Photographing Lakes Entrance

About Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance is one of Victoria's most distinctive coastal towns and an exceptionally varied location for photographers.

The town occupies the eastern end of the Gippsland Lakes, where the extensive inland lake system meets Bass Strait through the narrow channel known simply as The Entrance.

Immediately south of the town, a narrow strip of coastal dunes separates the sheltered waters of Cunninghame Arm from the Southern Ocean and the eastern end of Ninety Mile Beach.

This unusual geography brings together several very different photographic environments within a relatively small area:

• Gippsland Lakes.
• Cunninghame Arm.
• The Entrance and ocean bar.
• Ninety Mile Beach.
• Fishing boats and commercial fishing activity.
• Jetties and marinas.
• Coastal dunes.
• Wetlands and birdlife.
• Elevated panoramic viewpoints.
• Sunrise and sunset landscapes.

Lakes Entrance is particularly useful photographically because the orientation of the waterways provides opportunities at both ends of the day.

Sunrise can be photographed from the ocean beaches and viewpoints overlooking The Entrance, while the Gippsland Lakes and Cunninghame Arm can provide excellent sunset colour and reflections.

Fishing remains an important part of the character of Lakes Entrance. The working fishing fleet, boats, jetties, nets and maritime activity provide a valuable human element that distinguishes the town from a conventional beach resort.

For a comprehensive photographic visit, Lakes Entrance should therefore be treated not as a single viewpoint but as a collection of closely connected coastal, lake, maritime and elevated landscapes.

Main Beach and Ninety Mile Beach

Main Beach is reached from the centre of Lakes Entrance by crossing the pedestrian footbridge over Cunninghame Arm and continuing through the coastal dunes.

The beach marks the eastern end of the extraordinary sweep of Ninety Mile Beach.

Photographically, the simplicity of the beach is one of its strengths.

Subjects include:

• Surf and breaking waves.
• Long uninterrupted shoreline.
• Sand patterns.
• Dunes.
• Beach vegetation.
• People for scale.
• Sea birds.
• Sunrise colour.
• Stormy weather.

The enormous length of the beach can be difficult to communicate in a conventional photograph.

Look for a strong foreground such as a line of retreating water, footprints, dune vegetation or reflected sky and allow the shoreline to lead into the distance.

Cunninghame Arm and the Footbridge

Cunninghame Arm runs immediately beside the Lakes Entrance town centre and is one of the easiest places to photograph.

The pedestrian footbridge linking the Esplanade with Main Beach provides both a photographic subject and an elevated camera position.

The sheltered water can produce reflections that are completely different from conditions on the ocean beach only a few hundred metres away.

Look for:

• Boats and their reflections.
• The footbridge.
• Jetties.
• Pelicans.
• Early-morning mist.
• Sunset colour.
• Blue-hour reflections.
• People fishing or walking.

This is particularly useful when strong wind or rough surf makes the ocean beach difficult to photograph.

The Entrance and Flagstaff Hill

The Entrance is the narrow channel connecting the Gippsland Lakes with Bass Strait.

It is one of the defining photographic subjects of Lakes Entrance.

The Entrance Walk follows Cunninghame Arm from the footbridge through coastal vegetation towards historic Flagstaff Hill and The Entrance.

From this area photographers can watch fishing vessels and recreational boats negotiating the channel between the sheltered lakes and open sea.

Seals may sometimes be seen resting on the rocks, while pelicans and other seabirds are common subjects.

The combination of:

• Water.
• Rock walls.
• Fishing vessels.
• Ocean swell.
• Birdlife.
• Coastal vegetation.

makes this one of the most productive areas around Lakes Entrance.

Bullock Island

Bullock Island lies between North Arm and The Entrance and provides another useful perspective on the maritime character of Lakes Entrance.

The island is particularly interesting for:

• Fishing boats.
• Working waterfront subjects.
• Jetties.
• Water reflections.
• Pelicans and other birdlife.
• Views towards the entrance channel.

