Central Gippsland

Central Gippsland is a region of Victoria, Australia, which includes the LGAs of Wellington and Latrobe.

Cities

• 1 Dargo — small mountain town with gold mining heritage
• 2 Maffra — small town with a rich local history
• 3 Sale — commercial centre of the Central Gippsland region
• 4 Seaspray — small coastal town on the Ninety Mile Beach
• 5 Stratford – small town on the Avon River with many parks and cafes to see, as well as a yearly Shakespeare festival
• 6 Traralgon – this Latrobe Valley city holds some coal heritage

Other destinations

• 1 Tarra-Bulga National Park – small patch of temperate rainforest.

Get in

Traralgon and all other major settlements along the highway / train line can be reached from the state capital, Melbourne, via the Princes highway (M1) or via the V/line train and coach service. Trains and/or coaches run approximately every hour to 90 minutes.

See

• Mt Tassie offers 360-degree panoramic views from the highest peak in the Strzelecki Ranges. You can see the mountains of the Great Dividing Range to the north, and Wilsons Prom to the south, as well as the Latrobe Valley Coal Fields.
• Tyers Park has some wildflowers, birds and native animals that can be seen. Its outcrops of limestone and conglomerate are of considerable geological interest. The limestone contains both plant and animal fossils.
• Tarra-Bulga National Park. Tarra-Bulga National Park in Central Gippsland is well known for its giant Mountain Ash trees, beautiful fern gullies and ancient myrtle beeches. The park covers 2015 ha of some of the best examples of original cool temperate rainforests of the Strzelecki Ranges. 

Do

• Morwell National Park (The park is 16 km south of Morwell. Access is via Churchill or Yinnar.). The one-hour Fosters Gully walk (access via Jumbuk Road) is dominated by mature manna gums and scrubby rainforest. It is a loop track which returns via a dry ridge of stringy bark trees. Expect to see koalas, wallabies and possibly lyrebirds. Wombats may make an appearance at dusk. Free electric barbecue facilities are available. 
• Grand Ridge Rail Trail. A 13-km bike/walking trail between Mirboo North and Boolarra. 
• Powerworks, Ridge Road Morwell, adjacent to the M1 Freeway., ☏ +61 3-5135 3415. Open weekdays from 9AM-5PM. Interactive display and coal mine tours, providing information and education programs about the Latrobe Valley Power Industry, which supplies more than 85% of Victoria's Electricity requirements. 
• Hazelwood Pondage, Yinnar Road, Via Churchill. (Follow signposts (C456) from M1 Freeway.). Unnaturally warm artificial lake which remains at a minimum of 22 degrees at all times. On cold winter mornings there is an eerie mist rising from the lake. In June, Hazelwood Pondage hosts an annual sailing regatta, the Latrobe City Sauna Sail. Facilities include disabled access to sailing dinghies, BBQ’s, children’s playground, toilets, picnic area and a caravan and camping park. 
• Blacksmithing course, Main St, Yinnar, ☏ +61 3 51 631310. Offered several weekends per year, the basic blacksmithing course is an introduction to the theory and practice of making tools, different types of steel and their heat treatment. Several projects are completed including a centre punch, cold chisel, scriber and utility knife. $95 includes materials, notes, morning and afternoon tea. 
• The Grand Strzelecki Track. 85km bushwalking and hiking track (3 or 4 day hike) joining Morwell National Park to Tarra-Bulga National Park. 

Buy

• Australian Wattle Woodcraft, 22 Main Road Yinnar 3869, ☏ +61 3 5163 1798. Handcrafted timber chopping boards and cheese boards. Blackwood and camphor timber used. From $20. 

Eat

The food variety is fairly even in Central Gippsland, with towns such as Sale or Traralgon having more of a variety while other smaller towns such as Stratford may not have as much to offer. Nevertheless, the typical aspects of Australian cuisine, including the ethnic cuisines can be found in this region.

Go next

Wilsons Promontory National Park is about 1.5–2 hours' drive away.