220 km | 3 hours 55 minutes Marlo - Cape Conran - Croajingolong - Mallacoota
Take a dreamy coastal road trip along Victoria’s eastern pocket, from the sleepy seaside town of Marlo to the fishing village of Mallacoota, taking in pristine beaches and grand national parks on the way.
This is an easy drive, where you can cruise along the eastern edge of Gippsland towards the border with New South Wales, stopping for a spot of beach hopping, walks through ancient forests and lunches at cosy country hotels.
Getting Started
This road trip starts at Marlo, 4.5 hours east of Melbourne. Take the M1 out of the city, travelling through Warragul and Moe before it turns into the A1. Continue on past Sale and Bairnsdale until you get to Orbost, where you will take the exit onto the C107. This long but straightforward drive ends at the sea in Marlo.
Explore Marlo
Get your bearings around the town of Marlo taking in the jetty and a visit to Mots Beach, where you can head off on the Snowy River Estuary Walk. See if you can spot some wading birds, while enjoying the serenity and taking in the stunning view of the water. This is a bird watcher’s heaven, so don’t forget to pack your binoculars.
The next essential stop is to see the strange and beautiful Corringle Slips. These giant sand dunes are well worth the visit, as you take in the vast expanse of water, with rivers of sand running through it.
Follow up with lunch at the iconic Marlo Hotel. Established in 1886 and still going strong, the hotel is the perfect place to perch and enjoy some fresh fish and chips while taking in the view of the estuary. It's the perfect place to kick back, relax, and think about the next stop on your journey.
If you want to burn off some of that delicious lunch, visit SUP Marlo. They will sort you out with stand-up paddleboards and kayaks for your own adventure, or take you on a tour of the surrounding waterways on a guided tour. This is the perfect way to explore the estuary, perhaps do a spot of birdwatching and have some fun on the water.
Marlo to Cape Conran
18 km | 15 minutes
From Marlo, head due east to Cape Conran – a quick, 15-minute drive away.
En route, you will find Sailors Grave Flagship Brewing, Dunetown. These local heroes have been brewing crafty lagers, IPAs and stouts for over a decade, and have become a popular local watering hole as a result. Visit Dunetown for some freshly poured pints and hand-pressed tortillas – plan your trip at the right time and you might just catch a live band performance, too.
The first stop in Cape Conran should be the beautiful and aptly named Salmon Rocks Beach. Home to the eponymous rocks, this is a great place to wander – if you’re here at sunrise, expect to see the colourful rocks turn a shimmering red. Just over the hill you will find the start of the Cape Conran Nature Trail, a 2-hour hike that will take you across wide, sandy beaches, through crystal clear rockpools and banksia woodlands. Keep an eye out for reclusive wildlife, particularly echidnas, wallabies and kangaroos.
Cape Conran to Croajingolong National Park
119 km | 2 hours 5 minutes
About half an hour out of Cape Conran there is a temperate rainforest that is just begging to be explored and makes a fine stop to stretch your legs – the McKenzie River Rainforest Walk will take you through lush trees, like a prehistoric time capsule. Walk over the two swinging bridges that will make you feel like you’re starring in your own adventure movie.
As you are heading further out of town, make sure to notice the Cann River. While there’s a lovely little town of the same name, it’s the river itself that’s the real star. This beautiful, clear water is straight out of the highlands and surrounded by dense bushland. Perhaps stop for a wander and a riverbank afternoon picnic.
No trip to the eastern coast of Victoria would be complete without a pilgrimage to Croajingolong National Park. This vast area of jaw-dropping beauty is home to winding rivers, rocky outcrops and miraculous biodiversity.
Visit the Wingan River Inlet area, where you can head off on a walk through bloodwood forests and along the boardwalks that carry you through the tranquil paperbark forests. From Wingan Inlet you can head out on the Wingan Inlet to Fly Cove Walking Track, a 3km return walk to Fly Cove where you'll find an outcrop of granite rocks, home to a fur seal colony.
True adventurers can hike the epic 3-4 day Wilderness Coast Walk which skirts along the coast of the park between Thurra River camping area and Shipwreck Creek. After visiting Croajingolong, you will be counting the days until you return – it’s the kind of place that bewitches adventurers.
Croajingolong National Park - Mallacoota
83 km | 1 hour 35 minutes
After your visit to Croajingolong, venture onwards to Mallacoota, where you can immediately go beach hopping at this relaxed seaside village. Go surfing, or explore the unique and fascinating rock formations that crop up along Quarry Beach, Betka Beach and Secret Beach. Pack your gear if you want to go fishing – there are lots of fresh fish to catch, thanks to the many reefs that hide in Mallacoota’s waters.
In town, enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie at Sundayss or mouth-watering takeaway from Lucys Noodles – maybe bring it down to the beach and tuck into a wonton soup while admiring the surf. If you are after a cup of world-class coffee, stop at Origami, where you can get a latte that won’t make you miss Melbourne baristas.
If you feel like heading out onto the water, you can hire a tinnie from Bucklands Jetty. This is a unique and intimate way to explore the coastline in this stunning corner of Victoria. If you would rather leave the boating to someone more experienced, you can hire a water taxi to get you to Gabo Island. Here you will find blush pink rocks, a charming old lighthouse, and more serenity than you can handle. The lighthouse itself is made from pink granite, and is the second tallest in Australia, built in 1862. In some lights it’s as pink as the rocks on the shore.
