Corringle Slips Camping Area

One of Victoria’s most affordable accommodation options unsurprisingly is Corringle Slips Camping Site, equipped with all the best things a camping spot has.

Where is it?

Corringle Foreshore Reserve, East Gippsland, Vic. Situated at the mouth of the Snowy River estuary, this beachfront camping area offers a host of activities, from boating or surf fishing in the estuary or canoeing in the Corringle Slips backwater and Frenches Narrows.

Swimming is not advised at Corringle due to strong rips and currents, but bushwalking is another alternative.

What’s it like?

Although still in a relatively natural state, Corringle Slips camping area is equipped with barbecues, designated fireplaces, picnic tables, pit toilets, a boat ramp, and jetties. However, drinking water is not available and visitors must bring their own or know how to make untreated water safe to drink.

The area is accessible to all vehicle types. At Christmas and Easter, bookings are determined by ballot. But all other time of the year, this accommodation is a steel for that off-the-grid weekend away.

Choose between 24 sites on the property, with the majority allowing all vehicles. Load up the campervan and trailer for a comfy sleeping situation, but if you want to feel at one with nature – bring your swag and sleep under the stars.

Corringle Slips Campground — A concrete boat ramp is located at the slips, providing access to campers who want to go surf fishing.

Water and boating activities can be enjoyed within the estuary, at Mots Beach, Sampsons Beach and up from the Marlo jetty. Swimming is not advised as the ocean beach at Corringle is unsafe due to strong rips and currents. Surf fishing is very popular. The most common fish caught are Salmon, Tailor and Gummy Shark. A concrete boat ramp is located at the slips, providing access to the Snowy River estuary.

Things to do nearby

Due to the remote location, you’ll have to drive a bit to get to any main sites. But if you’re happy setting down roots and playing beach cricket, then bat away.

Snowy River Estuary Walk

Hit the coastal town Marlo, only a 20-minute drive away, for a walk along the Snowy River estuary, winding all the way across to Ocean Beach. Roughly a 5 kilometre walk, the snags you cook on the barbie will be well deserved.

Of course, if you want a quick and snappy stroll, loop round at Mots Beach for a cool 2 kilometres each way. And for that extra motivation, bring the dogs along.

Beach Hopping

As you know, swimming is not advised at Corringle (and Ocean Beach) due to strong rips and currents, but we know a few other beaches you can pop down to. Mots Beach and Sampsons Beach are close by, so pump up the floaties and pack on the sunscreen.

Salmon Rocks Corringle, VIC — Perch yourself on top of Salmon Rocks to watch the sunset.

If you want to change it up, head east up to Cape Conran. You’ll find Salmon Rocks Beach, a perfect area to bring the jetty out onto. But if you perch yourself on the iconic rocks, and it’ll show off one hell of a sunset.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Activities

Rent out a paddle board from SUP Marlo for the day. Prices range from $30 for 2 hours and $40 for half a day. Take a paddle out through the calm waters of Snowy River, while keeping an eye out for local animal and bird life along the coast.

East Gippsland Rail Trail — Bike all the way from Orbost to Bairnsdale, VIC.

15-minutes up the road lies Orbost a small town, that’s known for the starting points to the East Gippsland Biking Rail Trail and Gippsland Lakes Discovery Trail. Hire out a mountain bike (or e-bike with pedal assist for an easy option), and explore the tracks. The whole trail is 94 kilometers, so do’t expect to knock it out in one day.

If you’re taking a day trip all the way up to Snowy River National Park, along the water you can hire out canoes to sail out onto the calm lagoons, or whitewater rafts for those fast-moving rapids.

Wilsons Promontory

Wilson’s Promontory National Park, on Victoria’s south-east coast, is something very special. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things to do at Victoria’s oldest national park. Approximately a 4 and a half hour drive, if you’re up for the road trip, the view is totally worth it.

Where to eat?

