☑️ Child friendly
☑️ Wheelchair friendly
☑️ Pram friendly
☑️ Bicycle friendly
⭐ Stair rating - No stairs
Duration/Length:
Approx. 5km return
Time/Date:
1.00pm 18 Feb 2023
Another week of scrambling between children, work, study and chores has ground to a halt. Although the working week is not dissimilar to the weekend when you’re a working mother of three. However, against all odds, I’ve stolen a couple of hours to myself, a bit of “me time”, for a date with the Lakes.
So here goes nothing, my first step in beginning this blogging adventure... Gippsland is home to some of the most beautiful walking tracks in the country. With stunning scenery and plenty of wildlife to spot, it's no wonder that people come from all over to enjoy these walking trails. Whether you're a keen hiker or just looking for a relaxed stroll, there's a walking track in Gippsland that's perfect for you.
It’s the perfect day for a walk by the lake, 19 degrees, a couple of clouds and a light cool breeze off the water which ripples from the breeze, reflecting onto the hulls of the boats docked nearby.
I begin today’s walk at the Western end of the Esplanade, a short jetty walk from the Floating Dragon. The car park here has no parking limit, so you could take off from here with the family for the whole day if you like.
One of the best aspects of this walk is the super wide footpath, stretching from here to the Footbridge it is a couple of metres wide, constructed of half aluminium mesh and half cement; both equally comfortable to walk on. During peak months (September to March) the Lakes Entrance population fluctuates dramatically so this footpath works wonderfully to accommodate the large volume of foot traffic, prams, wheelchairs and the like.
There are just as many cyclists as there are pedestrians along the Esplanade today. The entire stretch of footpath is very flat making it perfect for alternative forms of transport, such as skateboards and scooters.
Fishing trawlers assemble along the righthand side of the path, docked with military precision, for the first hundred or so metres of the walk. The breeze casts a whiff of fish in my direction. Several vessels display “Fresh Prawns and Fish” signs, reminding me they aren’t docked there purely for their visual pleasure.
There’s nothing better than a Sunday trip to the Esplanade for fish and chips. Picnic tables line the left-hand side of the path through to the footbridge, which then opens out into a grassed expanse perfect for your picnic of Fish and chips or Pizza. If they aren’t your thing though, there is no shortage of takeaway options along the Esplanade Chinese, Japanese, Bakery, Cafes, and Hotels.
If you’re fortunate to have children in tow, there are a few sandy sections off to the right where they can run off a bit of energy chasing seagulls or building a sandcastle or two.
Markets are held here each Saturday, unfortunately, today I arrived too late as they are starting to pack up. The Surf Club also hosts a Market by the Footbridge on the first Sunday of each month. These markets are jam-packed with local goods, Knick knacks, food trucks and coffee vans. If nothing strikes your fancy, at a bare minimum you can come away with a Lions Club sausage! It’s well worth a look and a great pit stop mid-way on your Esplanade walk…
Before I know it, I have arrived at the Footbridge and it’s time to recharge with a delicious latte from Salty Groms Café.
Coffee in hand, I take a small detour out onto the Footbridge, which is often scattered with fishermen. Today is no exception, and I see one man sporting a large bream as today’s catch.
To the East of the Footbridge is the Lakes Entrance Aqua Park. The Park operates until Easter so there's still plenty of time to test your limits on this inflatable playground.
Darcy Anna’s Kiosk, the Surf Club, and the patrolled surf beach are all situated on the other side of the Footbridge. This too is where “The Entrance Walk” begins, one of my absolute favourite walks of the area.
The outlook changes significantly once I pass Footbridge. The path is now full cement, but still quite wide. Large rocks and small parcels of sand have replaced the trawlers to the right of the path.
If you love swans as much as I do, you might be lucky enough to come across a family or two with their cygnets, as I did today.
Not far past the Footbridge, I start looking for somewhere to bin my coffee cup, which isn’t an issue as there are many bins lining the Esplanade. It’s clear to see the approach to litter works as I haven’t come across any rubbish along the walk. However, if you are after bags for your canine friend you should BYO as all the dispensers I came across were empty.
A couple of hundred metres past the Footbridge I arrive at a lookout area, affectionately known by my daughters as “The Castle”. It’s nothing to do with the movie, but also nothing like a real castle so don’t be too disappointed! It’s a raised mound surrounded by a landscaped garden, accessed by either a small staircase or a ramp. Atop “the Castle” the vegetation is overgrown, but it’s a nice space to take a moment to yourself.
A hundred metres along the path I find a drinking tap, ideal for refilling a drinking bottle or dog bowl. As a parent of both human and canine breeds, this is a huge plus for me!
The return walk takes me past back past The Servo, a beer garden-style venue immediately opposite the Footbridge. It’s after 2 pm now and live music floats across the road to the footpath. Most weekends 2-6 pm you will find various local artists playing here. It’s an easy decision to stop off to rehydrate!
After the Footbridge, I find the wind has picked up, which is somewhat of a relief to cool me from the walk.
Summary: If you’re after a flat, easy walk with plenty to see and a multitude of food options the Esplanade is your ideal walk… so Step into Gippsland, I might see you there!
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