Bairnsdale

Understand

Visitor information 1 Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centre, 240 Main St, ☏ +61 3 5152 3444. Daily 9AM–5PM. (updated Jun 2021)

Getting there

By train 1 Bairnsdale Station has services that run thrice a 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 $11 each way for adults, half that for children.

By bus V/Line has direct daily connections from Merimbula and Traralgon. On some days, V/line also runs the Capital Link service from Canberra via Bombala, and the Sapphire Coast Link service from Batemans Bay and Narooma.

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 no scheduled flights to 2 Bairnsdale Airport (BSJ IATA). (updated Jun 2021) which is used predominantly for medical and recreation purposes.

Getting 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.

See

1 East Gippsland Art Gallery, 2 Nicholson St, ☏ +61 3 5153 1988. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. (updated Jun 2021) 2 East Gippsland Historical Society (East Gippsland's Local History Museum and Resource Centre), 40 MacArthur St, ☏ +61 3 5152 6363. M-W and 1st Su of each month 10AM-3PM. A community and museum that aims to display and preserve local artefacts pertinent to Bairnsdale and surrounding districts, and endeavours to provide a community resource for local history. (updated Jun 2021) Mitchell River and Botanic Gardens. This riverside park can be accessed just from the east of the Mitchell River bridge. There is a suspension footbridge, playground and a riverside walk.

Do

Bataluk Cultural Trail, 37-53 Dalmahoy St, ☏ +61 3 5152 1891. (updated Jun 2021) 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

Buy

David Lucke's Fresh Food Market, locally owned and operated food store. Low prices and high quality fresh fruit, meat, vegetables and seafood. Specialty, boutique brand food and gourmet products, located on the Paynesville road on the banks of the Mitchell River.

Eat

Bairnsdale has a good selection of restaurants and food places.

1 Bairnsdale Bowls Club, 54 Grant St, ☏ +61 3 5152 3796. (updated Jun 2021) Cafe Main - Vietnamese Pho Shop Princess Highway, West Bairnsdale. 2 Oz Mex Mexican Restaurant, 79 Nicholson St, Bairnsdale, ☏ +61 3 5152 4549. W-Su 5:30-10PM. A bit high-priced, but decent food and fish bowls of margaritas.

Drink & nightlife

1 Club Hotel, 66 Main St. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

Town Central Motel, 164 Nicholson St, ☏ +613 5152 3084. (updated Jun 2021) 1 The Riversleigh, 1 Nicholson St, ☏ +61 3 5152 6966. (updated Jun 2021)