The Blue Pool is a waterhole and gorge near Briagolong, just half an hour north of Sale. It’s a well-known swimming spot by locals. Enjoy a walk through nature on the Peregrine Lookout Trail, which takes about an hour return. BBQ and picnic areas are also available.
This is one of the most popular campsite in Briagolong State Forest with well established facilities and plenty of room.
The pools consist of a large waterhole that starts off shallow but quickly gets deep. The Bluff is a nice and steep five-minute climb with some amazing views over the Blue Pool area. If you fancy a bit more of a stroll, there is the Peregrine Lookout Trail, which takes about an hour return.
Between September to December, you may even be lucky enough to see some of the Peregrine falcons which nest there.
Australia’s longest Beach can be found right here in Gippsland.
From Mcloughlins Beach to the wide-open waterways of Lakes Entrance lies the Ninety Mile Beach – a pristine stretch of golden sand that separates the Gippsland Lakes from Bass Strait.
This is one of the most natural and unspoilt beaches in the world and is ideal for any number of beach activities from surf fishing to swimming or walking, seasonally whale and dolphin-spotting, building sandcastles, running up and down the dunes or just lazing in the sun.
Come for a drive an explore the coastal towns located along Ninety Mile Beach:
Just 15 minutes from Yarram, Mcloughlins Beach is amongst the southernmost beaches on the Ninety Mile Beach. The estuary and beach make for ideal fishing spots and there is also a two-ramp boat ramp for boaties, jetty and footbridge.
With plenty of bird life, native fauna, photographic opportunities and walking tracks, Mcloughlins Beach is a fantastic day out…but bring snacks as there aren’t any shops.
This tiny coastal community offers a relaxed vibe to enjoy the vast Ninety Mile Beach with patrolled swimming during the summer months. Easy beachside parking, general store for all your drink and snack needs, caravan park and the Surf Life Saving Club bar and restaurant are also open over the summer months.
With large grassy reserves, easy foreshore access, playground, toilets, barbecue and picnic facilities, Seaspray is the perfect stopover. The beach is patrolled over summer months and the Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club offer a great meal with a great view from their restaurant. Great caravan park is on offer and the General Store has brilliant fish and chips – grab some and head to the park or the beach.
Golden Beach is situated within the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park on the stunning Ninety Mile Beach just 25 minutes from Sale.
This gorgeous coastal town offers 9-hole golf course where the main attractions are the kangaroos that inhabit the fairways with meals on Saturday nights, RV Park and general store offering great fish and chips, fuel groceries including fresh bread, liquor, bait and gas bottles.
Around 6½ kms south-west of the Golden Beach, is the Trinculo shipwreck. Be sure to stop off and take a look at her iron spine sticking out of the sand after she ran aground due to bad weather in 1858.
This hugely popular village is ideally positioned between the waters of Lake Victoria and Bass Strait. Loch Sport is one of the larger towns along Ninety Mile Beach with facilities including supermarket and many varying accommodation options. Hire a kayak and take a paddle around Lake Victoria, grab an round of golf, watch the action from the waterside Loch Sport Marina Hotel or check out one of the surrounding national parks.
Situated just north of the township of Briagolong, along the southern fall of the Great Dividing Range lies the Briagolong State Forest. The Briagolong State Forest has a rich history, with the original inhabitants of the region, the Briakoloong People, using the vast forest resources for building of canoes and shelters, as well as sourcing food, clothing and tool making. The early European explorers relied heavily on Koori guides during the exploration that was responsible for the opening up of the region. In the late 1800’s, these forests teemed with prospectors searching for that ever-elusive gold to bring them instant wealth.
Evidence of Aboriginal occupation can still be found today throughout the area with the recording of many archaeological sites including scarred tress, grinding grooves and artefact scatters. The Freestone Creek, Lees Creek and Granite Creek areas were the location of several alluvial gold mines. These were first discovered in the mid-1860s and though not highly profitable, continued to be worked into the twentieth century. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, a track existed to service the needs of the miners, connecting Briagolong and Gladstone Creek to the goldfields at Lees Creek and Granite Creek.
Nowadays, the Briagolong State Forest is home to fantastic bush-walks, with picnic and camping spots available for use to the public, and is known for the Blue Pool, a gem deep in the bush, that is now a beloved swimming hole that was formed in a basalt gorge.
The Knob Reserve in Stratford is part of the Bataluk Cultural Trail and is an important place for the GunaiKurnai people. The reserve is set on a 56 hectare site with a lookout platform affording views over local farmlands and the Avon River. The reserve is ideal for a picnic with barbeques, tables and chairs and a playground.
Migration routes used by the First People passed by what is now the Princes Highway, the Knob Reserve had sheltered campsites and was close to the river and fertile river flats that supplied plenty of good food and water and would have allowed large gatherings of clans from the GunaiKurnai nation to meet for feasting, corroborees and other ceremonies.
The current Knob Reserve walk loops around the park and takes in evidence of canoe trees and sandstone outcrops that would have been used to sharpen axe heads. At the crest of the hill, an easy walk from the car park, is a lookout platform where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view across the local farmlands, the foothills and the Avon River.
Australia's largest and most beautiful inland waterways, the Gippsland Lakes are a network of lakes, marshes and lagoons covering over 600 square kilometres. The Lakes are separated from the ocean by coastal dunes known as Ninety Mile Beach. Bird and marine life thrive here, with lake dolphins and pelicans frequenting many locations.
Beginning at Sale on the Thomson River, there are three main lakes: Lake King, Lake Victoria and Lake Wellington and they are all joined and fed by rivers that originate in the high country, including the Mitchell, Nicholson, Tambo and Avon rivers. The lakes include many small islands, which are reached easily by ferry or water taxi.
At Badger & Hare, our philosophy is based on three pillars – great coffee, fresh food and the customer experience. Our seasonal menu ranges from sweet & savoury breakfasts to gourmet lunches, inspired by a genuine love of food. Perfect for brunch or a long lunch, the Badger is fully licenced so you can enjoy a glass of bubbles as you while away the hours in the sunshine amongst the citrus trees and cottage garden.
At Badger & Hare we are serious about coffee. Very serious! In fact, our coffee is recognised as one of the best in Gippsland. We love our Dukes Coffee specialty brew. Roasted in Richmond and featuring caramel and chocolate notes, we discovered this delight in Melbourne’s famous Flinders Lane!
Our seasonal menus range from sweet and savoury breakfasts to gourmet lunches and takeaway bites, each inspired by a genuine love of food. Perfect for brunch or a long lunch, the Badger is fully licenced. Come and enjoy a glass of bubbles as you while away the hours in the sunshine amongst the citrus trees and cottage garden.