Last week seen us heading a few hours east from Melbourne and heading to a area of Victoria called Gippsland. Gippsland has many exciting outdoor activities to offer such as cyling on old disused rail trails, beached, swimming, camping and so much more.

We set off with the aim of exploring the East Gippsland Rail Trail. A 90 or so Km trail that runs from Bairnsdale to Orbost. We arrived in Lakes Entrance and used a small town just outside called Swan Reach as our base. Having decided to be a bit lazy and not use our tent we booked our selves in to a rather modest and reasonably priced static caravan, upon arrival we had a quick swim and began to explore the area, get some food and then chill out ready for the day of riding tomorrow.

Heading from Swan Reach the following day we rode up the rail trail towards a small town called Bruthen a quaint little town with pretty houses and business and a pleasant place to stop and have a bit of lunch. The trail thus far had been good riding, lots of long but not to steep climbs with awesome scenery and wildlife, spotted cows, sheep, parrots, huge spiders, rabbits and all sorts of other wildlife like porcupines.

you can read the rest and see pics and video here

How's the flood recovery going down in the lakes area? Is there much evident left of it?

Nice trip.

You mention you wanted MTBs for the trip - is the rail trail a bit rough, or do you mean off the trail? I've been considering heading to Gippsland, maybe railtrail, maybe the Great Vic Bike Ride 2007 route, maybe the route suggested in an old touring victoria book.

the rail trails are awesome ........ the discovery trail that heads off from the RT is really a MTB track... pm me if you want more info its awesome up there