Photographers should look beyond the obvious landscape and record the smaller details associated with the working fishing industry.

Nets, ropes, floats, weathered timber, boat hulls and reflections can all provide strong detail and abstract photographs.

Jemmys Point

Jemmys Point, above Lakes Entrance at Kalimna, provides the essential elevated view of the district.

The lookout and associated walking trails were substantially upgraded, with the latest stage completed in 2024.

The viewpoint provides an approximately 270-degree panorama encompassing:

• The Gippsland Lakes.
• Lakes Entrance township.
• The Entrance.
• Ninety Mile Beach.
• Bass Strait.

This is the best place to understand and photograph the unusual geography of Lakes Entrance in a single composition.

A wide-angle lens is useful, but a standard or short telephoto lens can be even more productive for isolating waterways, boats, sand barriers and sections of the township.

Viewpoints

Jemmys Point Lookout

The principal elevated viewpoint.

Use it first as an establishing location to understand the geography, then return when the light is better.

Best subjects: complete Lakes Entrance panorama, Entrance channel, sand barrier, Gippsland Lakes, Bass Strait and compressed telephoto landscapes.

Main Beach - Near the Dune Crossover

Useful for the classic Ninety Mile Beach photograph.

Walk a short distance along the beach before deciding on the final composition rather than photographing immediately at the beach entrance.

Best subjects: sunrise, surf, shoreline, reflections and minimalist beach landscapes.

Cunninghame Arm - Town Foreshore

One of the easiest sunrise, sunset and blue-hour locations because camera positions can be found close to the Esplanade.

Best subjects: boats, reflections, pelicans, jetties and coloured sky.

Footbridge

Use both ends of the bridge as well as positions on the bridge itself.

The bridge can form a strong leading line and provides useful elevated views along Cunninghame Arm.

Flagstaff Hill / The Entrance

One of the best places to photograph boats moving through the entrance channel.

Late afternoon can be particularly attractive, while changing weather can produce dramatic seascapes.

Bullock Island

Particularly useful for maritime details, working boats and quieter compositions away from the main Esplanade.

Other Things to Look Out For

How I photographed Lakes Entrance

What I took - what was in my kit

I have been to 'Lakes' many many times. Unfortuately, not for photography purposes. As part of my normal travels, I took my LowePro Backpack loaded with Canon 5DMkII body, Canon 24-105mm zoom, Manfrotto 190 Tripod, and of course a range of lens wipes, spare batteries, sunscreen and bug repellant. There are so many photo opportunities here. Lakes Entrance rewards carrying several focal lengths because the photographic subjects range from very broad coastal landscapes to distant boats and birdlife.

Techniques

Long Exposure

Long exposures can simplify the ocean and create movement in breaking waves at Ninety Mile Beach.

They can also smooth Cunninghame Arm and strengthen reflections during blue hour.

Experiment with relatively short long exposures first rather than automatically turning the water completely smooth.

See: Photography Techniques

Panorama Stitching

Jemmys Point is an excellent panorama location.

Instead of relying entirely on an ultra-wide lens, make a sequence of overlapping photographs with a standard or short telephoto focal length.

This can produce a substantially more detailed image of the waterways and coastline.

See: Photography Techniques

Telephoto Compression

A telephoto lens can visually compress the layers of water, sand, town and ocean when photographing from Jemmys Point.

It is also useful for boats passing through The Entrance and for isolating small groups of vessels on the lakes.

See: Photography Techniques

Blue-Hour Photography

Lakes Entrance can be particularly attractive during blue hour because lights from boats, buildings and the waterfront begin to reflect in Cunninghame Arm while colour remains in the sky.

A tripod allows lower ISO settings and carefully controlled exposures.

See: Photography Techniques

Exposure Bracketing

Sunrise and sunset can produce a substantial brightness difference between sky and foreground.

