Date: 28th November 2021
Travelled: 40 kms from Lake Tyers Beach, to Nicholson, Victoria.
Visited: Gippsland Lakes Region. ย
Stayed: Nicholas River Holiday Park, $35 with all services. S37.81671, E147.73800
Budget: 10 days @ $0 per day.
We finally manage to escape the free campground behind the Waterwheel Tavern and return to the Princes Hwy. Itโs only a few kms further and we drive down the hill to Lakes Entrance.
First thing we see is a servo with diesel at $1.49, so we fill up enjoying the cheapest fuel since Sydney.
Lakes Entrance is a long sprawling town sitting along side a managed waterway that connects the Gippsland Lakes to the sea. We pass numerous caravan parks and just as many motels as we drive through. There is a substantial fishing port with many large trawlers moored at berths. At the far end of town we find the dump point and a large carpark. We enjoy a coffee before unloading the bikes and setting off for some exploring.
Thereโs an extensive cycle path along the waterfront. Finding the Cunninghame Arm Footbridge we ride across to the main beach which is part of 90 Mile Beach which stretches along the coast in Gippsland.
Not a beach day as you can see, the recent bad weather has left the water dirty and the surf messy.
As we ride around the foreshore the bird life is fabulous particularly the black swans which seemed to be everywhere.
Ten kms later we arrive back at the Jayco. We pack up the bikes, do a quick shop at Aldi before continuing on to Nicholson.
Nicholson is little more than a pub, caravan park and marina on the Nicholson River. However it is an access point to the Gippsland Rail Trail which we have already ridden part of at Orbost.
We manage to negotiate a spot down on the river adjacent the marina, the path behind the Jayco leading straight up to the rail trail. We have some lunch, unload the bikes once again and head off east for Bumberrah.
We return to the Jayco 20 kms later. Having passed through some wonderful farming country itโs a relatively easy (Pam disputes easy) ride thanks to the gradient being suitable for steam trains when the line was built. Mind you we have ridden 30 kms today so we are happy to be back in the Jayco enjoying a drink and relaxing.
Anyway we plan riding the other way tomorrow but that can wait till the next blog.
Michael + Pam
