Around Gippsland

Instead of hibernating under the doona this winter, rug up and head out to regional Victoria for the East Gippsland Winter Festival. Returning for its sixth iteration from June 19 to July 19, this month-long festival transforms the entire area of East Gippsland into a haven of art, culture, light installations, live performances, wellness workshops, immersive experiences and tons of delicious food.   The 2026 festival kicks off with the iconic Nicholson River Trestle Bridge Long Lunch on June 19, followed by the official opening at the Nicholson River Winery in the evening – a suitably scenic setting to toast the start of a packed festival calendar. Festive favourites are back, too. Channel your inner knight or medieval maiden at the Bruthen Medieval Winter Fire Festival on June 20, complete with sword fights, costumes and roaring bonfires. Wander along the waterfront for Lakes Lights on July 4 with gigantic lantern sculptures and roaming performers, plus a parade across the footbridge at the Lakes Entrance Foreshore. Or, if you’re feeling particularly brrr-ave, take the plunge at Gippsland Jersey’s Winter Solstice Swim; while not for the faint-hearted, it’s certainly unforgettable. Timed perfectly with the Victorian school holidays, the festival includes more than 130 events spread across 30 towns in from Bairnsdale and Bruthen to Omeo and Orbost. It draws thousands of visitors each year, injecting energy into the region during the quieter winter months while championing...