Tourism > Australia > Victoria > Lakes and Wilderness

Lakes and Wilderness Tourism

About the Lakes and Wilderness Region

The Lakes and Wilderness Region of Victoria, sometimes categorised as East Gippsland, is the area of the state stretching from Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance in the south to the NSW border in the north, and extending west to the Snowy River National Park.

Bairnsdale, about 285 km, north-east of Melbourne, is the region’s largest centre and the official starting point of the Great Alpine Road which winds across the Australian Alps. Bairnsdale is located on the river flats of the Mitchell River, near where river empties into Lake King, one of the largest of the network of coastal lakes, marshes and lagoons which occupies approximately 600 km sq of the region. The other two major lakes are Lake Wellington and Lake Victoria. The system is fed by the Avon, Thomson, Latrobe, Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo rivers.

As channels between the lakes and the ocean altered over the years, a wall was built in 1890 to fix the position of a naturally occurring channel between the lakes and the ocean to stabilise the water level, create a harbour for fishing boats and open up the lakes to shipping. This entrance needs to be dredged regularly.

This harbour is known as Lakes Entrance, and has become a popular tourist destination, particularly for those who enjoy fishing. The main beach front is also a safe harbour for many major commercial fishing and recreational watersport operations. Spectacular views of the entrance and of the Lakes can be seen from various look-outs on Jemmy's Point.

The lakes support numerous species of wildlife and there exist two protected areas within: The Lakes National Park and Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park. The wetlands provide habitat for about 20,000 waterbirds – including birds from as far afield as Siberia and the North Pole. There are also approximately 400 indigenous flora species and 300 native fauna species.

Other popular destinations in the region include the towns of Marlo, Cabbage Tree Creek, Mallacoota and Merrijig.

List of Towns in the Lakes and Wilderness Region

Click on any town name in the following list to display historical, geographical and tourism related information for the town selected.

BAIRNSDALE | BUCHAN | CABBAGE TREE CREEK | LAKES ENTRANCE | MALLACOOTA | MARLO | MERRIJIG | METUNG

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