The Entrance Walk, Lakes Entrance
The Entrance Walk, Lakes Entrance
A stunning loop walk, following the coastal bush track to the actual Lakes 'Entrance', with plenty of highlights. You can choose to return along the track or via the wild, beautiful Ninety Mile Beach.
Summary
A stunning loop walk, following the coastal bush track to the actual Lakes 'Entrance', with plenty of highlights. You can choose to return along the track or via the wild, beautiful Ninety Mile Beach.
Description
The best known of Lakes Entrance's great walks, this 5km circuit meanders along a bush track through banksia, tea tree and boobialla before making its way to the iconic Entrance.
The track makes the most of its location, with Australia's largest inland network of waterways providing plenty of great views - not least of which is the Entrance itself (you'll get a great view from Flagstaff Lookout). Seals and dolphins are a common sight down by the Entrance.
To access this walk you'll need to cross the Cunninghame Arm footbridge from the Lakes Entrance Esplanade, and you'll find the track start just by the cafe / kiosk at the bottom of the Surf Life Saving Club.
Along the way you can detour to the 'relics loop' and learn about the history of the Entrance, a man-made channel linking Bass Strait and the Tasman Sea with the giant network of inland waterways known as the Gippsland Lakes.
You may also wish to stop by the cottages that housed some of the workforce. These cottages are still leased out to descendants of the workers.
Our route takes you back to the start point via Ninety Mile Beach, however you could return along the track or by the lake shoreline at low tide.
WALK NOTES
Accessibility: Please note that this walk features steps in some parts, including lots of steps up to the Flagstaff lookout. Much of the track is also sandy, so it may take your group longer to walk than the suggested 2 hours 10 minutes.
A local community group has recently secured funding to make some improvements to this walk, including revegetating, better signage and recycled mesh paths to make heavy-going, sandy sections of the track easier and more accessible.
Beware that Ninety Mile Beach is only patrolled during the summer months and can be a dangerous spot to swim.
Dogs are allowed on this walk but must be on lead. There are some restrictions in summer months. See the rules for dogs on beaches at East Gippsland Shire Council's webpage.
This map was created with assistance from LEADA and support from VicHealth.
32009 Views
Points of Interest
1. The Entrance Walk starts here
The famous Entrance walk begins over the Cunninghame Footbridge near the Surf Club. See the little green information hut to the right of this photo? The track starts here.
2. Lookout
Take the little sandy stairs up. There's also a lookout point over the area's commercial fishing fleet near here.
3. Coastal flora
Surprisingly you might feel like you're in the bush -albeit a sandy one - for the first half of this walk! Some beautiful indigenous species, including coastal banksia. Watch out for native animals!
4. Tea tree and boobialla
At some points of the walk, recycled plastic mesh track has been laid to make the walking easier - and to protect the vegetation. Be sure to stay on track!
5. Toilets and Flagstaff Jetty
When you emerge from the track you have a few options. Toilet break? And you may decide to take a detour to the historic cottages, as we did. They housed workers who built the channel; the 'Entrance'.
6. Historic cottages
These quaint cottages were known as Carpentertown . Learn about the lucky people who get to stay in them now at the link!
7. Private jetties
Wouldn't mind a lakefront cottage and your own jetty? How lovely.
8. 'New Works'
After visiting the cottages you can head up to the Flagstaff Lookout, but stop to learn about how the Entrance was built all those years ago.
9. Flagstaff Lookout over Entrance (Visit Victoria)
Climb the ramp to Flagstaff Lookout for the view over the Entrance where the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait collide with the Lakes! Your view won't be quite this good (Photo: Luminaire Pictures).
10. Winch on the 'Relics trail'
If you're a history fan you'll love this little detour, showcasing some of the equipment used to construct the channel. You'll also see the modern dredge pumping station.
11. Entrance pier
This is a wild junction where you can see the water surging into (or out) of the Lakes from the little pier. It's also a great spot to see seals and dolphins if you're lucky! Stay back from the rocks.
12. Back along Ninety Mile
Love a beach walk? Then this is the best way back! Low tide is best so you don't have to battle through soft sand.
13. Dredge spout / outlet
Half way back you'll see the pump spout out in the water and this tube. This is for the Entrance dredging, with the dredged sand sprayed back out to sea here.
14. Back at surf club tower
You've made it back! In summer months surf life savers patrol, so you may want to take a splash if conditions permit.
15. Back over the footbridge
Ready to head into town? Isn't the Cunninghame Arm bridge a beauty? We hope you loved this walk as much as we did. See link for information about a planned new boardwalk to depart from this point.
Features
Seating available
Public toilets
Historical interest
Local treasures
Nature trail
Lake, creek, river
