Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota road trip: Drive distance & stops
The Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota drive through scenic East Gippsland in Victoria is 202km in distance. That makes for a 2h23m driving time. Great road trip stops include Cape Conran and the McKenzie River Rainforest Walk.
The drive from Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota links two of the most attractive holiday spots in East Gippsland, Victoria.
Despite looking like a coastal drive, a Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota road trip is mostly inland along the Princes Highway. If you want to enjoy the coastal attractions, you’re going to have to make a few little detours.
To pick out the best Mallacoota accommodation in advance, book here.
Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota distance and driving time
The distance from Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota by car is 202km. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 23 minutes. Obviously, that’ll be a little longer if you throw in a few road trip stops.
The Princes Highway veers inland pretty much straight out of Lakes Entrance, and the turning for Lake Tyers Beach comes pretty quickly into the drive. This beach town is more chilled-out than Lakes Entrance, and many visitors prefer it.
The drive goes north of the Lake Tyers State Park and the largely untouched Ewing Morass Wildlife Reserve towards Orbost.
Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota road trip: Marlo and Cape Conran
If you’re going to take one detour off the main Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota drive, do so here. Going down the Marlo Road to Marlo and Cape Conran will only add 15 minutes to your drive, but it’s a beautiful 15 minutes.
The detour starts off following the Snowy River as it winds its way towards the ocean. There are a couple of lakes either side. Lake Corringle and Lake Curlip are both surrounded by wildlife reserves. In quiet, chilled-out Marlo, you can stay at the caravan park, take photos of the Snowy River mouth from the Lovelock Lookout or brave the ocean at Mots Beach.
There are several more beaches to take your pick from along the Marlo-Conran Road before you arrive at Cape Conran, home to the pink-tinged Salmon Rocks and several enjoyable walking tracks. The Cabbage Tree-Conran Road will take you back to the Princes Highway.
Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota drive: Bemm River and Cann River
The Lakes Entrance to Mallacoota road trip then continues past the Bemm River section of Croajingolong National Park and through the Bemm River Scenic Reserve. Take a stroll along the McKenzie River Rainforest Walk if you wish.
You’ll then go through the Lind National Park towards Cann River. This pretty little town is the gateway to the Tamboon Inlet section of Croajingolong National Park.
This is where you’ll find the Point Hicks Lighthouse. Point Hicks was the first part of Australia seen by Lt James Cook’s crew of the Endeavour in 1770.
Cann River is also where the Monaro Highway meets the Princes Highway.
Things to do between Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota: Genoa area
Before the turn off to Mallacoota, just east of Genoa, you’ll also pass through Alfred National Park. Genoa Falls is arguably worth a stop too.
The Mallacoota-Genoa Road will take you into Mallacoota. Kayaking and kangaroos are in order at Gipsy Point, while pelicans, cruises on the Mallacoota Inlet and Betka Beach are among Mallacoota’s highlights. The Mallacoota caravan park offers budget accommodation in Victoria’s most easterly town.
More Victoria travel
Learn to surf in Torquay.
Have a few beers at the American Hotel in Echuca.
Check out the mural trail in Yarram, South Gippsland.
Stop at the Tallarook wineries on a Melbourne to Wagga Wagga road trip.
Hit golf balls by the lake at the Albert Park driving range in Melbourne.