Discover the Region
From hidden caves to koala trails, embrace the best of the Gippsland Lakes.
Whether in a boat, kayak or stand up paddle board, it's just awesome being on the water.
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.
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
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!
Make new discoveries around every corner and find inspiration for your next Gippsland adventure.
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.
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.
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.
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.
