Bairnsdale

Bairnsdale is a town in the East Gippsland region in the state of Victoria, Australia. It has a population of about 10,000.

By train
Trains run several times per day to and from Melbourne's Southern Cross and Flinders St Station, via Sale and Traralgon. The trip takes a little under four hours and costs $39 each way for adults, half that for children.

V/Line and Premier coaches have connections directly to Sydney, Canberra and the New South Wales South Coast.

By car
Bairnsdale is situated on the Princes Hwy (A1) approximately 3.5 hours east of Melbourne. If you are following the coastal route between Melbourne and Sydney you will pass through the town. If you are heading to Bairnsdale and Gippsland from Sydney, the route through Canberra, the Monaro through to Cann River will save you time over the coastal route. A scenic (but much slower) diversion is through Delegate.

By plane
There are scheduled flights from Melbourne Tullamarine Airports to often Rex, but Qantas Link and Virgin also have flights to Bairnsdale. The airport is 10km away from the actual town itself, but there's no car hire at the airport. You'll need to walk, but C106 is a pretty simple and straightforward walk. Additionally, when you're at the C106/A1 junction, there's no sign telling you to go which way, but simply head east (right) towards Orbost and Bairnsdale.

Get around
Most of the town is small enough to be walked. However, on a freezing winter's day, you might want to stock up on a jacket or two, as it does get very windy.

Do

 * East Gippsland Rail Trail starts from Bairnsdale and travels through Nicholson, Bruthen, and Nowa Nowa, to Orbost.
 * Kayak Hire at Butter Factory Wharf on the Mitchell River.
 * Bairnsdale Speedway
 * Bairnsdale Speedway

Eat
Bairnsdale has a good selection of restaurants and food places.
 * Cafe Main - Vietnamese Pho Shop Princess Highway, West Bairnsdale.
 * David Lucke's Fresh Food Market, locally owned and operated food store. Low price and high quality fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and seafood. Specialty, boutique brand food and gourmet products, located on the Paynesville Rd on the banks of the Mitchell River.
 * David Lucke's Fresh Food Market, locally owned and operated food store. Low price and high quality fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and seafood. Specialty, boutique brand food and gourmet products, located on the Paynesville Rd on the banks of the Mitchell River.

Go next

 * Paynesville