The Gippsland Lakes system with its vast array of waterways to explore, is the most exclusive in Australia. The network of water is made up of three magnificent lakes, covering a distance of 60km. Beginning with Lake Wellington at the western end connecting via McLennans Strait to Lake Victoria, then onto Lake King and finally, through a man made entrance at the popular tourist resort of Lakes Entrance, to join the Southern sea waters of Bass Strait.

This wonderful water system is fed by a huge water catchment area stretching over large parts of Central and East Gippsland and includes the major contributing rivers of the Latrobe, Thompson, Avon, Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo. The Lakes include many small Islands. One in particular, Rotamah island, is famous for its bird life. Many bird hides have been constructed for visitors to use and the surrounding marshland is home to an abundance of native waterbirds and wildlife.

A unique feature of the Gippsland Lakes is the Mitchell River silt jetties. They are among the longest in the world and run far into the lakes. They are believed to be formed by silt washed down by the Mitchell River system, over a million years ago. The Gippsland Lakes abuts two parks, the Lakes National Park taking in Sperm Whale Head and the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, with their wonderful camping reserves and many walking tracks. A great place to camp and relax and see many of the wildlife that abounds the area.

  Back to the Gippsland Tourism Home Page