Paynesville/ Raymond Island (18kms/15 mins) Tourist Drive 2. Water sports, fishing, koalas. Situated on the Gippsland Lakes, Paynesville is a mecca for boating and fishing enthusiasts with boats of all kinds, an abundance of jetties and a variety of fish including bream, tailor, mullet, garfish and luderick. A short ferry ride to Raymond Island will enable you to go koala spotting, birdwatching or visit a miniature animal farm.

Fairy Dell (26kms/approx 1/2 hr) East Gippsland rainforest walk. Follow Omeo H'way for 21 kms, left turn at Wiseleigh onto Deep Creek Road. Follow for 5.5km to Reserve. Pass through forests of eucalyptus, mainly white and yellow stringy barks, messmate, grey and blue gum, red ironbark with its deeply furrowed hard grey bark, peppermints and boxes. 15 minute walk through a type of rainforest restricted in Victoria to East Gippsland, dominated by lilly pilly ( eugenia smithi). Car park, BBQ and picnic facilities.

Bullumwaal (26km/approx 1/2 hr) Old goldmining town, historic cemetery. Once the site of a prosperous goldmining town, now only a few relics remain. The cemetery on Perseverance Track contains old headstones made from stone, wood and iron. NOTE: Road past Mt Taylor is gravel and used by log-trucks.

Melwood ( approx. 20 km/1/2 hr) Chinese gold-diggings. In the Melwood area rows of neatly stacked stone walls indicate the site of Chinese gold diggings at Boggy Creek and Dunstan Gully. Melwood Musk Gully provides the visitor with warm temperate rainforest to explore. NOTE: A more detailed map is required to find the diggings. Gravel road Melwood end.

Bruthen (24km/20mins) See Tourist Drive 3. Historic township overlooking Tambo River. Features craft shop serving light refreshments, doll studio and pottery studio.

Colquhoun Forest (30kms+/25mins to entry) Log Crossing and Mississippi Creek Walks, in part following a tramline which carried stone to construct the artificial entrance to the sea at Lakes Entrance in 1889. Picnic facilities. Wildlife. Trestle bridge (Nowa Nowa). Gravel road.

Nyerimilang Park, Nungurner. (30kms/1/2 hr) Picnics, nature walks, special days. Historic homestead and rural property, the site of East Gippsland's Botanical Gardens. Nyerimilang's lakeside setting and gardens make it a perfect place for a family outing. Main access from the Princes H'way is 25kms east of Bairnsdale, right turn into Nungurner Road and follow signs. BBQ's. Open daily.

Lakes Entrance (35kms/1/2 hr) Beaches, boating, fishing. Situated at the mouth of the Gippsland Lakes where the waters of the lakes enter the ocean, Lakes Entrance is home to Australia's largest fishing fleet and offers a range of water based activities including fishing, boating, swimming and surfing. A sightseeing, luncheon or winery cruise is a great way to experience the lakes.

Mitchell River National Park & Den of Nargun (45 kms/approx. 40 mins) Spectacular scenery and serene rainforest Covering an area of 12,200ha, the Park has various walks through an area of beautiful sub-tropical bushland set in typical East Gippsland Bush. The Den is a cavern situated in a majestic gorge along Dead Cock Creek. A waterfall usually curtains the cavern although it may be dry in summer. The track is steep in places so young families and elderly folk should only go as far as they feel capable. Take Lindenow Rd for approx. 41kms, right turn into Waller's Rd (gravel), drive 4/5kms. Parking area has picnic tables, water, fireplaces and toilets.

Lindenow Scenic Drive ( 60 kms return/ approx. 1hr) Take Lindenow Rd and follow for 25kms passing through Lindenow and Walpa to Fingerboards. Turn right to Iguana Creek and Woodglen, traveling through some Victoria's most fertile river flats. Turn left up the hill at the Wuk Wuk bridge, then right into Wy Yung-Calulu Rd to return to Bairnsdale. Travel through farmlands and vegetable growing areas. Magnificent views of the Mitchell River Valley.

Buchan (74kms/approx 50mins) Limestone caves, timber mill, walking tracks. Travel along the Omeo H'way to Bruthen, then another 50km along the Buchan Road. Guided tours of Buchan's famous Royal and Fairy Caves are conducted seven days a week throughout the year. The Caves Reserve is also home to many species of wildlife including many different birds and kangaroos. A number of scenic walks have been marked and koalas are quite a regular occurrence on these walks.

Dargo (94kms/approx 1 1/2 hrs) High country town; horse riding. Originally a resting place on the way to the goldfields of Grant and Crooked River, Dargo is now a cattle and timber town set in picturesque surroundings. It is best known for its huge walnut trees which grow in profusion in the area and the Dargo High Plains which have been the home of the Mountain Cattlemen for over 150 years. The Dargo Walnut Festival is held at Easter every year. Take the Lindenow-Dargo Road at the western end of Bairnsdale ( fully sealed but windy).

Omeo (121kms/approx 2 hrs) Tourist Drive 3. Old gold-mining town - Oriental Claims. Take a walk along Day Avenue, Omeo's main st and read the history of many of the old buildings. The Court House was built in 1893 but officially opened only a few years ago. The Oriental Claims are towering relics of Omeo's golden past when thousands came to the area to find their fortune. Those working the claims sluiced the gravel cliffs for gold, the water being brought by races from a dam 19km up the Livingstone Creek.

Orbost / Marlo / Conran (100-125kms / approx. 1 1/4-1 3/4 hrs) Rainforest Centre, fishing, surf beach. Call at the Slab Hut in Orbost for information on the area. View the old railway trestle bridge Lakes Entrance side of Nowa Nowa en route.

CAUTION

Access to some sections of high country parks is limited during winter months or after heavy rains.

Fire restrictions apply during the summer months. Please contact the Department of Natural Resources ( DNRE) Office or Bairnsdale Visitors Centre for further details.

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