Holiday houses in Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance is a popular holiday spot on Victoria’s beautiful southeastern coastline, perhaps most famous as the de facto seafood capital of Australia. The town, which spreads out inland from a sheltered lake peninsula, is the biggest fishing port in the country. Take a short walk or a very short drive to the Lakes Entrance fishermen’s co-op just outside of the town centre to pick up seafood freshly caught by the local fishing fleet. Or cast a line from a boat, jetty, or the beach to try your luck. There are plenty of waterfront seafood restaurants if you prefer your fish to be caught and prepared by someone else.

The town’s name comes from its location at the opening of the Gippsland Lakes, the country’s largest network of lakes, to the Southern Ocean. Across the footbridge in the middle of town you’ll find Ninety Mile Beach, which, as the name suggests, runs along the coast far into the distance.

There’s great fishing all year round, but if you’re into watersports and the beach, come stay in one of the area’s holiday houses during summer, when days are generally warm rather than hot. With the prevailing sea breezes, nights are always cool. You’ll find the town fills up from the start of the summer school holidays, around mid-December, and stays busy until classes start again in late January. Early winter tends to be the wettest time of year, although rain picks up again in late autumn to early summer. The Alpine Rally of East Gippsland, the second-oldest car rally in the world, takes place in early December. The rally starts and ends in Lakes Entrance, with classic race cars lining the town’s foreshore before heading to nearby state forests to compete.

Lake Tyers State Park

This massive nature reserve stretches inland from the beaches east of Lakes Entrance to the pretty bushland around the shores of Lake Tyers. The nearest walking tracks are less than a 20-minute drive from the town centre. Hikes range from the short Marsdenia Rainforest Walk to a 90-minute hike to Lonely Bay.

Nyerimilang Heritage Park

A heritage-listed bushland reserve, Nyerimilang Heritage Park overlooks the lake around a 10-minute drive northwest of Lakes Entrance. From the lawns of a well-preserved timber homestead and farm, bushwalking tracks lead to the East Gippsland Indigenous Plant Garden, along a bluff with great water views, and through salt marshes.

Cruising the lakes

Explore the country’s biggest lake system by kayak or stand-up paddleboard, or by joining one of the boat tours operating out of Lakes Entrance and nearby towns. See dolphins and seals or board a catamaran or an old pearler sailing ship for a memorable day on the water.