Without doubt, the former ship building centre of Paynesville is one of the most popular holiday places in Victoria for numerous water sports. Here you will find just about any type of activity related to water, as well as marvellous scenery and a generous abundance of wildlife. It is the ideal spot for both nature enthusiasts and water lovers.
About three hundred kilometres east of Melbourne, Paynesville is a captivating settlement, surrounded by lakes among Australia’s famous Gippsland waterways. The unique placement between Lake Victoria, Lake King and Lake Wellington affords visitors access to both fresh water and salt water activities in the area’s immense network of rivers, coastal waterways and lakes.
Paynesville is surely the area’s central location for boating. There are countless marinas for docking, launching or renting a boat. The comprehensive canal systems make it simple to travel around the whole of East Gippsland. Boaters can sail their own or charter vessels for dining, fishing or sightseeing.
Also, there are numerous chances for tubing, kayaking and canoeing in the Mitchell River area. This is a wonderful place for experiencing the wildlife areas, wilderness landscapes and magnificent scenery. A truly interesting natural feature to be seen here is called the Silt Jetties. These are 8 kilometre long deltas formed at the mouth of the river and are the second biggest of their type in the world.
As well as all the aquatic recreational activities, Paynesville also is noted for being the place to study plant varieties, geological formations and native wildlife species. In addition to the lakes and waterways, the local environments include woods, grasslands and marshlands. Nature fanciers assemble here to watch a vast variety of animals which are teeming in their native habitats.
Among the most popular magnets for nature buffs would be the bird observatory at Rotamah Island, located on the shores of Lake Victoria. This facility is operated by the Royal Australian Ornithologists’ Union and is internationally known as a field study centre. It also operates as a museum which boasts photography, art and artefacts. Visitors here will find a large number of enthralling exhibits linked to plant life, local ecology and animal behaviour.
Birdwatchers can see literally hundreds of species of native birds, fish and mammals in the famed Lakes National Park, including rare varieties of pelicans, ducks and swans. This area is considered as having one of the most significant populations of wading birds in Australia. Guided tours also enable tourists to spot koalas, emus and kangaroos in the wild.
Of course, the lake system is heavily used for commercial and recreational fishing and almost all of the lakes are accessible by boat. The waters here have diverse varieties of fish species for fishermen, but certainly the most plentiful and popular are the black bream and the mullet. Fishing trips and assorted boating tours are available for all the lakes and rivers from most marinas around Paynesville. Many avid windsurfers, divers and water skiers regularly visit the waters here.
You can also find restaurants, shopping and first-rate Paynesville accommodation. Also, there are regular market events, yacht races and festivals. Without doubt, Paynesville is Australia’s premier location for natural and nautical vacationing.
If the daily 9 to 5 grind in Sydney or Melbourne is starting to take its toll, then it might be time to head out on the Princess Highway to Mallacoota, an isolated paradise, and not just for golfers.