Many people travel down the Princes Highway from Melbourne to Lakes Entrance for a weekend away or a week. Lakes Entrance is home to the largest lake system in the southern hemisphere, making it one of Victoria’s premier beachside holiday destinations for couples and families with the Ninety Mile Beach and the stunning Gippsland Lakes.
The distance to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne is 319 kilometres, or just shy of 4 hours travel time. On a journey of this length, you will need to break the trip up, and we have some great recommendations of places you go stop on your way to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne.
Melbourne to Lakes Entrance via the Princes Highway
For many making the trip from Melbourne to Lakes Entrance for summer holidays. Stopping is one thing you will have to do at some stage, whether it is for a toilet stop or for a petrol stop. There are also some places where you can stop to have an added adventure on your Prices Highway trip.
In this post, we will cover some of the stops on the Princes Highway from Melbourne to Lakes Entrance where there is great parking, toilets and an added experience in Victoria to add to your holiday.
Anyone looking into travelling to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne will need accommodation for their stay. We recommend using Hotels.com to find the best places to stay in Lakes Entrance. If you’re looking for an apartment in Lakes Entrance, Stayz will have something for everyone.
Gumbuya World
Gumbuya World or as many people could remember it as Gumbuya Park is a brilliant place to stop off between Melbourne and Lakes Entrance for families. It’s the perfect place to spend a few hours on a hot summer’s day before continuing your Melbourne to Lakes Entrance road trip.
With water slides, wave pools and cabanas to shade you from the heat on a beautiful day, you can easily spend an entire day at Gumbuya World. On-site you will also find a small amusement park, water park and wildlife sanctuary.
Address: 2705 Princes Hwy, Tynong North, VIC 3813 – BUY GUMBUYA WORLD TICKETS HERE!
Distance from Melbourne: 76.1 kilometres
Remaining distance to Lakes Entrance: 242.5 kilometres
Melbourne Lakes Entrance trip – stop at Yarragon Ale House
Maybe looking to stock on some beers for your trip to Lakes Entrance? Yarragon Alehouse is the perfect place for you! They stock a huge range of over 300 local and international beers just waiting for you to try. In the last 12 months, YAR Brewing Co has taken up residence on-site brewing a niche core range and limited-release beers.
For beer lovers travelling down the Princes Highway to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne, the Yarragon Ale House is a must-stop to pick up some takeaways or stretch the legs and enjoy a cold one at the bar.
Address: 4 Rollo St, Yarragon VIC 3823
Distance from Melbourne: 118.1 kilometres
Remaining distance to Lakes Entrance: 200.6 kilometres
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Holden Museum Trafalgar
The Holden Museum in Trafalgar is one of the best things to see in Gippsland. The Volunteer Museum in Trafalgar is home to all things Holden. Did you know that Holden made fridges and saddles? Well, you can see exactly what they look like right here!
The Museum is housed in a few different buildings on the site displaying an amazing range of cars and Holden products.
One building on the site resembles an American theatre and has displays of early Holden products such as saddles and horse-drawn buggies. Do not fear for the rev heads, there are cars ranging from FJ Holden’s to some of the last models to roll off the production line.
This volunteer museum does a mighty job putting its best foot forward, preserving Holden’s motoring history in Australia. There is no better time to see the museum than when you’re going from Melbourne to Lakes Entrance.
Address: 74 Waterloo Rd, Trafalgar VIC 3824
Distance from Melbourne: 136 kilometres
Remaining distance to Lakes Entrance: 191 kilometres
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Melbourne to Lakes Entrance Drive – Visit Old Gippstown Moe
Do you want to experience a small part of the history of Gippsland as travel from Melbourne to East Gippsland? Old Gippstown is a heritage park showcasing old buildings and equipment from Gippsland’s past.
See what the old Maffra Police station was like, have a look at a Cobb & Co shop where the local horse-drawn passenger carts used to stop.
You will find old fire engines, farming equipment and some resident ducks wandering around Old Gippstown. There is a great café onsite selling drinks and cakes which makes this an ideal break from your drive to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne. There are plenty of photo opportunities for you at Old Gippstown.
Address: 211 Lloyd St, Moe VIC 3825
Distance from Melbourne: 143 kilometres
Remaining distance to Lakes Entrance: 186 kilometres
Haunted Hills Mountain Bike Park
The Haunted Hills Mountian Bile Park is located between Moe and Morwell and you will see a sign on Princes Highway pointing to the bike park. Pulling into the site you will find a sealed car park with plenty of parking spaces, toilets, and an undercover BBQ area.
At the Mountain Bike Park in the Haunted Hills, you will find a pump track and 12 kilometres of mountain bike trails for beginners, intermediates and advanced riders.
