Wingan Inlet

The first time I looked up information on Wingan Inlet I was surprised not only to see how many campsites were available at this remote location but that bookings started in October for the summer holidays. At six hours drive from Melbourne and with the barest of facilities this is one of the great escapes in Victoria. I have made many visits to this area at different times of the year and it has become one of my favourite places despite the long drive.

So what's at Wingan Inlet that keeps people coming back... The inlet is more like a shallow lake 2km or so long and a few hundred metres wide. The Wingan River snakes it's way through the inlet. It's a perfect place for a canoe with a leisurely paddle upstream to the rapids or downstream to the beach. There is a small jetty for mooring small boats although canoes are by far the most common craft around.

Just outside the mouth of the river is a small rocky island which is a breeding ground for seals. Landing on the island is prohibited but you will occasionally see a seal swim past in the river. At dusk the calls of the seals sound like cows mooing in the distance.

The beach at Wingan is just like any other beach in East Gippsland, beautiful and clean. A sheltered, shallow section at the west end of the beach is a popular spot for letting toddlers paddle in the water.

Large goannas and possums keep people on their toes watching their food and the blue wrens are quite tame. Currawongs, there are plenty of them, will even go into an open car in search of food.

There are a few good walks through the bush, the main ones being the walk to Elusive Lake (still on the "to do" list) and the walk down to the rapids. There is also a walking track along the coast for people looking for longer walks, with the most popular route being from Point Hicks to Mallacoota. Wingan River provides one of the view obstacles along this walk, requiring a 20m swim across the river down near the mouth. The shot on the right was taken while ferrying a hiker and backpacks across the river, a carefully balanced 2 man (sorry, person) canoe with only a few inches left out of the water.

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