Bunga Arm Campground

Bunga Arm sits on a thin sand barrier between the Gippsland Lakes and Bass Strait, accessible only by boat or kayak. Seven named campgrounds (Albatross, Cormorant, Dotterel, Egret, Gannet, Pelican, and Shearwater) spread across roughly 70 numbered sites along this 250-metre-wide strip. Lake on one side, ocean swell on the other, no roads, no shops, no cars — the kind of remote-feeling Australian camping that's still strangely accessible if you have a kayak and a willingness to paddle.

Getting there#

There is no road access to Bunga Arm. The barrier is a strip of sand between Lake Reeve / the Gippsland Lakes proper and the 90 Mile Beach, reachable only by water.

Boat ramp options:

• Paynesville (~10 km / 1–3 hours paddling) — the most common launch point. The boat ramp at the Esplanade gives direct access across to Bunga Arm. Boat hire is available locally (tinnies, kayaks, SUPs). For sea kayakers, a steady 2–3 hours one-way in calm conditions.
• Loch Sport (~5 km from the western Bunga Arm sites) — closer launch for the northern campgrounds (Albatross, Cormorant). Boat ramp at the foreshore.
• Metung (~15 km north) — alternative launch with marina facilities, but a longer crossing.

Day jetties at Ocean Grange and Steamer Landing make handy unloading points before paddling along the inner side of the barrier to your campground.

The crossing should not be attempted in strong winds — Lake Reeve and the Gippsland Lakes are large enough to develop a real chop. Check the marine forecast before you launch. There is no mobile reception across most of the barrier.

Sites and facilities#

Seven separate campgrounds along the barrier, each with multiple numbered sites. You book a specific site within a specific campground. All sites are unpowered and tent-only (no caravans, no campers — there's no road in).

Each site is rated for up to 6 people.

Check-in is from 1pm; check-out is by 12 noon.

On site:

• Non-flushing pit toilet at each campground
• Communal fire pits at each campground (not per-site)
• Picnic tables at each campground
• Small day-jetty facilities at some campgrounds for tying up tinnies

Bring with you:

• All drinking and cooking water — there is no fresh water on the barrier
• Firewood from licensed sellers in Paynesville or Loch Sport (collecting is prohibited)
• A fuel stove as a Total Fire Ban backup
• Insect repellent — mosquitoes are real on the inner barrier in summer
• Toilet paper, ice, food, first aid kit, and torches
• A reliable boat or sea kayak with appropriate safety gear (PFDs, communications, charts)
• Strong dry bags — wind shifts can soak gear during the crossing

Dogs are not permitted.

Nearest town and supplies#

• Paynesville (~10 km west) — small lakes town that effectively acts as Bunga Arm's basecamp. IGA supermarket, fuel, bakery, cafes, marine supplies, boat hire. The right place to do a proper shop and rent gear if you don't have your own.
• Loch Sport (~12 km west) — smaller township with a general store, fuel, and boat-launching access.
• Bairnsdale (~30 km west of Paynesville) — full regional supply town with major supermarkets (Coles, Woolworths), hardware, banks, hospital, marine retailers.
• Lakes Entrance (~50 km north-east) — busier coastal town with full supplies and additional boat hire options if approaching from the Gippsland coast.

The pragmatic plan: shop in Paynesville on the way to the launch ramp. Once you're across to Bunga Arm, the next supplies trip is a 1–3 hour paddle each way.

What to do at Bunga Arm#

• Paddling and boating — explore the Lake Reeve side at sunrise (glassy water, pelicans), then walk across to the 90 Mile Beach for a Bass Strait surf at sunset. The duality of inner lake and outer ocean is the headline experience.
• Fishing — bream, flathead, dusky flathead, and luderick on the inner-lake side; salmon and tailor on the surf side. Victorian recreational fishing licence required.
• Beach walking — the 90 Mile Beach extends for, well, 90 miles. Multi-day walks along the barrier are possible.
• Birdwatching — the barrier is a bird-rich Ramsar wetland. Black swans, pelicans, terns, sea eagles, and migratory waders. Bring binoculars.
• Wildlife — kangaroos and wallabies graze the inner-lake fringes at dusk; echidnas and goannas sometimes wander through camp.
• Stargazing — no light pollution. The Milky Way over Bass Strait is genuinely good.

Best time to visit#

• Autumn (March–May) is the standout window — mild temperatures, settled weather, low rainfall, and stable lake conditions for paddling.
• Early spring (September) offers similar paddling conditions before the southerly busters of October–November (October is the wettest month at 109 mm avg).
• Summer (December–February) is busy and warm (~23°C peak), with afternoon sea breezes that can make crossings tricky. Total Fire Ban days are common.
• Winter (June–August) is dry (July averages just 33 mm) but cold, with occasional storms. Experienced sea kayakers only.

Camping fees#

Camping at Bunga Arm runs around $14–$18 per site per night under the Victorian Government's 50% camping subsidy (Parks Victoria prices dynamically by peak/off-peak). A $7 Parks Victoria booking fee applies per reservation. There's no vehicle entry fee, but you'll pay for boat fuel, hire, or ramp launching at Paynesville.

Confirm current pricing on the Parks Victoria booking page when you book.

Can't get a booking?#

Bunga Arm's appeal as a kayak-camping destination has grown fast — Easter and the autumn shoulder weeks book out months ahead, and summer holidays sell out the day they open. Cancellations come up regularly; weather forecasts shift and inexperienced paddlers pull out.

Set up a free CampWatch alert for your preferred Bunga Arm campground and we'll text you the moment a site opens up. No app, no account — just your phone number.