The Gippsland Lakes are a mecca of fishing and boating.

Whether you enjoy cruising around, sailing, kayaking or competition fishing, you will find what you need here.

By car, the lake is 1 minute away, the river is 10 minutes away and the surf beach is 45 mins away.

From 38 Eighth, you can throw the backpack over your shoulder, grab the rod and bait and within 2 minutes walk be getting a line wet!

Bream are plentiful here – especially around the jetties.

When the water warms up, the flatties are about and depending on the season, the prawns will run.

One of my favourites spots for bream is Paddlers Cove at dusk.

It’s called Paddlers not because of little children in the soft sandy beach .. but because it’s a great place for kayakers to go in/out of the water.

“The Straits” (the bit of water between Paynesville and Raymond Island) are very protected and when on the water, if you turn right, you’re on the way to Metung via Lake King, turn left and you’re on the way to Ocean Grange via Lake Victoria.

If you are really adventurous, go to Lakes Entrance via Metung and out to the ocean!

If you don’t have your own boat, you can hire one, but there are so many places to fish that you can drive or walk to that hiring a boat isn’t absolutely necessary.

There is a boat ramp on Raymond Island .. about 3 minutes drive from 38 Eighth.

If you prefer to just have a look around from the water, there are various cruises that happen in the Gippsland Lakes – some from Paynesville.

To get boating and fishing supplies, there is a shop on the Paynesville strip – and they have excellent bait including local prawn (my bait of choice).