albert & Co! The decor is super stylish, and it’s a reliable choice for delicious food : )
Sale
We used to find Sale quite boring until we visited the Gippsland Art Gallery in the town. The library and art gallery are connected, and the collections are quite interesting. The interior design of the entire building is fantastic.
Through the glass, you can see the beautiful lake view. It’s super scenic.
You can also take the Port Of Sale Heritage Cruises, and taking a boat ride is quite enjoyable. The mornings and sunsets are beautiful.
Miner Lookout
The open-pit coal mine is truly spectacular, and there are many cows on the farm at the entrance. You might want to allocate about 15-20 minutes here. There are no restroom facilities.
The Lakes National Park
We went to the Lakes National Park, which is quite large, with scattered points of interest. Our favourite was the Natural Walk, which passes through a picturesque wetland-like area. There are many campsites that look nice, but here’s an important note: the road conditions are quite poor, so it’s suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Paynesville
Paynesville is a town that’s almost a two-hour drive from Loch Sport but still worth it. The highlight here is Raymond Island, where you can find plenty of koalas on the Koala Trail. We walked for over half an hour and saw more than a dozen of them. To get to this small island, there’s a ferry that runs every 20 minutes. Pedestrians are free, and it costs around $15 for a vehicle.
Raymond Island
This island is home to numerous koalas and wildlife, and the scenery is beautiful. It’s perfect for taking a stroll. If you love small animals and hiking, this is a must-visit!
You can reach it by taking a ferry from Paynesville.