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Lakes
Entrance
Victoria's Riviera
By
Richard Moore
Lakes
Entrance Map
About
three hours' drive east of Melbourne is the lovely region of the
Gippsland Lakes.
They
are a 400 square kilometre network of lakes, marshes and lagoons
that are joined to the ocean of Bass Strait by a man-made channel
at Lakes Entrance.
The
lakes are part of an amazing wildlife area that supports numerous
species of rare and endangered animals and plantlife.
There
are about 300 native fauna and 400 native flora species in the lakes'
wetlands, which also support some 20,000 waterbirds.
Lakes
Entrance is a lovely little fishing town that draws a lot of its
income from tourism.
Camping
and water sports are popular in the area and the weather is good,
giving the lakes region the nickname of Victoria's Riviera.
Nearby
is the mighty 90-Mile Beach which, suirprisingly, is a pretty accurate
name as the sands stretch for 94 miles or 151km along the Gippsland
Lakes shoreline.
It
is a wild stretch of coast that includes sand dunes, rough seas
and strong rips. Swimming is best done at the towns of Woodside,
Seaspray and Lakes Entrance where they have surf patrols.
Another
reason to be cautious when thinking of swimming there is that in
mating season loads of Great White Sharks swim in close to the beach
to do their thing and that's the last thing you want to interrupt.
Actually, it probably would be the last thing you interrupt. Anyway
during the danger times there are signs placed along the beach so
be sure to keep your eyes open.
Now
I have to say that of all the places in the Gippsland Lakes area
the one that grabs me the most is Metung. It is in between Bairnsdale
and Lakes Entrance and a bit off the main highway but it is a beautiful
and serene spot at which to stay.
And
here is another suggestion when down at the lakes region you must,
must, must try the flathead tails. They are a fish-lovers delight!
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THINGS
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