Lakes-Explorer: Wildlife Tours & Water-Taxi

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Lakes Entrance, VIC
Lakes-Explorer: Wildlife Tours & Water-Taxi

LIMITED SERVICE ONLY. Text for daily updates.

🛟 WATER TAXI SERVICE:
One way boat trip between jetties incl Ocean Entrance & Barrier Landing. Max 3 pax. WWC.

Max. 4 pax.

🦭 WILDLIFE BOAT TOURS:
1 HOUR Ocean Entrance incl Fur Seal colony. If weather is ok… 🛟 WATER-TAXI service:
Short one way trip to or from remote lake-side and jetty locations. Pricing per one-way trip: max 4 persons (prefer 3 adults). Minimum 2 passengers. Lakes Entrance - Ocean Entrance (Flagstaff Jetty). $30 per trip ($8 - $15pp each way). Lakes Entrance - Barrier landing, Ocean E

ntrance, Rigby Island, Kalimna Jetty: $30 - $40 per trip ($10-$20pp each way). Other locations possible.. Do not travel to Metung or Paynesville.

🦭 EDUCATIVE WILDLIFE BOAT TOURS:
1 hour: Harbour, Ocean Entrance & Rigby Island: 3 or maybe 4 passengers: $60 per trip ($15-$30pp).
2 hour: Harbour, Ocean Entrance and circumnavigate Rigby Island. Short guided walk. $100 for up to 3 passengers ($33-50pp). All trips subject to suitable tides, weather and availability. MINIMUM 2 passengers. Departure times vary each week. Pay on board.

🛶 PRIVATE CHARTER:
Commercial vessel 446091 licensed and insured to carry up to 4 passengers on lakes and rivers. Option to assist with-over water transport for research projects or special events at various locations as the Commercial vessel is trailable to boat ramps. Including Lake Tyers, Nowa Nowa, Marlo, Bairnsdale, Nicholson, Paynesville… Price On Application.

⚓️ COMMERCIAL VESSEL UVI 446091. Licensed to carry 4 passengers and Coxswain (Skipper). Class 2E NS. 5 metre Polycraft vessel (2017). 90hp SeaPro Mercury motor (2022). Some weather protection. Trailable. Can operate in darkness. Life-jackets for adults and children. Liability Insurance. LTO, Cruise at 35-40kph (20 knots).

04/09/2026

Completed our regular monthly (Sept.) shore-bird survey at 4 defined areas around Rigby Island and Flannigan Island east yesterday.
Our usual 24 species including 5 species of Cormorants, Sooty & Pied Oystercatchers, Chestnut Teal, Red Capped Plovers, Hooded Plover and Ruddy Turnstone. Large numbers of Pelicans (120) and Great Cormorant (1500) on Fayes Beach. Details on Birdata.
No Hoary-headed Grebes or White Ibis in defined areas..

26/08/2026

HOG DEER.
Introduced to Australia from India in 1860s; the smallest of 6 introduced deer species.
Often seen on Rigby Island, Silvershot area and Boole Poole Peninsula. Known to range Gippsland coastal areas. A few small colonies have been reported in other States. Hog Deer hunting is permitted via a permit, in defined areas, during a set season.
Photo: Internet.

20/08/2026

Great to see the beach mooring poles at Barrier Landing have been replaced. Gippsland Ports have installed larger poles in groups of 3 to assist mooring on the beach.
Top Photo: S. Spain.

16/08/2026

Completed the monthly (August) shorebird survey of 4 defined areas on Rigby Island and Flannigan Island east today. Usual 23 species were spotted including 3 Hooded Plovers, 35 Great Crested Terns, 26 Pied Oystercatchers, 61 Little Pied Cormorants, 1 Darter….. however overall low numbers due to winter.
Also 130 Fur seals at ocean entrance (west side).
5 Nankeen Night Herons resting in trees at Flagstaff Picnic Area..

02/08/2026

Excellent weather conditions allowed us to travel on Saturday to Ocean Grange for a survey of shore birds including Pelicans.
Between Metung and Paynesville, we met a pod of 20 dolphins. At Ocean Grange, we did a check of Barton, Waddy, Crescent and Albifron islands. Birds spotted including Pelicans, Hooded Plovers, Crested Terns, 1 small Tern, Night Herons, juvenile Sea Eagle and many Pied Cormorants…..

30/07/2026

Unfortunately H5N1 BIRD FLU has been found in a Victorian bird. The Crested Tern was near Portland.
Crested Terns are wide spread in the Gippsland Lakes (similar to sea-gull with black on its head).
Importantly DO NOT TOUCH any sick, dying or dead shorebirds, as you may spread the flu/virus to other animals including domestic chooks….
If dead or dying shorebird is found, photograph and contact Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888.
Photo: Crested Tern (ABC News).

22/07/2026

Survey of Fur seals at ocean entrance last week:
112 Fur seals. Also aware a few seals probably out in the ocean and few often seen near Metung. The numbers are usually high in winter then numbers drop as Fur seals head back to breeding areas in Spring near Mallacoota, Wilson’s Prom or Phillip Island.

17/07/2026

Completed our regular monthly Shore-bird survey today of 4 locations on Rigby Island and Flannagin Island east. Usual 23 species recorded however numbers were low which is usual for winter. Also….
1 fox on Fraser Island.
6 Nankeen Night Herons in large trees near Flagstaff Jetty.
112 Fur seals on the western side of ocean entrance.

05/07/2026

Latest Victorian information: 2 July 2026.
Focus is on sea-birds, water-birds, shore-birds & birds of prey (raptors)…

04/06/2026

BUSINESS UPDATE: AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
We are only running a limited service this month. Please text 04585 11438 to see which days may be available.

🦭 One hour educative Boat TOUR around harbour and ocean entrance. $20pp for 3p or $30pp for 2p. Max. 3 adults or maybe 4 pax.

🛟 Water TAXI between local jetties including Ocean Entrance & Barrier Landing: $10-$30pp each way. Max. 4 pax. We do not travel to Metung or Paynesville.

Otherwise Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre or Peel’s Cruises or Lonsdale Eco Cruises - Lakes Entrance may be able to help.

Address

Berth 34, Western Harbour Marina: 200 Esplanade. Pickup From Any Local Jetty As Required
Lakes Entrance, VIC
3909

Website

https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/gippsland/see-and-do/tours/cruises-and-boat-tours/lakes-explorer--wildlife-tours-o

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