Steve’s Lakes Entrance Looong Weekend

04 March 2026 / Words by Steve & cecelia Wakeling. Photos by Simon Trickett & Rod Nicholas

The weather report for the start of our 4-day run to Lakes Entrance in Victoria was not looking promising. We kicked off with 10 cars and 19 members assembled at Calwell shops in Canberra eager to start our 4.5 hr journey. Eight of those members had joined the original run in 2024, with the remaining 11 keen to join in, after hearing about the great time we had then.

Simon got his drone up and snapped a few shots

I had split the run up into 3 x1.5 hr sessions; Calwell to Nimmitabel (morning tea), then Nimmitabel to Cann River (lunch) and Cann River to Lakes Entrance. The scenery between Nimmitabel and Cann River via Bombala on the Monaro Highway is just stunning. It makes fro great MX-5 zooming country.

On arriving in Cann River we found to our amazement that the usual large café we frequent on the corner was missing! Just a slab of concrete remained. (A quick google search revealed that it had burnt to the ground in late April 2024, destroying all stock and damaging the attached shop and adjacent motel). So we headed to the bakery across the road.

Squires Cafe, Cann River - source: https://www.facebook.com/darrenchestermp/posts/devastating-scenes-from-cann-river-with-the-popular-squires-cafe-burnt-to-the-gr/920356026439795/

Revived with good food and quality coffee/tea we prepared to leave on the last leg of our journey. The sky was not looking good. We had made it to Cann River with the tops down, but it was 'tops up' for the last leg. It bucketed down. Unfamiliar roads, huge trucks sending up so much spray you cannot see past them, and crazy P Plate drivers trying to kill themselves making insane overtaking runs in torrential rain made the leg memorable in a different way.

Off to the Central Hotel for dinner. We had dined there in 2024 and highly recommend this establishment.

Wandering back from the Pub

Saturday morning dawned fine, sunny and 25 C. I had us departing for Paynesville at 10am. The Gippsland Lakes Wooden Boat festival was on there. We happened to come across this event by accident in 2024 when we visited Raymond Island to check out the Koala sanctuary. In 2026 this festival was huge compared to 2024.

There were 60 to 80 old wooden boats that paraded through the straight between Paynesville’s main street and Raymond Island. The gently sloping embankment provides plenty of viewing spots for the thousands of people there. There were also 40 to 50 market and food stalls, and a huge boat show.

There was one catch with this boat festival – the ferry to Rayment Island, to see the Koalas, does not run while the boat parade is running. The event is on every second year. We have other plans for 2028.

I had organised a late lunch at the Metung Hotel. Again, I had stumbled across this establishment in 2024. The food, service and views there are excellent. Highly recommended.

Due to the late lunch, dinner was a BYO affair at the motels BBQ area. They even had a fire pit which I utilised. Sorry about the wood smoke.

Sunday morning saw us boarding the Peels “Storm Bird” for a cruise through the lakes to the Wyanga Park Winery for lunch. We did a few detours along the way, checking out the big, fat seals dozing on the entry channel rocks. The boat holds about 50 people; it was full and docks at the Winery’s’ jetty. Now the surprise – the winey was 660mts along a steep winding gavel road/track. You can catch a Ford Transit van/bus or walk. We walked. It pays to keep reasonably fit when retired. You never know what is around the corner.

The winery was not one of those flash upmarket ones you find in Canberra/Murrumbateman but more the larger country home style one. The place was full, and the food and wine were excellent. The service was quick too.

Back down the track to the boat we went. Much easier going down.

That afternoon we all assembled at the lookout for the traditional group photo. It was too windy that evening for a BYO dinner at the BBQ area, so it was a do-your-own-thing evening.

The things you can do with a drone

Monday morning saw us all heading home the way we came. Unfortunately, it rained most of the way, so it was tops up.

By all reports we all had an excellent time. The two main days of Saturday and Sunday were warm and sunny (a pleasant 25 C).

If you are thinking of going in 2028 just remember you cannot access Raymond Island between 9am and 12:30 pm when the boat festival is on. Otherwise, it is a 5 min car ferry ride over to the island.

Steve Wakeling - Run Organiser and Leader