Exposure bracketing can preserve detail in both areas where a single exposure cannot comfortably contain the full brightness range.

See: Photography Techniques

Nearby Locations

Fishing Fleet

The working fishing fleet is one of the subjects that gives Lakes Entrance its visual identity.

Photograph complete vessels, but also look for details such as nets, ropes, buoys, hulls and equipment.

Pelicans

Pelicans are frequently encountered around the waterfront.

A longer lens allows them to be photographed without approaching too closely.

Seals

Seals can sometimes be seen around the rocks near The Entrance.

Treat sightings as an opportunity rather than something that can be guaranteed.

Reflections

Calm mornings and evenings can transform Cunninghame Arm into one of the strongest photographic subjects in town.

Look for reflected boats, masts, clouds, lights and coloured sky.

Maritime Details

Weathered timber, rust, ropes, boat paint, nets and marine equipment can produce strong abstract photographs.

Coastal Vegetation

The vegetation between Cunninghame Arm and Ninety Mile Beach helps establish the character of the coastal environment.

Look for patterns, textures and plants that can be used as foreground elements.

Weather

Lakes Entrance should not be regarded as a fine-weather-only location.

Storm clouds, rain shafts, rough seas, mist and changing light can produce more dramatic photographs than clear blue skies.

Nearby Locations

Lake Tyers and Lake Tyers Beach

Lake Tyers provides a quieter combination of lake, estuary, beach and forest landscapes east of Lakes Entrance.

It is particularly useful for reflections, birdlife and sunrise or late-afternoon photography.

Nyerimilang Heritage Park

Nyerimilang combines heritage buildings, gardens, bushland and views across the Gippsland Lakes.

It provides an excellent contrast to the more maritime character of Lakes Entrance.

Metung

The waterfront village of Metung offers jetties, boats, marinas and quieter views across the Gippsland Lakes.

It is particularly attractive in calm early-morning or evening light.

Paynesville

Paynesville is another important Gippsland Lakes waterfront town, with canals, marinas, boats and easy access to Raymond Island.

Raymond Island

Raymond Island is particularly useful for wildlife photography and is well known for its koala population.

It can be combined easily with Paynesville.

Bairnsdale

Bairnsdale provides a different group of photographic subjects, including the Mitchell River, historic architecture and the remarkable interior of St Mary's Catholic Church.

Buchan

Buchan provides limestone caves, river landscapes and rural scenery and makes a worthwhile inland extension from Lakes Entrance.

Location

Lakes Entrance
East Gippsland
Victoria 3909

The town is approximately 320 km east of Melbourne on the Princes Highway. The Apple Map below uses the central foreshore and Cunninghame Arm footbridge as the driving destination because it provides practical access to the Esplanade, Main Beach and the Entrance Walk.

Central foreshore coordinates: approximately -37.8793, 147.9950.

Apple Map – Photographic Locations

The Apple Map identifies the principal Lakes Entrance photographic precincts and selected nearby locations. Coastal conditions, sandbars, working-port activity and pedestrian access can change, so use the markers as planning references and follow current signs.

How to Get There

From Melbourne

Lakes Entrance is approximately 320 kilometres east of Melbourne.

Travel east via the Monash Freeway and Princes Freeway through Warragul and Traralgon, then continue on the Princes Highway through Sale and Bairnsdale to Lakes Entrance.

Allow approximately four hours of driving in normal conditions, excluding stops.

From Bairnsdale

Lakes Entrance is approximately 35 kilometres east of Bairnsdale via the Princes Highway.

The approach descends from Kalimna towards Lakes Entrance and provides the first elevated views across the waterways and coast.

Public Transport

Regional public transport services connect Melbourne with Bairnsdale, with onward coach services serving Lakes Entrance.

Check current V/Line timetables before travelling.

Caravans, Motorhomes and Large Rigs

Lakes Entrance is a major holiday destination and is readily accessible by sealed roads suitable for caravans and motorhomes.

