This unique and picturesque park
consists of lakes, wetlands, marine and terrestrial environments. The
Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park is a narrow coastal reserve covering
17,584 hectares along a portion of the Ninety Mile Beach, from
Seaspray to Lakes Entrance. The park also includes the internationally
significant Lake Reeve, several islands and the Boole Poole Peninsula.
Things to Do:
Camping
Designated camping sites are
situated between Paradise Beach and The Honeysuckles along Shoreline
Drive at Golden Beach.
Boat based bush camping sites are
available at Bunga Arm east of Steamer Landing.
A few bush camping sites are also
situated west of Loch Sport. Basic facilities are provided at some
of these sites. It is recommended that water be carried.
Picnicking
There are many picnic areas in
natural surroundings throughout the park.
Swimming
There are swimming sites along the
sheltered lake shores. Take great care when swimming along the
Ninety Mile Beach. It is recommended that swimming be contained
within flagged areas patrolled by surf life saving clubs.
Fishing
Surf fishing along the Ninety Mile
Beach or lake fishing from a boat, bank or jetty is popular
throughout the park. Bream, Flathead, Skip Jack, Luderick and Mullet
are the main fish caught.
Please note that a recreational
fishing licence is required for all coastal and inland waters.
Boating
The Lakes provide excellent
opportunities for boating and water skiing in designated areas.
Boat ramps are situated at
Seacombe, Wattle Point, Paynesville, Metung, Nungurner, Loch Sport
and Lakes Entrance.
Jetties for access to the park are
provided at Barrier Landing, Drews Jetty, Ocean Grange, Silver Shot
Landing and Steamer Landing.
Boat operators are encouraged to
use the sewage pump out or hopper facilities situated around the
lakes for the disposal of sewage.
Horse Riding
Horse riding is permitted along
formed tracks within the park, west of Loch Sport.
Horse riding is not permitted on
the Ninety Mile Beach.
Walking
Management tracks, which are
normally closed to private vehicles, provide ready access for
walkers to explore some of the more secluded areas of the park.
The Ninety Mile Beach is also
excellent for walking.
Hunting
Licensed hunting and firearms are
permitted in designated areas of the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.
Wild duck, Stubble Quail and Hog Deer may be hunted in season only.
All hunting must be done in
accordance with the regulations as set out under the Wildlife,
National Parks and Firearms Acts. Hunting is not permitted on
private property without permission.
Facilities
Toilets, water, picnic tables and
fireplaces are provided at major sites.
Drinking water and firewood are not
readily available and visitors should carry their own supply, or
alternatively bring a gas barbecue. Fires are only permitted in the
fireplaces provided.
Heritage
The Gippsland Lakes fall within the
boundaries of the area occupied by the Tatungalung clan of the Gunai/Kurnai
people. Evidence of their occupation occurs in numerous midden sites
containing shellfish remains, charcoal and burnt pebbles.
The first European records of the
Gippsland Lakes were by Angus McMillan in 1840 and of the seaward
entrance to the lakes by John Reeve in 1842. The wreck of a ship, the
Trinculo which was beached in 1858, is still evident today west of
Delray Beach.
Historic sites in the park include the
"Honeymoon Cottage" on Boole Poole Peninsula and the blow hole sites
on the outer barrier adjacent to Bunga Arm. The site of construction
of the artificial entrance to the sea at Lakes Entrance and eel
farming ponds near McLennan Strait are still evident today. Remains of
more recent activity include survey lines and sealed bores left from
petroleum exploration.
Fauna
The Ninety Mile Beach is a good place
to observe shore and ocean birds such as shearwaters, terns and gulls.
Parts of the Gippsland Lakes system, including Lake Reeve, are listed
under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,
especially as waterfowl habitat. The lakes attract the largest
concentration of migratory waders in East Gippsland and are host to
breeding colonies of the vulnerable Fairy Terns and Little Terns. You
may also observe Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper and Bar-tailed
Godwit to name a few.
Within the heathy woodland areas of
the park you will see many species of bird including the Common Bronze
Wing, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Grey Butcherbird, Eastern Yellow
Robin and the gracious Wedge-tailed Eagle. The park supports a large
population of Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Black Wallabies and the common
Brush-tailed and Ring-tailed Possums. Less common mammals include
Sugar Gliders, Eastern Pygmy Possums and the endangered New Holland
Mouse.
Vegetation
The plants growing in the park can be
divided into three main types: coastal, swamp and heathy woodland.
These grow mostly on leached sand of low fertility. Coastal vegetation
growing along the seaward side of the dunes is adapted to grow in
harsh conditions of wind, salt, sun, shifting sand, little water and
few nutrients. These plants include Hairy Spinifex, Marram Grass,
Cushion Bush, Coast Saltbush, Sea Rocket and Coastal Everlasting.
Behind the dunes conditions are less
severe allowing Coastal Tea-tree thickets and Coast Banksia woodlands
to grow. Swamp vegetation grows around the lakes and includes rushes,
sedges and Swamp Paperbark.
Heath vegetation is also adapted to
grow in poor soils. Major species include Shining Peppermint,
Yertchuk, Coastal Tea-tree and Saw Banksia. The more common
understorey plants consist of Bracken, Silky Tea-tree, Sweet Wattle
and Common Heath. The diverse range of habitats within the park enable
plenty of opportunities for viewing a wide range of wildlife.
Looking After
the Park
Campers are required to maintain a
clean and tidy camp site at all times. Between December and Easter,
bins are provided for campers' refuse at the Paradise Beach Camping
Ground and west of Golden Beach. Outside of this peak period and in
areas where bins are not provided, campers are required to take
their rubbish away.
In the Gippsland Lakes Costal Park,
dogs are only permitted (on a leash at all times) at the following
locations: Barrier Landing, Ocean Grange, Paradise Beach, Loch Sport
Causeway, The Wreck, Flamingo Beach, The Honeysuckles and between
camp sites one to six on Shoreline Drive at Golden Beach.
Dogs are not permitted in other
areas of the park nor between camp sites seven to twenty along
Shoreline Drive, Golden Beach.
Owners are also required to clean
up their dog's litter.
Dogs used for the flushing or
retrieval of game birds are permitted in the hunting zones of the
park, during and 24 hours prior to, the commencement of the open
season.
Fires are not permitted on the
Ninety Mile Beach and are not permitted anywhere on days of Total
Fire Ban.
Camp fires may only be lit in
fireplaces provided or in a 30cm deep pit in designated camping
areas. They are to be clear of all flammable material within a
radius of three metres.
Fires are to be no larger than one
square metre in size and must not be left unattended. Camp fires
must be completely extinguished with water before leaving.
All native plants and animals in
the park are protected by law. (Except for certain game species
during the hunting season.)
Vehicles must stay on formed tracks
and are not permitted "off road" including the Ninety Mile Beach.
Firearms are not permitted (except in hunting areas in season).
How to Get
There
The Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park is in
East Gippsland. The western section of the park is accessible by road
via Seaspray and Golden Beach. The eastern section of the park is
accessible only by boat.
