Towns

Wellingtons towns have that warm welcoming feeling as soon as you enter. 

We have remote high country towns to coastal seaside villages, major industry centres and rural locations with just one shop.  Whatever you are looking for in Wellington, you are sure to find it in one of our towns and villages.

Stop and browse a while, breathe in the fresh, clean air and feel the landscape.

Refuel your senses, body and soul with a browse, a good coffee and a stroll around our many towns....stop and talk to the "locals"..........you will find them friendly, helpful and ready to make your journey a memorable experience.

 ALBERTON

Home to Victoria's primary school number one, Alberton is a small town established on route to the goldfields. 

BALOOK

The tiny town of Balook is the start of the Balook Pioneer Trail, which takes in several historic sites of the early settlers to the district. The Tarra Bulga Centre is also located on Grand Ridge Road.
Accommodation: Guest House, 2 Caravan Parks & B&B's nearby
Things to do: Tarra Bulga National Park.

  BOISDALE

Once home to Angus McMillan, a pioneer of Gippsland, Boisdale is now a small serice town for local dairy farmers and vegetable growers.

BRIAGOLONG

Easy access to the Gippsland Hign Country, Freestone Creek Gorge and the Blue Pool. Historical walks around the town with signs indicating buildings of interest such as the 1874 Mechanics Institute, the 1880 Briagolong Hotel and 1873 Primary School.
Accommodation: Cottages, camping
Things to do: Briagolong to Cobbannah Scenic Road, Freestone Creek Gorge, Galleries,  Blue Pool and Quarry Reserve

Location: 191km east of Melbourne, 27km northwest of Traralgon. Situated in rich dairying country, Cowwarr had its hay day in the Gold Rush. Several historic buildings still remain, the largest being the Old Butter Factory (1918), which has been transformed into a gallery for contemporary visual arts.
Accommodation: Hotel
Things to do: Gallery, Main Road,
Cowwarr Weir Picnic area

DARGO

Location: 348km east of Melbourne, 92km from Sale
Located in the foothills of the Dargo High Plains is one of Victoria’s most remote communities. Four Wheel Driving, Canoeing, Fishing, Horse Riding, Walking and Gold Panning are all popular activities in and around Dargo. While Dargo was primarily a supply town during the gold rush, it did experience a minor rush and quartz gold mining continued until 1950. Dargo is also known for its century old walnut groves that line the valley floor.
Accommodation: Hotel, Motel, B&B, caravan park, 5 cottages
Things to do: Winery, Dargo High Plains (road closed during winter months), Historic Grant and Talbotville goldfields, 100 year old pub, Gold museum and gold tours
Major Events:  Annual opening of the Natural and State Park tracks – Melbourne Cup weekend

GLENMAGGIE/COONGULLA

Location: 12km north of Heyfield
The remains of the original township of Glenmaggie remain under water at the bottom of the Glenmaggie Weir. The weir was built primarily for irrigation but today remains very popular for water sports such as skiing, speed boat racing etc. The Weir Wall area provides a pleasant picnic area and information centre and gives the visitor an opportunity to walk across the spillway area. Glenmaggie winery is nearby and offers cellar door sales. Glenmaggie Caravan Park is located on the lake shoreline.
Accommodation: Caravan parks, B&B
Things to do: Swimming, Fishing, Boating, Water Skiing, Bushwalking, Winery, Weir Wall, Historic Machinery Display

GOLDEN/PARADISE BEACH

Golden & Paradise Beach are renowned for their excellent fishing.  Surrounded by the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park the area is home to a great variety of birdlife.  The wreck of the Trinculo is located 6km south of Golden Beach.

GORMANDALE

Located on the rich Merrimans Creek flats, Gormandale is a gateway to the Tarra-Bulga National Park and the Grand Ridge Rd located nearby. Several local wineries operate cellar door.

