GIPPSLAND

Timeto explore

With the largest lake system and one of the longest beaches in the southern hemisphere, Gippsland has some of Victoria’s best outdoor adventures, along with art galleries, eco cruises and dining hot spots T he wilderness region of Gippsland is enormous, stretching north-east from Melbourne to Victoria’s border with New South Wales and boasting wildlife, great drives and gourmet treats. Walk, ride, swim or ski across changing landscapes, wander through coastal villages and view artworks in regional galleries. Indulge in local produce, brews and fine wines, and delve into the region’s rich Indigenous heritage. Croajingolong National Park from Mt Everard

EAT & DRINK Get off the beaten track and discover the true taste of Gippsland on small group tours with Gippsland Food Adventures, where you can meet the farmers behind the produce you’re eating (gippslandfoodadventures.com.au). Nestled in a picturesque village, Loch Brewery and Distillery brew beers onsite along with whisky and gin (lochbrewery.com.au). Further north, Yarragon Hotel serves up hearty pub fare in the heart of quaint Yarragon Village, with its boutiques, antiques and galleries (yarragonhotel.com.au). Neilsons Kitchen in Traralgon specialises in innovative flavour combinations and fresh Gippsland produce, from an all-day breakfast to a light lunch or smoked barbecue dinner (neilsons.com.au). Sale’s Mister Raymond is a stylish cafe/bistro with a welcoming atmosphere and live music on Friday nights (facebook.com/MisterRaymond.Sale), and in Lakes Entrance, The Floating Dragon serves traditional Chinese dishes and upscale cocktails in a modern venue with water views (floatingdragon.com.au).

SEE & DO Covering 600 square kilometres, the Gippsland Lakes are a major attraction of the region, separated from the ocean by coastal dunes known as Ninety Mile Beach. Explore them with Lonsdale Eco Cruise, departing from Lakes Entrance (lonsdalecruises.com.au). Bushwalkers and hikers will love Gippsland, with countless landscapes to explore. Discover an underground wonderland of spectacular limestone formations at Gippsland’s ancient Buchan Caves formed by underground rivers almost 400 million years ago. Croajingolong National Park in East Gippsland is a Buchan Caves

UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, while Wilsons Promontory National Park on Australia’s southernmost tip offers spectacular vistas of granite mountains, open forest and sweeping coastlines, with bushwalking options lasting from one hour to three days (parkweb.vic.gov.au). For art lovers, East Gippsland Art Gallery celebrates the unique artistic spirit of the region through a dynamic program incorporating paintings, drawings, mixed media, prints and 3D works (eastgippslandartgallery.org.au). Latrobe Regional Gallery houses eight gallery spaces and a sculpture courtyard showcasing an ever-changing program of curated and travelling exhibitions and a permanent collection (latroberegionalgallery.com), while ArtSpace Wonthaggi is a community non-profit gallery for regional artists and craftspeople, with regular exhibitions and monthly theme displays (artspacewonthaggi.com.au). Also in Wonthaggi, the State Coal Mine gives visitors the chance to venture underground and experience what life in the mines was like in the 1900s. DV

For more information and to plan your trip, go to inspiredbygippsland.com.au