Discover the Region

Activities & Attractions

From hidden caves to koala trails, embrace the best of the Gippsland Lakes.

Boating Information

Hire boats provide a great entry to the boating lifestyle, so get out on the water and explore the incredible Gippsland lakes.

Whether in a boat, kayak or stand up paddle board, it's just awesome being on the water. If you bring your boat, hire or borrow a boat, it is important that you know where you can get out on to the water.

Boat Hire

With no boat licence required anyone can learn to skipper their own live on board cruiser. Bulls Cruisers service is personalised and tailored to your boating experience and knowledge. Their crew will do what it takes to ensure that you have the best boating holiday!

To find out more, head on over to their website!

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Boating Information

Buchan Caves Reserve

Step inside the mountains and imagine you're deep in Tolkien's Misty Mountains - except this is Victoria's own Buchan Caves.

Once you step inside the mountains and begin your descent, it is easy to imagine that you are deep inside the Misty Mountains of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. But this is not the faraway Misty Mountains - this is Victoria's own Buchan Caves in eastern Victoria.

The Buchan Caves are located inland from Paynesville and make for an easy day trip for holiday-makers. They are also easily accessible for visitors to the Ninety Mile Beach coastline or the Gippsland Lakes.

This destination is ideal for all those hankering after a truly magical experience outdoors. There is nothing like caves, and walking deep under the moist earth, to attain the sense that you are escaping from civilisation and entering an unknown and mystical world.

  • ● Guided tours through Royal and Fairy Caves.
  • ● Cool, consistent temperatures-perfect on hot days.
  • ● Combine with rafting, cycling, or winery stops en route.
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Buchan Caves Reserve

Fishing the Gippsland Waters

If you haven't experienced the peace and tranquillity of fishing the rivers of the Gippsland high country, you're in for a treat.

The rivers of Gippsland meander from small mountain streams to wide, flowing rivers as they approach the ocean. With unique access to the High Country from the eastern side, endless fishing opportunities are available throughout the whole area, with Paynesville and Raymond Island offering great choices.

FISHING LICENCE - Available from the CoastCare Pharmacy on The Esplanade Paynesville

  • ● Year-round saltwater and freshwater species.
  • ● Guided charters for families or serious anglers.
  • ● Sunrise jetty sessions steps from your holiday home.
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Fishing the Gippsland Waters

Scenic Golf Courses

East Gippsland is endowed with a most equable climate, one which is the envy of all areas of Victoria.

East Gippsland is endowed with a most equable climate, one which is the envy of all areas of Victoria. It is mild in the winter time and cooled by sea breezes in the summer time. It all makes for a wonderful sporting venue.

There are championship golf courses, country race meetings, fine bowling greens and excellent lawn and hard-court tennis courts, but for the golf enthusiast, we have some of the best you can find!

  • ● Coastal dunes, riverfront fairways, and mountain backdrops.
  • ● Options for casual nine holes or championship challenges.
  • ● Clubhouse hospitality with local wines and produce.
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Scenic Golf Courses

Lakeside Walking Tracks

Enjoy a leisurely stroll and picnic among the sounds of gulls and the water lapping at the foreshore.

Make new discoveries around every corner and find inspiration for your next Gippsland adventure.

  • ● Family-friendly loops with pram-friendly sections.
  • ● Shaded forest climbs that reward you with wide lake vistas.
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Lakeside Walking Tracks

Mitchell River Silt Jetties

On the drive into Bairnsdale, turn off to the Mitchell River Silt Jetties - a beautiful drive out to the end of this natural phenomenon.

The area was used to grow hops around the turn of the century, and you will still be able to see the old shedding and racks along the way.

Gippsland Lakes and Paynesville have a unique character, defined by the presence of the Mitchell River Silt Jetties just off the mainland. These naturally formed silt banks run for over 8 km, making them the second largest silt jetties in the entire world, and the longest in the southern hemisphere.

  • ● Unique viewpoints for anglers, birdwatchers, and photographers.
  • ● Easy access from Paynesville and Bairnsdale.
  • ● Pair with cruises across the Gippsland Lakes for a full-day itinerary.
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Mitchell River Silt Jetties

Raymond Island Wildlife Encounters

Raymond Island draws nature lovers for some of the best koala-spotting around.

Jump on the ferry from Paynesville, and hit up the Koala Trail. The clearly marked path leads you among the gumtrees, and is suitable for all ages! Don't forget to look up: the cute creatures are probably fast asleep above you, though you may be lucky enough to spot one out and about.

Raymond Island is a small island in the Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria, Australia, about 300 km from Melbourne. The island is approximately 6 km long by 2 km wide, and is just 200 m off the coast, across from the town of Paynesville. The island is named after William Odell Raymond, originally a magistrate from New South Wales who established himself as a squatter in Gippsland in the 1840s.

  • ● Self-guided koala trail starting at the ferry landing.
  • ● Quiet beaches ideal for family swims.
  • ● Sunset returns with views back to Paynesville.
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Raymond Island Wildlife Encounters

The Den of Nargun

The Den of Nargun is a short drive from Paynesville and has something for everyone.

Its aboriginal history is connected to the Kurnai tribe, the original inhabitants of our beautiful region. Women of this group used the area for initiations and learning ceremonies.

The Den itself is about a 20 minute walk from the carpark, set in a shaded rainforest gully, with the yellow wood tree and the Kanooka plant being seen at their most westerly extremes. The Den of Nargun is a shallow cavern that hides behind a slight drizzle of a waterfall in Dead Cock Creek.

  • ● Interpretive signage sharing Gunai/Kurnai stories.
  • ● Rainforest gullies alive with lyrebirds and tree ferns.
  • ● Combine with the Gorge Walk and lookout picnic tables.
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The Den of Nargun

Wineries & Food Trails

Cool-climate wines, cellar doors, and long lunches.

Gippsland is enriched with many fine wineries and great food producers now beginning to be noticed. Some of Australia's best wines are being produced by the many vineyards and most have cellar door sales and welcome visitors. The food sources are varied from fruits and berries to gourmet meats and jams and preserves. The following wine and food trails are all within a comfortable drive of Paynesville, but there are many that you may want to do on your trip to or from Paynesville that take in other parts of Gippsland.

  • ● Cellar door tastings at Nicholson River, Ensay, and Mount Markey.
  • ● Seasonal long lunches showcasing regional produce.
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Wineries & Food Trails
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