HEYFIELD

Location: 32km northwest of Sale
The town was established as a resting point for diggers on their way to the goldfields and is known today for its agriculture and timber production. Heyfield is home to the largest hardwood sawmill in the southern hemisphere. It is also acknowledged as the gateway to the High Country. Nearby Glenmaggie Weir is a summer water sports playground. New Wetlands Visitor Centre opening July 2003.
Accommodation: motel, hotel & B&B
Things to do: Wetlands/Timber Interpretation Centre, Heyfield flora reserve, 2km north of the town, Wetlands, Lake Glenmaggie, Market held the first Sunday of the month, Waterwheel monument – Denison, Robotic Dairy – Winnindoo
Major Events: Australia Day Celebrations, Annual Vintage machinery Rally in August

HOLLANDS LANDING

Hollands Landing is a fishing village located at the eastern end of the McLennan Straits. Two caravan parks and a general store service the town.

LICOLA

Location: 51km north of Heyfield
Licola was formally a timber town where early cattlemen drove their cattle to graze in the High Country for summer. Now a good base for adventures such a bushwalking the Alpine area, 4 wheel driving and fishing trips.
Accommodation: caravan park, cottages, backpackers
Things to do: Tali Karn overnight bushwalk, Bryce Gorge bushwalk, Trout fishing, Cattlemens huts, 4x4driving

LOCH SPORT

Location: 272km east of MelbourneLoch Sport is located in the middle of the Gippsland Lakes System and has Lake Victoria on one side and the surf of Ninety Mile Beach on the other. 
Surrounded by National parkland, the wildlife is abundant. All forms of water sports and leisure activities are available at Loch Sport.
Accommodation: Motel, caravan park, cottage
Things to do: Outboard Motor Museum, Rotomah Island Bird Observatory, Lakes Victoria foreshore walk, Lake Reeve lookout, Galleries, Surf and Lake fishing, Boating
Major Events: Loch Sport Easter Festival, Fireworks carnival New Years Eve

LONGFORD

Victoria's largest oil and gas producing plant is located near Longford.  To the town's north is the National Trust Classified historic Swing Bridge...open for visitors to see working Sat/Sun 3-4pm

MAFFRA

Location: 228km east of Melbourne
What is now the Location: of the Maffra township was in the 1840s the site of the Green Hill Native Police Station. Following its closure a small settlement developed at this spot on the Macalister River in the 1860s when a punt was built to enable travellers to get to the gold fields to the north. By the 1880s, with the development of grazing all around, the town grew and became home to the largest beef cattle sale yards in rural Victoria. A sugar beet industry was started in 1896 and operated until after the Second World War, by which time dairying had become far more mechanized and was thus more economically viable.

Maffra today is the hub of the rich Macalister dairying, agricultural, pastoral and irrigation district. While home to one of the most modern milk processing plants in Australia. Maffra still retains its main street charm and throughout the town a visual attractiveness reminiscent of earlier times. Maffra has a proud sporting tradition with a wide range of excellent facilities catering for many popular pursuits.
Accommodation: motel, 3 hotels, caravan park with O/S vans, 2 B&Bs, backpacker hostel
Things to do: Gem and Mineral display – old court house, Sugar Beet Museum, Macalister River Park, Macalister Swamp reserve –bird hides, Wide range of sports,  gateway to the Alpine National Park and Avon Wilderness, Four wheel driving,  Gippsland Vehicle Collection
Major Events:  Maffra Mardi Gras – March, Hill Climb Car Racing – Boisdale, Tennis Tournament – Easter, National Moto X – Newry

MUNRO

A small town located on the A1 and home to the Australian Wildlife Art Gallery and Sculpture Park where you can see Australias wildlife depicted in paint and sculptured in clay.

NEWRY

A small village first established in 1868 and gateway to the channels, a narrow rocky gorge on the Avon River with easy walking access, parking and picnic facilities.  
Things to do: Motorcross track nearby, Golf, 4x4driving

