Calling all boaties!
Whether it’s a yacht, cruiser, ski boat, run about, jet ski, tinnie or a kayak, the Gippsland Lakes are the ideal for any vessel. You will always find a protected location. Some of our favourite boating destinations are:
Duck Arm, Picnic Arm, Newlands Arm, Bunga Arm, Tambo River, Steamer Landing, Rottamah Island, Metung, Loch Sport and Ocean Grange.
You need a week to get to them all, but we are here to break it down for you.
Don’t own a boat? No problem – hire a boat with one of our local operators:
- Little Green Boats
- Seas the Day
- Bulls Cruisers
- Paynesville Pedal & Play (Kayaks and Water Sports)
- Gippsland Water Sports (Wakeboarding & Water Skiing)
The Boating Lowdown
There are several boat ramps in Paynesville. The closest to Captains Cove is the King Street Boat Ramp, just a few hundred metres from the Bulls Cruisers 24-hour Fuel Jetty. Launch your boat and head north down McMillan Straits. The entrance to the Paynesville Canals will be on your left. From here, turn left into the canals and enjoy a 5-minute cruise to your Captains Cove mooring.
Remember, McMillan Straits and the canals are a 5-knot zone—often referred to as a no-wash zone. You can park your boat trailer on the grassed area opposite apartments 23-26. We also have a designated area for flushing your motor and hosing down the boat at the end of your stay.
Enjoying Your Stay at Captains Cove
One of the perks of staying at Captains Cove is that you can leave your boat in the water at your private jetty during your stay. The canals are unaffected by tides, ensuring your boat is safely moored at the front of your apartment. As we like to say, “Leave the car in the carport and get the bread and milk by boat!”
For a pub meal accessible by boat, you can tie up at:
- Central Hotel in Lakes Entrance
- Metung Hotel in Metung
- Loch Sport Hotel in Loch Sport
- Nicholson Hotel on the Nicholson River
- Swan Reach Hotel on the Tambo River
- Grand Terminus Hotel on the Mitchell River
The Perfect Day on the Lakes
To explore the pristine 90 Mile Beach, head over to Steamer Landing via Ocean Grange, following the Aurora Channel.
Steamer Landing offers a large public jetty, public toilets, and beach access. Be mindful of the weather and check for strong wind warnings before setting off. On windy days, consider hiding in Duck Arm and Picnic Arm, where you can tie up at a swing mooring, enjoy a picnic on the boat, and have a swim.
From Steamer Landing jetty, you can cross the sand dunes to the 90 Mile Beach, which stretches out as far as the eye can see. This section of the beach is only accessible by boat, providing a private experience. Note that it is not patrolled; the closest patrolled beach is in Lakes Entrance.
For watersports, Bunga Arm, just north of Steamer Landing, is ideal. The channel beyond Steamer Landing is unmarked, so watch your depth sounder and stick to the centre of the waterway. You can beach your boat at one of the many Parks Victoria campsites here, which offer toilets and beach access. It’s perfect for swimming, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing.
For a closer watersports area, head to Newlands Arm. Beaching the boat is easy, and it’s just a few minutes’ drive from Paynesville.
Skippered Charters on the Gippsland Lakes
Explore the Gippsland Lakes with these daily charter options from Lakes Entrance:
- Lakes Explorer – Wildlife Tours & Watertaxi
- Lonsdale Cruises
- Peels Cruises – Sightseeing & Luncheon Cruises
- Wyanga Park Winery Cruises – Depart from Lakes Entrance
- Far Out Fishing Charters – Offshore Fishing Charters
