Gippsland Lakes - Bunga Arm
 |
| A quiet beach east of Ocean Grange, Gippsland Lakes |
This paddle started at Trapper Point in the The Lakes National Park, about 30 minutes past Loch Sport. From Trapper Point, it's a short paddle across Lake Reeve to Rotamah Island. Lake Reeve is a shallow lake with a 2 metre depth.
 |
| Trapper Point, looking across Lake Reeve to a private jetty on Rotamah Island |
Once across Lake Reeve, I skirted the northern side of Rotamah Island heading easterly in the shallows. Paddling around/between some small islands I noticed an increase of bird life on Rotten Island. It is clearly Spring with swans and signets everywhere. Leaving the unfortunately named Rotten Island behind, I crossed over the channel and headed southward, keeping Barton Island on my left shoulder. Rounding the southern point of Barton Island provided the first chance to see the Ocean Grange Jetty, about 1 km away.
 |
| Ocean Grange Jetty |
Ocean Grange was the half way point and came quickly enough thanks to a gentle tail wind. Ocean Grange is a isolated grouping of a couple of dozen or so holiday homes overlooking the lakes. Once past Ocean Grange it was a relatively straight paddle along the Bunga Arm. More pelicans than swans now and the occasional Australia Pied Oyster Catcher.
 |
| Australian Pied Oyster Catcher |
After two hours of paddling the destination was reached, a pre-booked camping location on the Bunga Arm in the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park. Camping in the park is limited for environmental reasons but the upside is; toilets with toilet paper, fire-pits and picnic tables are provided. I booked a site at the Egret Campground. There are moorings for yachts and power boats at each campground with clear signs stating where you are.
Access to the Bunga Arm campgrounds is by boat only. Campsites were under $11 per person per night. There are seven campgrounds along the Bunga Arm with between 6 and 12 campsites. The only other people at the camp ground were a couple who used the moorings and the toilets but otherwise stayed on their yacht.
The Bunga Arm is basically a very long sand dune with the lake on the north and the ocean (90 Mile Beach) on the south. The lake is very swimmable and a safer option than the ocean.
 |
| Campsite set amongst the coastal vegetation |
 |
| Sunset over Bunga Arm |
 |
| Early morning on The 90 Mile Beach, Bunga Arm |
Back on the water at about 9.30 am the next morning for the return journey and again with gentle tail wind. A short break was taken between Steamer Landing and Ocean Grange Jetty. There was a noticeable increase in boat traffic on the lakes on this day. It was a warm day. The channel between Crescent and Barton Islands was the place to be. Crescent Island is a low exposed sand island with minimal vegetation.
Paddling north between Barton and Rotten Islands provided an chance to see the High Country from the lakes. The view of yachts, swans, pelicans and distant mountains from the lake leaves you in no doubt as to why this is so popular.
 |
| Lake Victoria looking north toward the High Country |
I retraced the previous days path, other than for paddling around the top of Rotten Island.
 |
| Finish back at Trapper Point |
Most of the paddling was done in a metre or so of clear water. The deepest water paddled was about 2 metres when crossing Lake Reeve. One of the pleasing aspects of this trip was the lack of litter. Even the campsites were devoid of rubbish. From time to time there were timber poles arranged in straight lines close to the shoreline, which looked like some old school fishing practice. The jetty's at Rotamah Island, Point Wilson and Ocean Grange were a brilliant white which stood out from the blue and green of the water and trees.
The view from Rotamah Island.
Maps of the campgrounds can be found here (scroll to near the bottom)
Online bookings can be found here.
 |
| The outward course with the return rounding Rotten Island from the north |