This venue is positioning itself as one of the best places in Victoria to ride mountain bikes with a further 15 kilometres of tracks planned in future developments.
Address: Haunted Hills Road Yallourn 3825
Distance from Melbourne: 142 kilometres
Remaining distance to Lakes Entrance: 178 kilometres
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Gippsland Aquatic Center
In Traralgon, you will find the Gippsland Aquatic Center, the biggest indoor and outdoor pool complex between Melbourne and Lakes Entrance. At the aquatic centre, you will find 3 indoor pools, including a lap pool, a hydrotherapy pool, and a shallow pool for families exploring Victoria with kids.
There is an indoor water park with 2 full-sized water slides and play equipment with small kids slides. You will find a spa, steam room, sauna, outdoor pool and a gym if you want to work out.
Address: 49 Breed St, Traralgon VIC 3844
Distance from Melbourne: 164 kilometres
Remaining distance from Traralgon to Lakes Entrance: 155 kilometres
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Road trip Melbourne to Lakes Entrance – Port of Sale
The Port of Sale is a multipurpose facility and area on the Princes Highway in Sale. In the Port of Sale building, you will find the Gippsland Art Gallery, which has free entry, the tourist information centre, the local library and a cafe with a great view of the Thompson River.
Outside the building, you will have a large green space to relax, a basketball court, a skate park and a boardwalk along the river for a stroll or a quick fish. There is something for the whole family at the Port of Sale precinct.
Address: Port of Sale, 70 Foster St, Sale VIC 3850
Distance from Melbourne: 164 kilometres
Remaining distance from Sale to Lakes Entrance: 106 kilometres
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Lightfoot and Sons Bairnsdale
If you like a drop of wine, no trip to the Gippsland area is complete without trying some wine. Lightfoot and Sons is a family-owned winery making wine in Gippsland near Bairnsdale since 1995.
The cellar door for wine tasting has a stunning view of the Mitchel River with both indoor and outdoor seating for wine tastings, signature local food platters and just relaxing. Lightfoot makes a range of wines, including Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and more.
Address: 717 Calulu Road, Bairnsdale, VIC, Australia
Distance from Melbourne: 280 kilometres
Remaining distance from Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance: 48.1 kilometres
By stopping at some of these places you can make a real day trip on your journey to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne, you can even see a few you missed when going from Lakes Entrance to Melbourne on the way back.
Once in Lakes Entrance, you will find plenty to do with the Ninety Mile Beach, shops, and wineries to visit. There are many good places to visit around Lakes Entrance and the Gippsland Lakes, such as Metung and Paynesville.
Day trips from Lakes Entrance are popular among tourists due to the town’s proximity to stunning natural attractions and coastal scenery. Hope you enjoy the trip back from Lakes Entrance to Melbourne.
How far is Lakes Entrance from Melbourne?
It is a 319-kilometre drive from Melbourne.
How far is Gippsland from Melbourne?
There is no exact distance as Gippsland is a region. Many consider that you are in Gippsland by the time you reach Warragul.
How long does it take to get to Lakes Entrance from Melbourne
Somewhere between 3 and 3.5 hours will get you there. distance from Melbourne to Lakes Entrance is 219 Kilometers.
Is there a Melbourne to Lakes Entrance train?
You can travel as far as Bairnsdale by train then you need to catch a bus the rest of the way to use public transport.
We hope this article from us here at Explore Victoria has inspired you to embark on your adventure in Victoria, Australia, from popular caravan parks and pristine beaches to drives along the Great Ocean Road. Enjoy weekends away on the Mornington Peninsula and discover the cosmopolitan charm of Melbourne, Victoria, with a range of experiences for every traveller who wants to visit Victoria.
Whether you’re drawn to the rugged beauty of the Grampians, the cultural richness of Ballarat, or the autumn colours of Bright and Northern Victoria, there’s no shortage of hidden gems waiting to be discovered in Victoria.
Even if you love exploring Gippsland or driving the Great Alpine Road, Victoria has something special for you, and there is so much more for you to discover. If you are looking for more incredible and best places to visit in Melbourne or more travel in Victoria destinations, Explore Victoria has some more articles below for you to check out. Expand your horizons and get out and about in Victoria, Australia, for an unforgettable experience.
If you have an idea, attraction, or top spot in Victoria, please comment or email us at contact@explorevictoriaaustralia.com.
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Author Bio
Mark Wyld is a passionate writer and explorer, weaving tales inspired by a deep love for his home state of Victoria. With local knowledge, Mark seeks to share insights and experiences that captivate and inspire readers. When not immersed in writing, you can find him working in Disability Support or spending time with family and friends. Follow Mark for a journey through Victoria’s best sights, tastes and attractions.