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Major city · Australia

Lakes Entrance

Give it 2 nights if you want beach plus lake time; 1 night is enough to break the Melbourne–Sydney drive and see the entrance.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Lakes Entrance is where the Gippsland Lakes meet the sea: a small holiday town of about 4,800 people on the Princes Highway, with a patrolled ocean beach, calm inlet water and boat hire. It works as a one- or two-night stop on the coastal drive, not as a destination in itself. Come in summer for swimming, or in a shoulder month for quieter beaches and lower motel rates.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Dec–Mar for swimming; Nov and Apr for quieter beaches
avoid Jul–Aug (cold, wet, many operators closed)
Airports
MEL · MCO
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Lakes Entrance000 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Lakes Entrance, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or caravan-park cabin bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$180 (≈ US$120)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$320 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$160 (≈ US$110) · High A$280 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ninety Mile Beach and the ocean entranceGippsland Lakes boating and paddle boatsGriffith's Shell MuseumSummer beach holidays
Airports
MEL Melbourne Airport (About 3.5–4 h by car via the Princes Highway; no direct train to Lakes Entrance) · MCO Orbost Airport (Small field, no scheduled passenger service; check)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    14°C (57°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    15°C (59°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (25°C (77°F)), coolest Jul (5°C (41°F) low), wettest Jun (12 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Lakes Entrance: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

25°C (77°F)

15°C (59°F)

8 rd

Feb

25°C (77°F)

15°C (59°F)

7 rd

Mar

23°C (73°F)

13°C (55°F)

8 rd

Apr

20°C (68°F)

10°C (50°F)

9 rd

May

17°C (63°F)

8°C (46°F)

11 rd

Jun

14°C (57°F)

6°C (43°F)

12 rd

Jul

14°C (57°F)

5°C (41°F)

12 rd

Aug

15°C (59°F)

6°C (43°F)

12 rd

Sep

17°C (63°F)

7°C (45°F)

11 rd

Oct

19°C (66°F)

9°C (48°F)

11 rd

Nov

21°C (70°F)

11°C (52°F)

9 rd

Dec

23°C (73°F)

13°C (55°F)

8 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable along the Esplanade and Marine Parade, and Eastern Beach Road has a bike lane. Bikes, scooters and skateboards are not allowed on the footbridge to the ocean beach. A car helps for Eastern Beach, the camping reserve and day trips; there is no local bus network worth relying on.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Buchan Caves

go

Door to door: About 1 h each way

Car via Buchan, about 45 min

Guided cave tours run on set times; check times and book in summer.

Bairnsdale

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Car or coach along the Princes Highway, about 40 min

Rail link to Melbourne and the main regional services.

Orbost

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Car east on the Princes Highway, about 45 min

Small town; useful as a break on the drive to Mallacoota.

Mallacoota

overnight

Door to door: About 2.5–3 h

Car east on the Princes Highway, about 2.5 h

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep there.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

The Esplanade and Marine Parade

Waterfront motels and apartments; walk to the footbridge, boat hire and most eating places.

Princes Highway strip

Cheaper motels and caravan parks on the highway; a car is useful for the beach.

Eastern Beach Road

Quieter, closest to the patrolled ocean beach; bike lane into town.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–150 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
Mid
A$150–250 (≈ US$100–170) excl. bed
High
A$250 (≈ US$170)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 2 nights × A$180A$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$160A$640
Paddle boat or catamaran hire, one hour1 × A$40 · checkA$40
Fish and chips, one serve2 × A$18 · checkA$36
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$113
Trip total≈ A$310 per person per day, bed includedA$1,239≈ US$850

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Fish and chipsA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17)
Pub or club main mealA$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Motel double, summer weekendHigher in school holidays.A$180–320 (≈ US$120–250)
Paddle boat or catamaran hire, per hourcheckA$35–50 (≈ US$25–35)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A low-crime holiday town; the real risks are ocean rips, inlet jellyfish and wildlife on the highway at dusk.
  • Rip currents on the ocean beach: swim between the flags, and note patrolling is seasonal (roughly Christmas to Australia Day).
  • Jellyfish in the inlet; the enclosed swimming area is safest, best at higher tides.
  • Summer school holidays fill motels and caravan parks: book ahead.
  • Kangaroos and wildlife on roads at dawn and dusk.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Lakes EntranceLakes Entrance

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No embassies in town; consulates-general are in Melbourne.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Coach Lakes Entrance → Bairnsdale: about A$15–25 (≈ US$10–17), about 40 min (check)
  • Coach Lakes Entrance → Melbourne: about A$40–70 (≈ US$30–50), about 5–6 h (check)
  • Paddle boat hire, per hour: about A$35–50 (≈ US$25–35) (check)

Say or show

  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Where is the beach? — Where is the beach?
  • Is it patrolled today? — Is it patrolled today?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?

Most of the town has mobile coverage from the main national networks.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Lakes Entrance. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Dec–Mar for swimming; Nov and Apr for quieter beaches · avoid Jul–Aug (cold, wet, many operators closed) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources

Ask about Lakes Entrance

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