For a classic Aussie staple meal, head over to Marlo Ocean Views Takeaway & Kiosk. Frying up all things fish n’ chips, greasy burgers and crunchy potato scallops, throw the picnic blanket down along the beach for the best spot in all East Gippsland.

For a touch of class, check out The Marlo Hotel has got you covered. Order a standard chicken parma with a bevvy on tap and feel the warmth of the perfect summer night out on their deck. If you don’t feel like dining out, grab the meal to-go and feast around your personal fire-pit back at the campsite.

How much does it cost?

Camping fees from $15.10 per night per site, covering up to six people.

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The details

Corringle Slips Foreshore Reserve

Address: Corringle Road, East Gippsland, VIC

Planning a trip over to Gippsland? Hit here for our curated Gippsland guide on all-things to do.

From cabins to canvas, craft distillers to destination dining, Heathcote locals reveal their eco-savvy passions in ways that resonate with those seeking to travel lightly.

Heathcote, on traditional Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, is synonymous with its garnet-hued shiraz, but wine isn’t the only string to its bow. The town itself is sprinkled with heritage buildings from the gold rush era, and beyond that a growing collection of sustainable gastronomy and eco-friendly escapes. Nearby Bendigo, one of only 65 cities in the world recognised as a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy, plates up an astonishing calibre of produce, wine and food for its size. Increasingly the entire region is taking up the challenge, though Heathcote in particular shines with its focus on sustainability.

Pink Cliffs GeologicalReserve — The dramatic landscape of Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Goodfrey)

The eco-stays bringing sustainability to Heathcote

Yellow BoxWood’s safari-style tents — Yellow Box Wood’s safari-style tents are nestled on 40 hectares of bushland. (Image: Emily Goodfrey)

Andee and Lisa Davidson spent years working in southern Africa before settling in Heathcote. “We had a vision of how this could be,” explains Andee. “We wanted a retreat, but one that was off-grid and environmentally sustainable.” Now, at Yellow Box Wood, two luxury safari-style tents are at the heart of 40 hectares of rolling hills and native bush, with kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, goanna and birdlife aplenty. It’s all solar-powered, wood for the fire is mainly fallen timber, and water is collected on the carport roof. No lack of creature comforts though – en suite with rain shower, espresso coffee maker, comfy seating, wood-burning fire all set to go. There’s also a solar-heated, mineral salt pool in a bush setting, walking tracks, and even a mini bush golf course. On my visit, I put the vision to the test. Cocooned in the plush four-poster bed I can glimpse the stars, while the heater casts a golden glow on the canvas. In the morning, I wake to a blush-pink sunrise, kangaroos feeding and a soundtrack of magpies.

If a tent is not your style, Stephen and Cally Trompp’s carbon-neutral Mt Ida Eco Cabin might entice with its generous deck and farmland views. Inside the cabin, corrugated iron walls as rusty as a shearing shed, gleaming (recycled) floorboards, timber truss ceiling (crafted by Stephen), wood-fired heater and an old-school turntable with a pile of vinyls to spin. It’s fun, and a little boho. “Everything is recycled. The cabin takes maximum advantage of the sun in winter. It’s all solar-powered. Don’t panic, though,” says Stephen, “you can still charge your phone and get 4G reception!” Settle into an Adirondack chair on the deck or pedal off on a mountain bike to suss out the wineries.

A taste of Spain in Central Victoria

Another person with a vision is Evan Pritchard at his Three Dams Estate where the wines reflect his deep love of Spain and of Spanish-style grapes, such as tempranillo. Afternoons in the ‘wine shed’ or cantina are matched with music (flamenco is a favourite), Spanish bites from tapas to paella (with Evan on the pans!) and views to Mount Alexander. Sustainability is also a passion. “You don’t need to buy anything. We decided to be off-grid from the start, but it is a lifestyle change,” he says. “You need to think about it and be careful.” Everything here is recycled, reassembled, refurbished. Evan has an electric car (with solar-powered charger), solar-power for the winery, and even a jaunty little electric tractor/forklift. “I love the idea of all the things you can do using the sun.” Sipping a crisp rosado (a Spanish rosé) with Evan in the sunshine, I couldn’t agree more.

