Discover Bairnsdale: trails, Howitt Park and tours

If you’re looking for a hotel in Bairnsdale, it helps to decide in advance what you want to focus on during your stay. You can plan your time in the town around specific routes and places: the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail is also suitable for walkers, and the East Gippsland Rail Trail starts at Howitt Park. The park also offers a riverside setting, a canoe tree and a playground for children. The Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centre offers a free booking service for tours in the Gippsland Lakes region.

Trails and routes in Bairnsdale

The Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail can start in Bairnsdale and ends in Lakes Entrance. It is also suitable for walkers. If you’re planning to walk the trail during your stay, check the access conditions before setting out.

The East Gippsland Rail Trail starts at Howitt Park on McEacharn Street in Bairnsdale. The 96 km route runs from Bairnsdale to Newmerella. The starting point and route details serve different purposes for orientation: Howitt Park identifies the starting point in town, while the distance, together with Newmerella, indicates the route. Check the trail conditions before setting out.

For planning purposes, the difference is that the Discovery Trail is described as suitable for walkers, while the Rail Trail is described in terms of its length, starting point and endpoint. This means the information helps answer two different questions: Which activity might be right for you, and how is the longer route described geographically?

Howitt Park and tours in the region

Howitt Park is a scenic, shady reserve on the Mitchell River. A canoe tree stands in the park, notable for the size of its scar. There is also a playground for children. The river setting, tree and playground highlight different aspects of the same place: its landscape, a distinctive feature and something for children to enjoy.

If the playground is important to your plans, check its current condition before your visit, as facilities can change. It’s also a good idea to check access and trail conditions before setting out.

The Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centre offers a free booking service for tours in the Gippsland Lakes region. Tours include options by land, water and air. If you’d like to include other kinds of outings in your plans in addition to the two trails, the service covers several areas. Check current availability and the scope of the booking service before your trip. In this way, the service answers a different planning question from the trail information: it covers types of tours, while the trail details cover starting points, destinations or distances.

Discover more destinations: Cape Bridgewater, Stawell, Mount Clear, Princetown, Ballarat, Broadford, Seymour, Mortlake.

Go to the main travel overview: Victoria.