Gippsland Road Trip

Road Trip to Gippsland!!! 

Chances are if you’ve done a road trip in Australia or are planning one it is going to have been of the East Coast, The Great Ocean Road or, at a push, the West Coast if you were feeling particularly ‘out there’. BBM likes to know that at no stage will we be more than 50m from a grotty bar selling schooners of VB. We’re a sucker for following the well-trodden trails of past generations because it’s tried and tested and we know we wont fail to have a good time.

Well my friends, there is a new kid on the road trip scene that is going to knock the socks off the beaches of NSW, ridicule the rainforests of Queensland and trump everything the usual resorts offer by providing backpackers with a place to ski. Where I hear you ask? Gippsland. Heard of it? We didn’t think so.\

 Travel to Western Australia

Where’s Gippsland?

Gippsland is an enormous rural area in Victoria that begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches all the way along the coast to the borders of NSW. Between the Great Dividing Range in the north and the Bass Strait in the south, the region is home to snowfields, wilderness, rainforest, beaches, farmland and more. On top of all of these treats it is located on Australia’s Number 1 highway making it incredibly accessible and just screaming out for you to fire up that ‘Power Rock’ playlist and hit the open road.

What To Do? 

Now this is where the fun starts. The sheer size of the region means that the scale of things you can experience is pretty dramatic. One day you can be skiing fresh powder on the Baw Baw Plateau, the next you can be scuba diving with sharks down in Wilsons Promontory. Take a few days to enjoy the delights of Lakes National Park and Gippsland Lakes before hopping back in the van and making your way to Phillip Island.

Gippsland’s Best Activities 

Who would have thought that you could ski in the country synonymous with barbeques, boardies and beaches? Every postcard, video or picture you see of Australia depicts bronzed beauties wearing very little lying around doing not much at all. However in the winter (July – September), 120km east of Melbourne, you can don your ski gear and hit the slopes at Mount Baw Baw Ski Resort. It might be relatively small compared to what you are used to back home but there are still 30 hectares of ski fields, six runs and a fantastic variety of cross-country trails to explore.

There is camping available on the banks of the Aberfeldy River but seeing as you will be visiting in winter either ensure you have numerous Arctic-ready sleeping bags or take the hit and book into a cosy B&B close to the resort.

90 Mile Beach is exactly as it sounds only four miles longer, which makes it the third longest uninterrupted beach in the world. The 94-mile stretch of beach runs northeastward from Port Albert all the way to the man-made channel at the resort of Lakes Entrance. The feisty waves of the Tasman Sea crash onto the shore close to the sandy dunes that separate numerous lakes and lagoons from the ocean. There are three main lakes that you must visit; Lake King, Lake Wellington and Lake Victoria. These all make up the astonishing areas of the Lakes National Park and the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.

The area is a nature lover’s idea of heaven with 300 native fauna species, 400 indigenous flora species and 20,000 water birds all calling it home. The area is also home to pods of Burrunan Dolphins.

Days here can be filled with activities on land or water. Boating and fishing tend to be the major draws and even if you aren’t a fan of spending hours trying to ensnare an unsuspecting mullet, skipjack or bream, simply being on the water is experience enough. If you are looking for something a tad more energetic you can hire a canoe or kayak and give that upper body a work out as you explore the tranquil waters. The park is a great spot for a walk and if you want to brave the cool water temperatures we recommend sticking to the sheltered lake shores.

There are plenty of spots to park up your wheels and rest for the night situated between Paradise Beach and The Honeysuckles. All of which have great facilities and charge around $20 per night for an unpowered site or $27 if you want to give your van some juice.

Not all the great scuba diving spots in Australia are located on the Great Barrier or the Ningaloo Reefs, in fact the waters of Victoria are considered one of the best kept secrets on the continent. The ocean surrounding Wilsons Promontory is protected by a national marine park and offers some truly outstanding diving, albeit in fairly bracing temperatures!

Dive Sites

There are dives sites that suit those who rival Jacques Cousteau in the adventurous stakes and then there are those more suited to beginners. Some of the best sites include Horn Point, Bareback Cove, Waterloo Bay, Forty Food Rocks and West Moncoeur Island. Waiting just below the surface are sheer walls, mysterious caves and spectacular sponge gardens all teeming with marine wildlife ranging from clown and angel fish to the slightly more intimidating sea snakes, eels, seals and sharks. There have been whales spotted in the area as well so keep your fingers crossed you are one of the lucky ones who gets to meet one face to face.

There are a number of dive schools in the area all offering day trips or live-aboard experiences if you have a bit more time on your hands. Prices for these depend on the number of dives involved and the number of days that you spend aboard the boat so shop about to find something to suit you. If you wish, you can complete the Open Water Padi course here for around $700 (a little less pocket-friendly than in Queensland) for the four day course.

Wilsons Promontory is one of Victoria’s most loved places and even above the water the scenery is awe-inspiring. Against a backdrop of imposing granite mountains lies open forest, sweeping beaches and dramatic coastline – all that fresh air will do wonders for those clogged up lungs thick with fumes from the city and its bars that you found so hard to leave.

There is no better feeling than discovering a corner of such a hugely popular country that is still relatively undiscovered. Gippsland is conveniently located between two of the most vital cities on the typical tourist trail so rather than lazily hopping on a Jet Star flight and missing it all, hire a van or car and take some time to really enjoy it for yourself. When you next find yourself sat around regaling tales of your adventures with your fellow travellers over a beaker or two of goon, you can pitch in with wise advice to visit this hidden gem that offers a real glimpse into all that is great and good about this awesome country!

Leave your little friend with us when on holiday