Things to do in Lakes Entrance

January 30, 2017 Published by Tegan Dawson

Lakes Entrance is a seaside town 4 hours from Melbourne on the M1/A1. It is also a town on the coastal Sydney to Melbourne drive – we’d definitely recommend you stay and see this town and region. It’s two hours from the most populous region of Gippsland – the Latrobe Valley (also worth a visit.)

Get to know more about Lakes Entrance through the Haunted Hills Podcast! Or find us on your favourite podcast player. Things to do in Lakes Entrance continue below!

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There are so many things to do in Lakes Entrance.

Footbridge to Sand dunes

Cunningham arm is the body of water lining the Lakes Entrance Esplanade, on the other side are beautiful sand dunes and ocean you can swim in (mind the rips.) You can swim in some parts of the Cunningham arm as well. Boats and paddleboats share parts of this water.

History at the Nyerimlinang Heritage Park

10 kilometers North West of Lakes Entrance (this is literally about 10 minutes out of town), worth the visit, its managed b Parks Victoria. It’s a magnificent 179.9 hectares filled with walking trails, a homestead, indigenous plant garden. A massive highlight is seeing Lakes Entrance from the cliff top.

TIMES: The park opens 8:30am until sunset

The lodge opens 10:30am – 3pm weekends, 9:30am – 4pm on weekdays.

It is free entry however donations are welcome to help maintain the property.

Griffiths Sea Shell Museum

125 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance, Victoria

There is a gift shop at the front. The museum filled with shells. It’s a great place to escape the sun or clement weather. The owners are avid shell collectors who know a lot about them. Avid is the term for a collection of 90,000 shells?

Fishing in the Lakes

Lakes Entrance provides fisherman the luxury of choice with little travel in between. There is surf fishing on the other side of the sands dunes or exit Cunningham arm into the ocean. There are four lakes to choose from, and you can visit other nearby coastal towns such as Paynesville and Metung.

What’s to catch?

So much. Depending on where you put your line in. Try your hand at catching Trevally, Yellow-Eye Mullet, King George Whiting, Pinkies and Gummies.

Aquadome

43 Palmers Rd, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909

This is the local indoor swimming pool (with toys), gym, sauna, and spa. Many visitors have been pleasantly surprised with the facilities and staff who work here.

Davina’s dolls and crafts studio

3052 Princess Hwy, Lakes Entrance, Victoria

Porcelain dolls are created on site, they also offer repairs and teaching customers how to make dolls. Prams and things for the dolls are also sold.

Parks and picnic areas in Lakes Entrance

Lions Park – Lakes Entrance

Hummocks Road, Lakes Entrance

The start of the Lakes Entrance walk, through a beach bush around the sand dunes, that create Cunningham’s arm. A few beautiful lookouts along the way.

There are coin operated barbeques. undercover tables with seating, grassed picnic areas. Free public toilets. A playground.

Apex Park

Cnr Princes Highway and Marine Parade, Lakes Entrance, Victoria

Apex Park is right beside the Lakes Entrance Tourist information centre. You’ll find a playground, free electric barbecue with seating and chairs and public toilets.

Flagstaff Jetty

37A Bullock Island Road, Lakes Entrance, Victoria

Near the entrance to the Cunningham arm on the sand dune side. There is a fireplace (probably not to be used during summer, there are tables, and public toilets.

Eastern Beach

42 Eastern Beach Rd, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909

This is a lovely area on the beach with Free Electric Barbeques, picnic tables and toilets.

Kalimna Views (Jemmy’s Lookout)

There is parking, a lookout, funky things and near the Kalimna Pub they also have facilities such as bbq, toilets, and picnic tables.

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Public art

On the Esplanade are some amazing wood carvings that depict scenes from the first world war.

Bird & whale watching

May through to July is prime whale-watching time in Lakes Entrance as Humpback whales frolic and wave goodbye on their way to the warmer waters of Cairns Queensland. When the weather warms up the whales come closer to the shoreline in September to November.

Getting around Lakes Entrance

Boating

There are the Lakes link up. You’ll need a boat license to hire boats. Or take a boat tour.

Many cruises and tours

(Haunted Hills Tours does not currently operate in Lakes Entrance.)

Ride a bike around

As always the best way to get a good feel for a town is to ride. You can cover a lot of ground and get the vibe.

The future is electric and can be at your feet, putting the wind in your hair as you glide along with your new bicycle battery powered. See, hear and smell the small town on the cushioned top of the very best European engineering in bikes.

The good people at Leon Cycles who support our podcast are a specialist supplier of electric cycles, conversion kits, batteries and accessories. They manufacture and distribute brands such as a NCM, Leisger, Das-Kit and Dehawk. You’ll find quality and value for money.

Small towns aren’t the only place these bikes can go and take you, the range is of little concern with the right equipment and advice from Leon Cycles website, you can hit the mountain trails, have a trekking bike, folding bike – a bike that suits your lifestyle small town or no. Join the pedelec community.

If you click through the above banner, it will take to an Australian website which sells electric bikes, conversion kits and batteries. Using this banner will support Haunted Hills with a percentage of the sale, which will not increase your costs.

Festivals in Lakes Entrance

Tennis Club New Year tournament

This is an event showcasing the best Tennis players in the region including upcoming juniors. This is a twighlight event.

East Gippsland Feast on East Festival Lakes Entrance (and near by Metung) (Autumn)

Eat delicious food made in the East of Gippsland over three days.

New Years Eve on the Lakes Entrance Foreshore

Fireworks, stalls, food everything.

Regular markets in Lakes Entrance

The first Sunday of every month (check if it falls on or near major public holidays) you’ll find a market running from 9am – 3pm on the Esplanade near the Rotunda.