Visitor Information -- The Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centre (tel. 1800/637 060 in Australia or 03/5151 3444; www.discovereastgippsland.com.au) is at 240 Main St., Bairnsdale. The Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre (tel. 1800/637 060 in Australia or 03/5155 1966; www.discovereastgippsland.com.au) is on the corner of Marine Parade and Princes Highway. Prom Country Visitor Information Centre (tel. 1800/630 704 in Australia or 03/5655 2233; www.visitpromcountry.com.au) is on the South Gippsland Highway at Korumburra. The Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre (tel. 1300/854 334 in Australia, or 03/5671 2444; www.visitbasscoast.com) is at 37 Watt St., Wonthaggi. All are open 9am to 5pm daily (except Christmas Day and Good Friday).

Getting There

The best way to get to Gippsland from Melbourne is by car. Take the Monash Freeway southeast and then take the M1 (Princes Freeway) through many of central Gippsland's cities and townships, including Warragul, Traralgon, and Sale, and on to Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, and Cann River. An alternate route is the South Gippsland Highway, which runs closer to the coast through Korumburra, Leongatha, and Foster before joining the Princes Highway at Sale.

V/Line (tel. 13 61 96 in Victoria; www.vline.com.au) has daily train service to Bairnsdale from Melbourne. There is a connection bus service to Lakes Entrance. A round-trip adult fare to Bairnsdale costs A$52.