About the region: the Gippsland region stretches from south-east of Melbourne all the way to the state border with New South Wales in Victoria's far east. It covers hundreds of kilometres of coastline and a rich collection of state and national parks.
The Latrobe Valley, covering the area from Moe to Traralgon in the region's north, is home to the state's massive coal mining and power generation industry. North of the Latrobe Valley are the spectacular mountains of the Great Dividing Range including the popular Alpine and ski resort of Mount Baw Baw.
West Gippsland is characterised by lush, rolling hills and major dairy and farming industries. The Gourmet Deli Trail is a popular tourist route, encompassing a large collection of farms, vineyards and outlets selling local produce and smallgoods.
One of the region's most popular destinations is the Wilsons Promontory National Park, which consists of striking granite peaks and an array of local flora and fauna, forming the southern most tip of mainland Australia.
Wilsons Promontory: the southernmost point of the Australian mainland, The Prom is arguably the most loved national park in Victoria. The park contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria. A wild and desolate headland with open heaths, sand dunes, tall forest ranges, tree fern valleys, salt marshes, sandy beaches, islands, reefs and granite headlands, The Prom, as it is affectionately known to Victorians, is just a half day's drive from Melbourne. Mountainous and heavily wooded, it is a wonderful place to fish or observe the abundant flora, fauna and marine life. Walking trails provide access to the gorgeous coastal scenery with a choice ranging from short walks to all-day hikes. For the skilled rock and beach angler, the fishing is good.
The Great Alpine Road: One of Australia's great drives, The Great Alpine Road passes through the heart of Victoria's High Country. It is Australia’s highest year-round accessible sealed road and winds past lofty mountains, valleys, forests, rivers, vineyards and farms. The scenery along the way is varied, and takes in historic goldmining villages, mountain lakes and the sheer cliffs, wildflowers and some of Victoria's highest peaks within the Alpine National Park. The journey is best taken outside of the snow season (June to October) to avoid both inclement weather and snow skiers going to and from the resorts.
Walhalla: Nestled in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range 46 km north of Moe, the former goldmining town of Walhalla that appears to have been snap frozen in time. Many of its original buildings remain. These include the fire station, museum, post office, Windsor House, Mechanics Institute, bank vault Freemason's Lodge, St John's Church of England and, possibly the most photographed thing in Walhalla, the grand old band rotunda.
Phillip Island: just 140 kilometres south east of Melbourne, Phillip Island, is the best place in Victoria to come face to face with the wildlife of Australia. Here you can drive down a road where hundreds of koalas sit dozing in their treetop homes above you; take a look at Australia's largest colony of fur seals, and at night, enjoy watching hundreds of Little Penguins returning to their burrows at the famous Penguin Parade. Phillip Island has some spectacular coastal scenery, being exposed to Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean and boasts such features as Cape Woolamai, the Blowhole, Seal Rocks, the Collonades, The Nobbies, Pyramid Rock and the Pinnacles.
Buchan Caves: Near the township of Buchan, lies 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. As each droplet comes through the roof it deposits calcite which crystallises in a small ring. In time, stalactites are formed on the roof of the cave, and stalagmites build up from droplets which fall to the floor.
Mallacoota: With shimmering lakes, rivers, pristine forests and turquoise sea lapping quiet beaches, Mallacoota is an isolated corner of Victoria that is a great place to go and switch off when one's batteries need recharging. Mallacoota is a true year-round destination, with Victoria’s warmest winter temperatures and cooling breezes fresh from the ocean in summer. Popular activities in and around Mallacoota include walking, fishing, boating, bird watching (30% of Australia’s birdlife is seen here), 4WD, canoeing, kayaking, cruising, golfing, bowling, swimming and surfing.
Gippsland Lakes and 90 Mile Beach: Comprising of a network of lakes, marshes and lagoons, The 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.
Tarra Bulga National Park: Tarra Bluga National Park is known for its deeply-incised river valleys, giant Mountain Ash trees, beautiful fern gullies and ancient myrtle beeches. The park covers 2015 ha of some of the best examples of original cool temperate rainforests of the Strzelecki Ranges. Roads throughout the area are narrow and winding but offer marvellous scenery with wide views from several points.
Walkerville lime kiln ruins
Waratah Bay and Cape Liptrap: Waratah bay is an arc of almost 20 kilometres of flat sandy beach framed by Cape Liptrap to the west and Wilsons Promontory in the east. Walkerville, a tiny settlement on the sandy shores of Waratah Bay, was once one of the busiest places in South Gippsland due to its thriving lime industry. Remnants of the burnt-out lime kilns cling to the cliffs of Walkerville South.
Cape Liptrap sits high above the Bass Strait with steep cliffs of folded marine sediments flanked by rock pinnacles and wave cut platforms. Cape Liptrap Coastal Park has strikingly beautiful scenery which is both peaceful and in stormy weather, wild, windy and awe inspiring.
Visiting The Region: The Facts
How to Get There: by road south east from Melbourne, via Princes Highway.
Best Time To Go: As Victoria has a temperate climate, there is no one season or month that the visitor needs to avoid, except perhaps summer (December - February), if you find hot weather unbearable. Even then, only the north and the north-west tend to suffer from extended periods of intense heat, so those areas would be the only ones to contemplate avoiding in summer if you don't like the heat. In and around Melbourne, which gets more cloud and disturbed weather despite a lower rainfall, sunshine hours per day in winter (June - August) are three to four as against seven to eight in summer. Cold spells are brief and never severe on the coast, and temperatures can drop much lower inland in winter.
About the region: the Gippsland region stretches from south-east of Melbourne all the way to the state border with New South Wales in Victoria's far east. It covers hundreds of kilometres of coastline and a rich collection of state and national parks.
