Lakes Entrance, which lies almost at sea level, can be reached from
Melbourne via
Bairnsdale and the town of Kalimna to the north-west by a stretch of the
Princes Highway, which snakes down and around a point protruding into the
Gippsland Lakes known as "Jemmy's Point". Views of The Entrance and of the Lakes can be seen from various look-outs on Jemmy's Point. The
Princes Highway leaves the north-east side of the town through hilly countryside towards
Nowa Nowa and
Orbost. It has the largest number of inland waterways in the southern hemisphere. The ninety-mile beach is a big tourist attraction and the various national parks of Gippsland touch the coastline of Lakes Entrance. Two of the most scenic driving routes are also a part of this region, the Great Alpine Road and The Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Drive. Lakes Entrance is predominantly a fishing and tourism-driven town; the main beach front is a harbour for commercial fishing and recreational watersport operations. The surf beach is patrolled by the
Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) between November and March every summer, with lifeguard patrols from late December to late January. The waterfront is populated by the fishing fleet and two floating restaurants. The town's main residential areas lie farther inland. Lakes Entrance has a number of camping and caravan parks, and free camping spots in Colquhoun State Forest. It can be reached from Melbourne on a train to Bairnsdale, followed by an approximately 35 minute connecting bus ride. Nearby major towns include
Bairnsdale and
Orbost. Lakes Entrance falls within the
Shire of East Gippsland. Other towns include
Swan Reach,
Johnsonville,
Kalimna,
Nicholson,
Metung and
Lake Tyers. ==Population==