The Princes Highway through town can become busy during holiday periods.

For photographers travelling with a large recreational vehicle or caravan, establishing a base at a caravan park before exploring the smaller waterfront and lookout areas is generally the most convenient approach.

Current Access / Conditions

As at September 2026, the principal photographic locations described on this page are accessible.

The upgraded Jemmys Point lookout and loop walking trails are complete and open.

The Entrance Walk is approximately 4.6 kilometres return and is graded Level 2-3, with some sandy sections.

Main Beach is reached by crossing the pedestrian footbridge from town and continuing through the dunes.

Parks Victoria currently lists the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park as open, although changed conditions can occur at short notice.

H5 bird flu is currently being managed in Victoria. Parks and reserves remain open, but visitors should not touch or approach sick or dead birds or other wildlife and should follow current signage.

Strong currents, rough surf and water hazards occur around the ocean beaches and Entrance channel.

Check current weather, marine conditions and Parks Victoria changed conditions before undertaking coastal walks or photography close to the water.

Driving from the State Capital

Melbourne is used as a consistent reference point. Apple Maps calculates the route to the central Lakes Entrance foreshore; photographers towing a caravan or driving a large vehicle may prefer to establish their accommodation base before visiting the smaller lookout and waterfront parking areas.

Current Access / Conditions

Information checked September 2026. The principal town foreshore, Cunninghame Arm footbridge, Main Beach access, Bullock Island visitor area and Jemmys Point lookout are currently described as available visitor locations. Bullock Island’s major visitor upgrades and the Jemmys Point lookout and loop trail have been completed.

No continuing closure of the Cunninghame Arm footbridge was identified in current council notices. Temporary closures can still occur for events, maintenance or safety, and boating or dredging operations may affect working-port areas.

Strong currents, surf, unstable sand edges and vessel movements occur around the ocean beach and Entrance channel. Check weather, marine warnings, Parks Victoria changed conditions and on-site signs before photographing close to the water. Do not approach sick or dead wildlife.

Best Time to Visit

Lakes Entrance can be photographed throughout the year, but the character of the location changes considerably with season and weather. The place is also a popular holiday destination, so if possible avoid it during peak periods.

Autumn

Autumn can provide settled weather, softer light and fewer visitors than the summer holiday period.

Calm conditions can be particularly good for reflections on the lakes and Cunninghame Arm.

Winter

Winter provides quieter beaches, lower sun angles and opportunities for dramatic coastal weather.

Cold clear mornings can also produce attractive light and occasional mist over sheltered water.

Spring

Spring combines longer days with fresh vegetation, changing weather and increased wildlife activity.

Summer

Summer provides long days and greater activity around the waterfront, but Lakes Entrance can become extremely busy during school holidays.

Photographers should work early in the morning when beaches and waterfront areas are quieter.

Sunrise

Sunrise is particularly important at Lakes Entrance.

Main Beach, Ninety Mile Beach and elevated viewpoints towards the ocean are the principal options.

Sunset

Cunninghame Arm, the lakes, Bullock Island and elevated viewpoints can provide excellent sunset colour.

Reflected colour can sometimes be more important than the setting sun itself.

Blue Hour

Do not pack the camera away immediately after sunset.

Blue hour can be excellent along the waterfront as lights appear on boats, jetties and buildings while the sky retains colour.

Accessibility

Many of the principal Lakes Entrance photographic subjects can be viewed with relatively little walking.

The Esplanade and Cunninghame Arm waterfront provide numerous near-vehicle photographic opportunities on generally level terrain.

Jemmys Point has undergone major accessibility and safety improvements, including a new viewing platform and upgraded walking connections.

Main Beach requires crossing the pedestrian footbridge and continuing through the dune system. Current visitor information describes it as approximately a 400-metre walk from town-side parking.

The Entrance Walk is approximately 4.6 kilometres return and includes Level 2-3 surfaces and sandy sections.

