Bairnsdale in East Gippsland is the gateway to so many places in Gippsland. As you travel through the picturesque town many keep going without giving a stay in Bairnsdale a thought. There are so many things to do in Bairnsdale and its surroundings that you should definitely consider a stay in Bairnsdale on your next Gippsland adventure.
Things to do in Bairnsdale
Here we will list all the amazing things to do in Bairnsdale Vic, and we hope it will help you have the most amazing time when you travel to East Gippsland.
St Mary’s Church
From the outside, it just looks like another red brick church in a small country town. Nothing indicates the magnificence that lies waiting for you inside of this church. You see from the moment you walk inside you would think you are in a grand cathedral in Europe. The whole inside is painted with amazing frescoes. The murals depict the apostles, numerous saints, the fight between heaven and hell.
The church today is on the Victorian Heritage List because of its aesthetic significance for its comprehensive decorative scheme of murals, which are of a scale unmatched by any other church in Victoria.
Bairnsdale attractions – Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place
Krowathunkooloong is an Aboriginal museum that celebrates the GunaiKurnai who are the traditional owners of the land we call Gippsland. Here you can learn all about the local tribes and the areas they lived in as well as how the Aboriginal people lived in Gippsland.
The Krowathunkooloomg Keeping place is located at 37-53 Dalmahoy Street Bairnsdale
East Gippsland Art Gallery
The East Gippsland Art Gallery is a celebration of artists from all over the region. The displays are regularly changed and updated with many local popular artists and their work.
You can find many of the displays are suitable for the woe family which makes it a great place to visit when staying in Bairnsdale.
What to do in Bairnsdale – Fishing
The Mitchel River flows through Bairnsdale making fishing an easily accessible activity in Bairnsdale. You will find fishing platforms on the Mitchel River in Bairnsdale, the best place to access the river for fishing is via the Mitchel Port Road behind the courthouse.
Fish including Bream are best caught on worms and prawns. You can order your fishing gear via BCF online and pick it up at the Bairnsdale store
Mitchel River Walk
The Mitchel River Walk takes you along each side of the Mitchel River. The total distance for the walk in a loop is 5.4 km which takes about one and a quarter hours at a leisurely stroll. The best starting point is at a small park accessed via Mitchel Port Road.
The starting area has toilets, bbq, car parking and a shelter. The Mitchel River Walk is a mostly flat circuit with bitumen, concrete and gravel surfaces. If you have small kids they can easily ride their bikes on the trail.
Sun Bairnsdale Cinema
For those looking to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster, the Sun Cinema in Bairnsdale is just the place. The Cinema has a wide range of titles showing at any one time. The cinema has 3 screens along with snack bar facilities.
Related: We have a great guide on things to do close to Bairnsdale. This article will complement any trip to Bairnsdale. Start planning your trip today
Bairnsdale Shops
Bairnsdale Victoria has a good-sized shopping centre. You will find major retailers such as Kmart, BCF, Reject Shop, Harvey Norman, Spotlight, Super cheap Auto, and more. For groceries, you will find Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi in town. A wide variety of small local shops compliments the shopping in Bairnsdale experience.
Bairnsdale things to do – The Sunday Market
Howitt Park is where the Bairnsdale Market is held on the 4th Sunday of every month from 8 am until 1 pm. Here you will find many stalls with local produce and craft items made by locals as well. You can find something for everyone at the Bairnsdale Sunday Market. Markets are one of the great things to do for free in Gippsland
Things to do in Bairnsdale with kids
There are so many wonderful things to do in Bairnsdale with kids. Bairnsdale is a brilliant place to break up your trip to Gippsland and it is also a brilliant place to stay in Gippsland with kids.
All Abilities playground
The name says it all here All Abilities. This playground is suited to people with all abilities with play equipment suiting both people with and without mobility.
This makes it a great option for the whole family. The park features BBQs, toilet facilities and a brilliant adventure playground. There is close access parking for those with mobility issues.
Howitt Park
Howitt Park is a great place off the hIgh way to stop and have a rest. With parking available for all types of vehicles including ones that are towing boats or caravans it is an easy spot to get to.
There is a large play area and a big yellow slide that will keep the kids happy for a long time.
How to get to Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale is 281 kilometres east of Melbourne and 30 kilometres west of Lakes Entrance on the Princes Highway. Bairnsdale is best accessed via car or by public transport. You can catch one of the two daily trains that run from Melbourne to Bairnsdale.
Where to stay in Bairnsdale
Bairnsdale has a wide variety of options for your accommodation needs. You will find a room and places to suit singles, couples, and families. There are cabin options at the Mitchel Riverside Holiday Park, apartments through Airbnb, and hotels of your choice including the popular Tanjil Motor Inn
Where to eat in Bairnsdale
Food in Bairnsdale is easy to come by with quite a large selection to choose from. You will have a number of clubs and pubs serving good quality well-priced meals. You could try the Bairnsdale RSL or the Bairnsdale Sporting and Convention Centre. Thai Monsoon comes highly recommended for its Asian food while McDonald’s, Hungry Jacks and KFC provide the takeaway option.
We hope this article from us here at Travels in Gippsland has you inspired to visit Bairnsdale. There are so many amazing things to do in Bairnsdale that you will want to visit Bairnsdale more than once. For more amazing ideas on where to holiday in Gippsland click through to our visit East Gippsland Page for more brilliant inspiration.
Some more travel inspiration for your trip to Gippsland
About the Author
Mark has grown up and lived in the Gippsland area all his life. Being born and raised in Gippsland he knows a thing or 2 about this amazing region. When Mark is not working he is out exploring the best of Gippsland with his wife and kids