8 Outdoor Adventures in Gippsland for Explorers

Feeling stuck in the streets of Melbourne? Adventurers, Gippsland is calling you. A short drive west of the city, this is a region which doesn’t believe in giving explorers just one kind of adventure. In a few short hours you could be swapping city streets for misty peaks, wild coastlines, and rainforest trails all in the same weekend. But how you choose to discover it is up to you. Here are eight outdoor adventures in Gippsland.

Gippsland: The Region of Many Landscapes

Gippsland is far from homogenous; it’s a whole collection of landscapes crammed into one impressive region.

There are snowy mountains here, rugged coastlines where sea lions visit the beach, rainforests with elevated walkways and so much more. Shaped by ancient geology and the rise of the Great Dividing Range, the region is a patchwork of forests, river valleys, volcanic soils, and long stretches of sand and surf that all sit shockingly close together.

Adventurous people are drawn to the region, sucked in by its constant promise of something new to discover. Hike through fern filled gullies, paddle across calm lakes and rivers, cycle along forest ridges, cast a line into quiet estuaries, or head into the alpine areas in winter for snow-filled trails and skiing.

Outdoor Adventures in Gippsland

For active travellers, Gippsland is a region that never gets boring. There’s always another trail, waterway, or viewpoint waiting just around the corner.

Here’s what you could get up to during an active week in Gippsland.

1. Bushwalking in Tarra-Bulga National Park

Bushwalking in Tarra-Bulga National Park puts visitors right into cool, shaded forest filled with towering mountain ash and dense fern gullies. It’s an immediate breath of fresh air after a drive from the city. Well-known walks like the Tarra Valley Rainforest Walk wind through incredibly green, mossy terrain and cross small streams to gentle waterfalls, giving you a quiet and scenic experience that’s especially atmospheric in winter and spring.

2. Cycling in the Strzelecki Ranges

When walking doesn’t cut it, the Strzelecki Ranges is a great spot for cycling, taking you through some of Gippsland’s most untouched landscapes. Winding routes sit beneath towering mountain ash and through cool, shaded fern gullies. Dreamy.

The long, ridge-top stretches of Grand Ridge Roadoffer sweeping views and a real sense of remoteness, while the Grand Ridge Rail Trail provides a gentler ride between Boolarra and Mirboo North, rich with scenery and local character.

3. Experience the water of Gippsland by kayak

There’s a whole lot of water in Gippsland, not just at the coastline but in rivers and lakes too. Having said that, kayaking in Gippsland is most popular around the Gippsland Lakes, where calm, sheltered waterways make it nice and easy to hire a kayak and explore.

In Paynesville, companies like Gippsland Holidays Kayak Hire offer direct kayak rentals on the waterfront, giving access to Lake King and the surrounding canals. In Lakes Entrance, Venture Out Australia provides kayak hire and guided paddles through calm sections of the Gippsland Lakes, including Cunningham Arm.

4. Go surfing or paddle boarding in Inverloch

It wouldn’t be Australia with the option to get in the ocean and maybe even surf. In the southern part of Gippsland, surfing and stand-up paddle boarding in Inverloch are popular thanks to a sheltered inlet here and consistent beach breaks.

On the calmer waters of Anderson Inlet, beginners can try paddle boarding with Inverloch SUP, which offers lessons and board hire directly from the beachfront, making it easy to get straight onto the water. For surfing, Offshore Surf School runs lessons and equipment hire at Inverloch Surf Beach, meeting at the main beach car park before heading out with instructors depending on conditions.

5. Fishing at Lake Tyers

Not quite as active, but still considered a bit of an adventure, fishing at Lake Tyers is popular for its calm estuary waters and reliable catches, including bream, flathead, and other estuarine species. The lake connects to the ocean near Lake Tyers Beach, creating a mix of salt and brackish water that supports a healthy fish population. Early mornings and late afternoons are often the best times to fish (it’s when the locals will be there), with quiet bushland and sandy foreshores providing a peaceful, natural setting for anglers of all experience levels.

6. Trail Running in Baw Baw National Park

Trail runners will fall in love with Baw Baw National Park, a place where alpine forest, creek crossings, and steep, technical climbs are located right around the Baw Baw Plateau.

Popular routes include the Mount St Gwinear Track (around 4–5 km one way), which climbs through forest to open alpine areas, and the Mount Erica Track (about 3 km one way), which leads to a scenic lookout after a steady forest ascent. Sections of the Alpine Walking Track also pass through the park, offering longer route options of roughly 10–20+ km depending on the segment you choose.

7. Hire a boat at the Mitchell River

Around Lakes Entrance and the Mitchell River mouth, visitors can hire boats to explore the waterways and the Gippsland Lakes system. Portside Boat Hire offers self-drive boats directly from Marine Parade, allowing people to cruise the lakes, fish, or explore the river mouth area without a licence. Another option is Blue Riviera Hire Boats, which also provides easy-to-operate hire boats for exploring the calm sections of the lakes and nearby channels. Select from different types of vessels, depending on your energy levels!

8. Go Skiing in Baw Baw National Park

This might be Australia, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ski. In the beautiful Baw Baw National Park, a small alpine resort at Mount Baw Baw is the closest ski area to Melbourne.

The resort offers beginner-friendly slopes, ski and snowboard lessons, and equipment hire, making it popular for day trips and first-time snow visitors. In winter, the area receives regular snowfall, with gentle runs, toboggan areas, and cross-country ski trails weaving through snow gums and alpine terrain.

Where to stay in Gippsland

Right in the centre of town, Mantra Traralgon is a modern base for exploring the town and beyond into Gippsland. With spacious rooms and plenty of restaurants and bars just steps away, it’s an easy place to settle in after a day exploring the region.

Book your stay today.