Lakes-Explorer: Wildlife Tours & Water-Taxi

01/09/2024

Flowers, Forests, Feathers, Fins, Fangs or Fur.
SEPTEMBER is
National Biodiversity Month.

27/08/2024

We are still on a break for 3 months….
While no boating, we are still involved in various Citizen Science projects including the monitoring of Pelicans. Please keep a lookout for banded Pelicans and record number, color, time, date and location.
Details to; Love our Pelicans
or email; [email protected]

27/07/2024

Well done to Marine Mammal Foundation for hosting a week of citizen science on Bullock Island. Each day, MMF staff and volunteers assisted locals to be involved in monitoring and learning more about Burrunan Dolphins. These research observations will assist to create a better understanding of Gippsland Lakes dolphins…
MMF also have a research vessel working on the Gippsland Lakes this week.
Visit East Gippsland
Love Our Lakes
Visit Gippsland

24/07/2024

International day of the Mangrove.
Lakes Entrance is very fortunate to have a healthy colony of Mangroves near Eastern Beach Creek and a few plants in North Arm. While some people may not like them, they are an important home for fish, birds and insects…

🌱 🌱 With International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem this week we're celebrating this incredible ecosystem.

🌏 🌏 West Gippy is home to the southernmost mangroves on the planet at Millers Landing on the northern section of Wilsons Promontory National Park.

🐟 🐟 Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea acting as a form of natural coastal defense against storm surges, tsunamis, rising sea levels and erosion.

🌱 🌱 Their soils are highly effective carbon sinks, sequestering vast amounts of carbon.
🚁 🚁 We're proud to be working to protect mangroves through controlling spartina w**d and protecting rivers to improve water quality in Corner Inlet.
UNESCO

22/07/2024

Great presentation yesterday by Derrek Russell (Chair, Birdlife East Gippsland) at the Float.slipway.3909. Derrek highlighted the importance of regular monitoring of birdlife in East Gippsland, to better understand how the birds use the Gippsland Lakes, particularly during either droughts or floods.
The talk was supported by FLOAT and Friends of the Gippsland Lakes as part of the East Gippsland Winter Festival. Hopefully more similar talks in the future at this great venue….
Photo: FOGL.

17/07/2024

A good Tour Guide can create a story for everyone, to experience and remember…

12/07/2024

While l have a break from boating and Tours for a month or 2, l will put up some of my favourite Tour Guide, Wildlife or Boating jokes each week. Enjoy….

29/06/2024

NOT OPERATING THIS MONTH: Lots of activities are running as part of East Gippsland Winter Festival.
Also checkout activities at Float.slipway.3909 sheds near the Coast Guard.

23/06/2024

Animal tracks….
Spotted today on the ocean beach, Barrier Landing…..

…. Fur Seal walking up the beach for a rest.

20/06/2024

Fur seal count this week: 65.
Ocean Entrance, Lakes Entrance.

04/06/2024

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY:

28/05/2024

New work shirts arrived today with updated name…
Thanks to SWF Bairnsdale for embroided shirts and all our work clothing for many years.
We offer 2 options:
“Wildlife Tours” > varying itinerary to suit passengers.
“Water-Taxi” > Access to remote lake-side jetties/locations.
Hopefully our boat services will resume in late June/July.

05/05/2024

As a professional Tour Guide working in East Gippsland….

28/04/2024

Two great tours today….
Waterways were very calm.
Counted about 45 Fur-Seals, both resting on rocks or in rafts floating around.
Approx 18 dolphins quietly swam past at one stage….

24/04/2024

Updated our Lakes Entrance Water-Taxi pickup and drop-off DL Map card…..
3 primary pickup jetties, 9 other public jetties and 7 private jetties within 8km of Lakes Entrance.
$7-$20pp each way.
Suit 2, 3 or 4 passengers or multiple trips. Copies of DL Map card available if required.

17/04/2024

Always great to go on someone else’s tour…..
Today it was a tour around Corner Inlet with Port Albert Boat Tours. The trip was part of a BLEG Bird survey of South Gippsland.

15/04/2024

03/04/2024

Fur Seal Colony…..
After a busy Easter providing water-taxi services to remote jetties, our educational 1 or 2 hour boat tours including the Fur Seal colony will continue on specified mornings: 8.30am, 10am or 11.30am.
We have found wildlife viewing oportunities are usually better during early mornings (subject to suitable tides and weather). Only 2, 3 or maybe 4 passengers.

01/04/2024

Kalimna Jetty has had a make-over, courtesy of Gippsland Ports. New decking, new fenders, new ladders etc.
Water-taxi available from Lakes Entrance to Kalimna Jetty; to access Kalimna Hotel or the Rockwall walking track.

28/03/2024

Completed our regular monthly shore-bird survey (record numbers) along the shorelines Rigby Island and Flanigan Island East this morning. We have focussed on approximately 25 species over the last 5 years (60 surveys)…..
All results are stored on Birdlife Australia’s Birdata App for anyone including scientists to read.
Photo: Faye’s Beach, Rigby Island (Today).

25/03/2024

WATER-TAXI service available 3 or 4 days a week: including Ocean Entrance (Flagstaff Jetty), Barrier Landing, Nyerimilang Jetty, Kalimna (Hotel) Jetty. $10-$20pp each way for 2, 3 or 4 passengers. 8.30am - 6pm close.

1 hour educative BOAT TOURS on selected mornings only; including Ocean Entrance and Fur Seal Colony: Mornings only. Suit 2 or 3 (maybe 4) passengers. $60 per trip ($20 or $30pp).

Booking essential via text: 0458511438.

Photo: Orange dots = Public jetties/beach
Blue dots = Private jetties.

24/03/2024

Assisted with the Great Pelican (Borun) Count this morning. We checked 6 locations that are only accessible by boat. A few dolphins swam past….

23/03/2024

Tour Guide joke…..

13/03/2024

Lots of pelicans spotted today resting on the west side of Rigby Island (approx 180).
Sunday 24th is the Great Borun/Pelican Count 2024.
Details: Love our Pelicans

05/03/2024

WATER TAXI service to remote local jetties. $10-$25pp. Each way.
Booking via text 0458511438.
Orange dots: Public jetties/beach.
Blue dots: Private jetties.

03/03/2024

Always good to go on someone else’s Tour….
Had a great boat tour on the “Coral Trekker” this morning at Paynesville. The winds allowed for the square sail to run down wind.
Paynesville Classic Boat Rally, March 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2024

02/03/2024

A few dolphins cruising in Hopetoun Channel, west of Ocean Entrance late afternoon today…..

29/02/2024

Great to see the walking pathway from the Fuel Jetty to Reeves Landing (Crab Jetty) Bullock Island is open to walkers. This will be an icon walk for Lakes Entrance when fully complete.

24/02/2024

Always great to go on someone else’s Tour. Today, Sue and l went on Melbourne Seaplanes tour of northern Port Phillip. Great views and amazing taking off and landing on water!

19/02/2024

Early start at Nicholson this morning…. for boating on Jones Bay.