PORT ALBERT

Location: 200km southeast of Melbourne, 15km south of Yarram
Port Albert was the original gateway to Gippsland and was the supply port for Gippsland’s pioneers until the completion of the rail line from Melbourne to the docks. Port Albert’s 1860’s former Bank of Victoria building houses the Gippsland Regional Maritime Museum showcasing such treasures as artifacts from the wreck of the ‘Clonmel’, working models, navigational aids and charts. Archival material, a shell collection and the fisherman’s room together with displays showing Port Albert’s role in Gippsland Gold reminding visitors.
Accommodation: Motel, hotel, cottages, 2 caravan parks, B&B
Things to do: Gippsland Regional Maritime Museum, Old Port Walk Trail, Gallery, Scenic Boat Tours, Bird Watching, Fishing, Sailing, Fishing Charters, Award Winning Fish and Chippery, Historic Church, Tarraville.   Major Events: Port Albert Regatta – March,Snapperfest Nov

ROSEDALE

Location: 184km east of Melbourne
Originally known as "Blind Joes Hut" after a Chinese man who was blind in one eye built his hut there, the name changed to Rosedale in 1855. Once a dairy district, now mainly grazing with a major leather factory located in the town.
Accommodation: 2 motels, caravan park, B&B
Things to do: The Holey Plain State Park – 5km southeast, Antique and bric-a-brac, Rosedale speedway, Tarra Bulga National Park – 23km south, Market 2^nd Sunday of each Month

SALE

Location 212km east of Melbourne
Sale grew on the back of the gold rush in Omeo, Stringers Creek and Crooked River. It became Gippsland’s first city in 1950. During the 1880’s the swing bridge operated up to 20 times a day to allow larger vessels to dock in the heart of Sale. 

In more recent times it has become the transfer base for the offshore oilrigs in Bass Strait and the home of the RAAF air base. Internationally accredited Ramser Wetlands located in Sale are a major attraction for overseas visitors.
Accommodation: 8 motels, 3 hotels, motel/hotel, 4 B&Bs, 2 caravan parks

Things to do: Gippsland Regional Art Gallery, Historical Museum- Foster Street, St Pauls Cathedral and rectory built in 1885, Historic homestead and gardens, Bataluk Cultural Trail, Sale Powder Magazine, RAAF Roulettes Display, Wetlands boardwalk, Lake Guthridge/Guyatt environmental playground, Antiques and Bric-a-brac, Greyhound racing, Greenwattle racecourse, Botanic Gardens and Fauna park, National Trust classified Swing Bridge, Sale Heritage walk/drive, Historic Cobb & Co Stables
Major Events:  Sale Cup – October, Water Water Festival – November, Agriculture Show – November, Gippsland International Showjumping Championships – December

SEASPRAY

Location: 30km south of Sale
Seaspray is known mainly for its great fishing and swimming beach. Surf life saving patrols during the summer peak periods provide the perfect environment for the family activities at the beach.
Accommodation: Caravan and camping
Things to do: surfing and surf fishing

 STRATFORD

Location: 228km east of Melbourne
Stratford has a Shakespearean theme and an annual Shakespeare Festival in April. "Local theatre", antiques and galleries make for a pleasant visit to Stratford.
Accommodation: Motel, caravan park, cottage and B&B
Things to do: Horse and carriage tours, Knob Reserve – Canoe tree, Avon River – gem and fossil fossicking, Galleries and antique, The Old Court Theatre, Gold tours
Major Events: Shakespeare on the River Festival late April/early March

TINAMBA

Location: 10km west of Maffra
A small town established when McEvoys Track from Seaton opened which was a major access track to the goldfields.
Accommodation: B&B

WOODSIDE/WOODSIDE BEACH

Small towns located at the start of the 90 Mile Beach. Caravan parks provide accommodation for fishing and surf life saving activities.

YARRAM

Location: 210km Southeast of Melbourne
First settled in 1845, Yarram grew as a result of the rich dairying country and timber industry operating nearby. Yarram is the base for many nearby attractions such as Port Albert, Tara Valley and the start of the Ninety-Mile Beach. The town boasts the annual Tarra Festival at Easter with street parade, art exhibitions, a race meeting, and a country fair.
Accommodation: 2 motels, 2 hotels, 2 caravan parks, B&Bs
Things to do: Tarra Valley fern gullies, Tara Bulga National Park, White Woman Waterhole, Historic gardens, McLaughlin’s Beach walking track, Hiawatha Falls, Award winning bakery, Historic Regent Theatre