Consequently, it should not be assumed that every part of the complete Entrance Walk is suitable for every wheelchair or mobility aid.

Photographers with limited mobility can still obtain worthwhile photographs from:

• The Esplanade waterfront.
• Cunninghame Arm.
• Accessible sections around the footbridge.
• Jemmys Point.
• Various roadside and waterfront viewpoints.

Where to Stay

Lakes Entrance has a large range of accommodation and is the logical base for photographing the immediate area.

Lakes Entrance - Central Waterfront

Bellevue on the Lakes

Address: 201 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909
Telephone: (03) 5150 9400
Website: Bellevue on the Lakes

Centrally located opposite the waterfront and fishing fleet, making it convenient for photographers wanting easy early-morning and evening access to the Esplanade.

The Esplanade Resort & Spa

Address: 1 The Esplanade, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909
Telephone: (03) 5150 9600
Website: The Esplanade Resort & Spa

Hotel rooms and self-contained apartments close to the waterfront and town centre.

Lakes Entrance - Caravan and Holiday Parks

BIG4 Whiters Holiday Village

Address: 55 Roadknight Street, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909
Telephone: (03) 5155 1343
Website: BIG4 Whiters Holiday Village

Provides cabins and caravan accommodation approximately a short walk from the town centre, footbridge and Ninety Mile Beach.

Powered ensuite sites are available, although visitors with particularly large caravans or motorhomes should confirm suitable site dimensions directly with the park when booking.

NRMA Eastern Beach Holiday Park

Address: 42 Eastern Beach Road, Lakes Entrance VIC 3909
Telephone: (03) 5155 1581
Website: NRMA Eastern Beach Holiday Park

Offers villas together with ensuite, powered and unpowered sites close to Cunninghame Arm and Eastern Beach.

Metung

Metung is an attractive alternative base for photographers concentrating on the Gippsland Lakes rather than the ocean beaches.

Staying in Metung also provides convenient early and late access to its jetties, marina and waterfront before travelling to Lakes Entrance.

Bairnsdale

Bairnsdale provides the widest range of major-town services in East Gippsland and is useful when Lakes Entrance forms part of a broader regional photographic trip.

It is approximately 35 kilometres from Lakes Entrance.

Photography Recommendations

Wide-Angle Lens - e.g. 16-35mm

Useful for:

• Ninety Mile Beach.
• Sunrise seascapes.
• Jemmys Point panoramas.
• Footbridge compositions.
• Strong foreground landscapes.

Standard Zoom - e.g. 24-70mm

A standard zoom is likely to be the most useful general-purpose lens at Lakes Entrance.

It is suitable for the waterfront, boats, beaches, town landscapes and many compositions from Jemmys Point.

Telephoto Lens - e.g. 70-200mm

A telephoto lens is strongly recommended.

Use it for:

• Fishing boats.
• Vessels passing through The Entrance.
• Compressed landscapes from Jemmys Point.
• Pelicans.
• Seals.
• Details around the working waterfront.

Long Wildlife Lens

A longer wildlife lens is worthwhile for photographers particularly interested in pelicans, seabirds, seals and other wildlife.

Tripod

A tripod is strongly recommended for sunrise, sunset, blue hour, panoramas and long-exposure coastal photography.

Circular Polarising Filter

A polarising filter can reduce glare from water and strengthen colour, but use it selectively.

Reflections are often an important part of Lakes Entrance compositions, so removing them completely may weaken the photograph.

Neutral-Density Filters

Neutral-density filters are useful for extending shutter speeds around the ocean and creating controlled movement in surf and clouds.

Graduated Neutral-Density Filter

A graduated filter can be useful where a bright sunrise or sunset sky sits above darker water or foreground.

Drone Photography

Lakes Entrance is exceptionally interesting from above because its geography is difficult to appreciate fully from ground level.

Potential subjects include the narrow coastal sand barrier, waterways, entrance channel and relationship between the Gippsland Lakes and Bass Strait.

