About Lakes Entrance
Lakes Entrance is a coastal resort town in East Gippsland, Victoria, where the Gippsland Lakes system meets Bass Strait via a man-made entrance. Located about 320 km east of Melbourne, it is known for its extensive sandy ocean beach, calm lake waters, fishing fleet and waterfront. The town serves as a hub for boating, beach activities and access to the Gippsland Lakes, the largest inland waterway system in Australia.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a waterfront town set between the Gippsland Lakes and Ninety Mile Beach on Bass Strait. The Esplanade runs along the lake foreshore with jetties, fishing boats, restaurants and shops. A footbridge crosses Cunningham Arm to the ocean beach and sand dunes. The area offers calm lake waters for boating and kayaking, surf beach on the ocean side, lookouts, walking and cycling paths, and opportunities to see pelicans and dolphins.
Key highlights
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Ninety Mile Beach ocean beachfront accessed via footbridge over Cunningham Arm
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Gippsland Lakes - largest inland lakes system in Australia for boating and cruising
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Lakes Entrance Footbridge and Cunningham Arm waterfront
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Lakes Entrance Lookout (Jemmy's Point) with panoramic views over lakes and ocean
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Commercial fishing fleet and seafood
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Dolphin and wildlife cruises on the lakes
History of Lakes Entrance
Lakes Entrance developed after a permanent artificial entrance to Bass Strait was created at Cunningham Arm in 1889 to provide ocean access for the Gippsland Lakes. The entrance works enabled the town to grow as a fishing port and timber port, with ongoing dredging to maintain the channel. The area is within the traditional lands of the Gunaikurnai people.
Culture & Context
The Gippsland Lakes and coastal area hold cultural significance for the Gunaikurnai people as Traditional Owners. The town has a long-standing fishing and maritime culture, with the lakes and Ninety Mile Beach central to local recreation and community life.
Route
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