Metung… Too good to be true…

About Metung

Metung retains its small village atmosphere, located in the heart of the Gippsland Lakes, 314km east of Melbourne.

From Metung, the Gippsland Lakes stretch out before you. The village is set in the gentle curve of Bancroft Bay, with Lake King at its back.

This wonderful, natural environment is home to amazing bird life, dolphins and fish, and a wide range of native animals. The Gippsland Lakes also offer unrivalled boating – sheltered inland waterways free from rocks, reefs and tides – it’s a boating and yachty’s paradise.

The weekend Metung Market in the village square is the place to go for a taste of delicious local produce, held on the second Saturday of each month. Keep an eye on our Events page, or the Metung, Gippsland Lakes Facebook page, for the latest dates.

Metung is all about boats. There is a boat launching ramp on Shaving Point, and some accommodation properties offer jetty mooring.  Boat ramps are also nearby at Swan Reach, Nicholson and Lakes Entrance. There are designated water skiing areas around Metung.

If you don’t own a boat then Riviera Nautic has all types of hire boats available in Metung, or you can join a cruise in nearby Lakes Entrance. Day boats are also for hire in Lakes Entrance.

You can tie your boat up for a short stay at the Metung Jetty and enjoy a meal at the Metung pub, or a short stroll to the village and check out the other food options.

For Yachty’s, the Metung Yacht Club holds a full racing calendar between October and April each year, including junior sailing, and classic wooden boats. Visitors are welcome.

Bancroft Bay is also a great place to launch your kayak, and gently paddle around the local inlets. If you don’t have a kayak, they can be hired from nearby Lakes Entrance adventure stores.

If you have a boat, a trip to the Barrier Landing gives you easy access to the Ninety Mile Beach. The Barrier also has a lovely swimming beach on the lake side.

Nearby Nungurner is nestled around a tiny cove, where there is also good swimming.

Lakes Entrance is only a short drive where you can enjoy a walk across the landmark footbridge to the sand dunes and coastline of Bass Strait. There is a magnificent surf beach, which is patrolled in the summer months.

The Metung back beach is a gentle sandy beach with a picnic area. It’s a perfect swimming beach for families.

BBQ facilities are available in the village green, the Lake King back beach, and at Shaving Point. The Patterson Park playground & splash park, and Metung Village Green are ideal areas for family picnics, with a great playground area for children.

Nearby Boxes Creek has a lovely walking track along its banks. Watch out for the resident sea eagles, kingfishers, and sooty oystercatchers as you walk along.

There are other lovely bushwalking trails through the Colquhoun Regional Park, and the Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail.

Nyerimilang, about 10 km east of Metung, offers picnic grounds with barbeques, walking trails and spectacular lake views.

Cantrills Lookout walking track is another local’s favourite, a short but steep walking track to a lookout that has an amazing view down Chinamans Creek to Bancroft Bay.

For an easy scenic walk, the local Metung Boardwalk offers a comfortable picturesque walk looking over Bancroft Bay, and extends from Chinamans Creek to the Village. The shoreline of Lake King is another walk providing spectacular views east to Paynesville and the distant ranges. It’s also the place to take in the stunning sunsets that Metung experiences. Historical signage on these walks tell of the history of Metung, such as Bulls Shipyard, the WW2 sea plane base, and Charles Edward paddle steamer story and sculpture.

Explore the famous Buchan Caves.

Head to Cape Conran Coastal Park for the day, and along the way stop at Orbost or Marlo, for lunch.

Bring your bikes and cycle the Gippsland Rail Trail, or join one of the guided cycle tour groups operating in the region. If you’re up for a challenge, bring your mountain bike and try the MTB Trail at Colquhoun MTB Park, or cycle the East Gippsland Rail Trail running for 100 km along the old Bairnsdale to Orbost railway line.

And for the golfers, book a round or two at the Kings Cove Golf Club, only a few minutes out of town.  Stunning greens and generous fairways will guarantee a great days golf. After your round, relax in the modern clubhouse facilities for a coffee or a more rewarding beverage.

It’s easy to go fishing in Metung. The boardwalk is a great place to fish from in Bancroft Bay, or the public jetties in the village centre and back beach. There’s also a public jetty in Nungurner, and one in Kalimna to fish from.

Take a boat to fish deeper holes for mulloway or flathead, or try the nearby Tambo, famous for its catches. A boat trip to the Barrier Landing will give you access to surf fishing, where salmon catches are common.

Between January and April each year the prawns run, and it’s every fisher for themselves!

 And if you need bait, fishing rods and tackle, or a fishing licence, then the Metung Village Store is the place to go.

Sands at Metung is a local gift shop with boutique jewellery, scarves and fascinating gifts.

Grab some local fish and chips, or a burger or souvlaki from Bella’s and sit and watch the sun going down across the Gippsland Lakes. Aroma Metung, Café Chez Joe and The Local serve up a delicious range of quick bites, pizzas and meals.

If you fancy a picnic, The Farmer & The Cook create made-to-order cheese, antipasto, seafood platters, dessert platters.

The Metung Hotel has some great meals and beer, and a magical view from its deck.

The Metung Yacht Club welcomes you to enjoy a drink in a friendly club atmosphere overlooking the Metung Marina & Bancroft Bay. Visitors are welcome.

Check out the Metung Bakery for a selection of delicious sweets, sandwiches, local pies and coffee. Effloresce Café serves cakes and award-winning vanilla slices.

For a real delicacy Chocodence Chocolates are meticulously hand made in Metung. Beautifully decorated and gift wrapped, truffles, fudges and chocolates can bought at the Metung Village Store, or Effloresce Café and Gifts.

The Metung Village store has everything you need for your stay in Metung. Open 7 days a week.

A number of wineries and boutique breweries operate in the region, and host wine and beer tasting’s, cellar door sales, and dining on selected days.

Follow the Twin Rivers Food and Wine Trail to sample fresh local produce.

Head to the Bullant Brewery on the Great Alpine Road in Bruthen to sample the locally brewed beer, and great meals.

Aboriginal people have lived in the vast region of Gippsland for tens of thousands of years and the ancient culture of the local Gunaikurnai people lives on today. You can See local artefacts, hear Dreamtime stories and learn about the traditional lifestyles of the first inhabitants of the region, from the sacred land now known as Wilsons Promontory National Park and the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place in Bairnsdale to Cape Conran, Metung and Ninety Mile Beach.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

As you travel through Gippsland, more often than not you’ll be following routes that the Gunai (Kurnai) and Monaro people have travelled for over 18,000 years. With the mountains a two or three day walk to the north and the lakes and ocean a one or two day walk to the south, the path which is now the Princes Highway formed the backbone of the network of trails and trading routes that spanned the region.

The Bataluk Cultural Trail extends from Sale through Mitchell River National Park, Bairnsdale, and Orbost to Cape Conran.

It follows the trails and trading routes of pre-colonial days and focuses on elements of Koorie history and culture.

Find out more here: batalukculturaltrail.com.au

Craftspeople

Spend some time at the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place in Bairnsdale where the local people will show you examples of the skilled craftsmanship of traditionally made baskets, spears, shields and canoes.

While much of the Aboriginal history of Gippsland is deep in the area’s past, local Aboriginal communities are also now presenting it to visitors as a part of nature walks, guided tours, cultural talks and travelling exhibitions.