Before flying, check current CASA airspace requirements, land-manager rules, take-off and landing permission, wildlife considerations and separation requirements from people, boats, roads and buildings.

Do not assume that launching from beaches, reserves or Parks Victoria land is permitted.

Suggested Photographic Sequence

1. Begin at Jemmys Point.
   Use the elevated viewpoint to understand the geography and identify potential light and weather conditions.
2. Explore the town waterfront.
   Photograph Cunninghame Arm, boats, jetties, pelicans and the fishing fleet.
3. Cross the footbridge.
   Photograph the bridge from both sides before continuing through the dunes.
4. Photograph Main Beach.
   Work with the shoreline, waves, sand and dune vegetation.
5. Walk towards The Entrance.
   Follow Cunninghame Arm towards Flagstaff Hill.
6. Photograph The Entrance.
   Look for boats crossing the bar, pelicans, seals and the interaction between sheltered water and ocean.
7. Return via Ninety Mile Beach.
   Use the long shoreline for minimalist and telephoto compositions.
8. Visit Bullock Island.
   Concentrate on the working waterfront, boats and maritime details.
9. Choose a sunset position.
   Cunninghame Arm, Bullock Island or an elevated viewpoint can all work depending on cloud and wind.
10. Continue through blue hour.
    Photograph boat and town lights reflected in the sheltered water.
11. Return before dawn.
    Cross the footbridge while it is still dark and establish a composition on Main Beach.
12. Photograph sunrise over the ocean.
13. Return to Cunninghame Arm after sunrise.
    Calm early-morning conditions may provide the best reflections and fishing-fleet photographs of the visit.
14. Finish at Jemmys Point.
    Compare the morning view with the previous day's conditions and make detailed telephoto landscapes.

How Long Should a Photographer Stay?

A casual visitor can see the central Lakes Entrance waterfront, footbridge and Main Beach in approximately 2-3 hours.

A photographer should allow considerably longer.

Allow one full day to photograph the principal town, waterfront, beach and elevated viewpoints.

Two nights provide a much better photographic visit because they allow at least:

• One sunset.
• One blue-hour session.
• One sunrise.
• A full day for The Entrance Walk and maritime subjects.

Three nights are preferable for a comprehensive visit because coastal weather can change rapidly and additional time provides a second opportunity for good sunrise or sunset conditions.

Three nights also allow nearby locations such as Lake Tyers, Nyerimilang and Metung to be included without sacrificing the best light at Lakes Entrance itself.

My Priority Photographs

1. Wide panorama from Jemmys Point showing the unusual geography of Lakes Entrance.
2. Telephoto view from Jemmys Point isolating The Entrance and coastal sand barrier.
3. Sunrise over Ninety Mile Beach.
4. Long shoreline composition showing the apparent endlessness of Ninety Mile Beach.
5. Breaking waves with controlled motion.
6. Wet-sand reflection at sunrise.
7. Dune vegetation and beach.
8. Footbridge as a leading line.
9. Footbridge reflected in Cunninghame Arm.
10. Fishing boats and reflections.
11. Commercial fishing fleet environmental photograph.
12. Fishing-industry details - ropes, nets, buoys and weathered equipment.
13. Pelican portrait.
14. Pelican within the wider waterfront environment.
15. Boat travelling through The Entrance.
16. Fishing vessel against ocean swell.
17. Seals at The Entrance if encountered naturally.
18. Flagstaff Hill / Entrance landscape.
19. Bullock Island maritime landscape.
20. Abstract reflections of boats and masts.
21. Sunset reflected in Cunninghame Arm or the Gippsland Lakes.
22. Blue-hour waterfront with reflected lights.
23. Storm or dramatic-weather photograph if conditions occur.
24. High-resolution stitched panorama from Jemmys Point.
25. A photograph that combines town, lakes, sand barrier and ocean in one image and explains visually why the town is called Lakes Entrance.