Gippsland Lakes

Great Alpine Road near Omeo

Dargo Hotel

Dargo High Plains

Buchan Caves

Cassilis Historical Area

Den of Nargun, Mitchell River National Park

Bairnsdale is a major commercial and industrial centre for the East Gippsland District, which is a major source of timber, sheep and dairy produce. It makes an ideal base for the exploration of the East Gippsland region.

Where is it?: Victoria: East Gippsland. Bairnsdale 285 km east of Melbourne on the Princes Highway and the Mitchell River.

Surrounding area:

Comprising of a network of lakes, marshes and lagoons, Gippsland Lakes are the largest inland network of waterways in Australia. The Lakes are separated from the ocean by coastal dunes known as Ninety Mile Beach. Bird and marine life thrive here, with lake dolphins and pelicans frequenting many locations. The lakes include many small islands, which are reached easily by ferry or water taxi from Paynesville. There are also two national parks that abut the lakes, the Lakes National Park and the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, both of which offer great camping and walking tracks. More >>

Alpine National Park (160km north) at 646,000 hectares is the State's largest and protects our highest mountains and varied alpine environments. Extensive snowfields are the primary winter attraction; the warmer months bring stunning wildflower displays and opportunities for bushwalks and four wheel driving. Access is via the Great Alpine Road. More >>

Nestled in the foothills of the legendary Dargo High Plains, Dargo (90km north west) is one of Victoria's most remote communities. The town of Dargo is an entry point for the Alpine National Park, Avon Wilderness Park and Mitchell River National Park. Dargo is known for its groves of century-old walnut trees that line the valley floor. Dargo is an excellent destination for 4WD touring, rafting, fishing,canoeing, horse riding, bush walking and hiking. More >>

Buchan Caves (75km north east) Near the township of Buchan, lies are a honeycomb of caves full of spectacular limestone formations. Buchan Caves were formed by underground rivers cutting through limestone rock. The formations are created by rain water seeping through cracks and dissolving some of the limestone. The Reserve was established to cater to the needs of the thousands of visitors who visit the caves each year. More >>

In the late 19th century, at the peak of the gold boom, Cassilis (85km north) was a thriving mining centre. By the First World War, most of the available gold was depleted, and both mines closed down. Now Cassilis lies as a ghost town, with no commercial buildings in operation. Set in the 3,600-hectare Cassilis Historical Area, the mines are now a local tourist attraction with many relics of the gold mining era. More >>

About Bairnsdale

Bairnsdale is the entrance to the Gippsland Rivers, lakes, beaches, snowfields and mountains. Timber cutting was the first industry introduced to the area by white settlers. The development of agriculture was slow due to the area's remoteness from Melbourne. The township was surveyed in 1860 and grew when Lakes Entrance was developed as a timber exporting port for the region. The town was linked by rail to Melbourne in 1887. In the late 1920s, immigrants from the south of Italy began to arrive and, as a consequence, the production of vegetables grew in importance throughout the region.
The name Bairnsdale is a corruption of 'Bernisdale', a name given by an early settler Archie Cameron McLeod, to his homestead here, which he named after his birthplace on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Natural features: Glenadale National Park; Mitchell River; Mitchell River National Park; Jones Bay; Lake King; Mount Taylor; Gippsland Lakes
Built features: St Marys Church; Botanical Gardens.
Heritage features: Court House (1892-93); Den of Nargun Aboriginal ceremonial ground (Mitchell River National Park); Krowathunkoolong Keeping Place (local Aboriginal centre).