The vineyard redefining sustainable winemaking

Silver Spoon winery — The Silverspoon Estate winery is completely off-grid. (Image: Graham Hosking)

On the other side of Heathcote, Silver Spoon Estate demonstrates sustainability on a more extensive scale. Tracie and Peter Young’s winery, cellar door, award-winning restaurant and their own house are all solar-powered and off the grid. Sustainability is intrinsic to everything they do. The property sprawls across 100 hectares, with 20 hectares under vine – shiraz, viognier, grenache, tempranillo. As the climate has changed, so too has the approach. These are dry-grown vineyards. “We prune for drought. That means lower yields but more intense flavours,” says Peter. The fine-dining restaurant offers sweeping views, a wood-burning fire and a deck for languid lunches. Head chef Ben Hong sources regional, sustainable ingredients and weaves estate wines into the menu – think crispy wild mushroom arancini, viognier-infused chicken breast.

Silver Spoon’s award-winning restaurant.

Heathcote’s other hidden gems

Not all local wineries have a cellar door, but I find local treasures at the Heathcote Wine Hub, a petite 1855 timber church in the main street, lovingly returned to life by Karen Robertson and Carey Moncrieff. “Carey is a scrounger,” says Karen. “He doesn’t throw a single thing away.” He does, however, craft things into something quite special. Heritage floors, light-filtering lancet windows and shelves of regional wines create the perfect ambience for wine tasting. Or order a glass and linger over a cheese platter.

Heathcote is not all wine, of course. Nathan Wheat and partner Vanessa Curtis run Envy Distilling with a committed sustainable ethic – and a serious love of gin. Their small-batch distillery produces grape-based gin, and soon brandy. Distilled water is reused in an ingenious cooling system. All waste is treated on site. They buy excess wine from winemakers to distil and buy recycled barrels. “Distilling with the sun,” as Nathan says. Each Envy gin has its own story. Spicy, award-winning The Dry, is designed to capture the region’s dry, rugged nature. Pull up a stool at the bar (reclaimed timbers and tiles, of course), order a Gin Flight, or kick back with a cocktail and let Nathan share his eco journey.

Envy gins — Sample gins at small-batch distillery Envy.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s less than two hours’ drive from Melbourne. The scenic route we take goes past Sunbury, then along a splendid country road through Romsey and the magic, boulder-strewn landscape of Lancefield. Watch for kangaroos on the road!

Staying there

Go off-grid in style at Yellow Box Wood for glamping or try Mt Ida Eco Cabin for a couple’s weekend hideaway.

Eating there

French dishes at Chauncy — Award-winning French restaurant Chauncy.

At award-winning Chauncy, French chef Louis Naepels and sommelier wife Tess Murray have created a tiny, elegant pocket of rural France. Meticulously restored 1850s sandstone building, sun-drenched dining room, impeccable service, a menu suffused with local flavours and thoughtful wine pairings.

Fodder is both cafe and social hub. Chef Mo Pun and sister Lalita serve classic Aussie breakfast-to-lunch fare, though their Nepalese heritage sneaks through.

Playing there

Sanguine Estate’s cellar door and terrace overlook bucolic vineyards. Its award-winning, dry-grown wines include the distinctive D’Orsa Blanc dessert wine, reflecting the family’s Swiss-Italian heritage. Order a charcuterie board and stay a while. Keep it carbon neutral by cycling some (or all) of the 50-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail to Bendigo.

At Bridgeward Grove, learn about the property’s Old Mission Grove heritage olive trees, do a sommelier olive oil tasting, and stock up on sustainably grown olives and oil. Explore the unique landscape, wildflowers and wildlife of pink cliffs geological reserve.