Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Sale, Australia

Located in Central Gippsland on the western side of the Gippsland Lakes, Sale is a town that developed during the latter half of the 19th century. By 1890, Sale had become a busy port following the construction of a canal that connected the town to the Gippsland Lakes and subsequently to the open ocean. The La Trobe Swing Bridge, a remarkable structure from that era, is situated just outside of town. The historic port now serves as a central attraction for visitors, housing a regional gallery, recreational moorings, and a waterfront promenade.

Daily cruises operate from the port to the bridge, offering insights into Sale’s natural landscape, maritime commerce, and Aboriginal heritage. Water plays a significant role in Sale, as seen in the tranquil Lakes Guthridge and Guyatt, and the wetlands of the Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve, which are abundant with avian life.

1. Port of Sale Precinct

Integrating culture with the serenity of the canal, the Port of Sale was revitalized in the 2000s as a leisure and entertainment area for the city. This attractive location is perfect for spending a few hours. Visitors can appreciate exhibitions at the Gippsland Art Gallery, embark on a cruise, stroll along the 200-metre boardwalk that lines the moorings, enjoy a barbecue, or dine at various chic eateries nearby. In the evening, live performances can be enjoyed at The Wedge, a venue dedicated to the performing arts in Wellington Shire.

The Port of Sale, developed in the 1880s alongside the canal, opened the city to an extensive network of waterways and effectively connected it to Lakes Entrance, located 100 kilometres to the north-east.

2. Gippsland Art Gallery

Overlooking the water and green landscape of the Port of Sale precinct, the Gippsland Art Gallery is a distinguished regional institution. Established in 1965, it relocated to this scenic location in 1995 and underwent redevelopment between 2015 and 2017. The gallery features a dynamic program, hosting over 30 exhibitions each year across six different spaces. One of these spaces is dedicated to the work of Sale-based textile artist, Annemieke Mein.

The permanent collection comprises roughly 1,750 pieces, showcasing art from notable figures such as Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Polixeni Papapetrou, Peter Booth, and Jan Hendrik Scheltema. Alongside touring exhibitions featuring both established and emerging regional artists, there is a rotating display drawn from this impressive collection.

3. Sale Botanic Gardens

Established in the latter half of the 19th century, Sale Botanic Gardens span five hectares on the eastern bank of Lake Guthridge, which developed somewhat later. The site for the gardens was allocated in 1860, creating a park that now includes both the gardens and the lake. The design of the gardens involved contributions from state botanist Ferdinand von Mueller (1825-1896) and the architect of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, William Guilfoyle (1840-1912).

For children, there is a playground featuring a flying fox, along with a fauna enclosure that houses pademelons and red-necked and Parma wallabies. A leisurely stroll around the park allows visitors to enjoy the sensory garden, elm forest, pergola, and the many peacocks that adorn the area.

4. La Trobe Swing Bridge

Located five kilometres south of Sale, the La Trobe Swing Bridge holds the distinction of being the first movable bridge commissioned in Victoria. Constructed in 1883, this 45-metre-long bridge features a wrought iron structure that rotates on circular rails supported by steel columns.

In its early years, the bridge would open more than 20 times daily for steamers travelling between Sale and Melbourne. It underwent restoration in the 2000s and appeared in the 2008 film, The Tender Hook, starring Hugo Weaving and Rose Byrne. Access to the bridge can be made on foot or by bicycle via the River Heritage & Wetlands Trail.

5. Port of Sale Heritage Cruises

Experience a nostalgic journey reminiscent of the era when Gippsland’s waterways served as essential transportation routes on a leisurely trip between the Port of Sale and the Swing Bridge. The Port of Sale Heritage Cruises operate twice daily aboard the elegant Rubeena, a wooden vessel launched at Lakes Entrance, Victoria in 1912. During the cruise, passengers can admire the diverse birdlife and the tall red gums lining the banks of the Sale Canal and Thomson River.

Onboard, guests will encounter historical narratives relating to waterborne transportation, local wildlife, and the rich history of Gippsland, beginning with the traditional owners, the Aboriginal Gunaikurnai.

6. Gippsland Vehicle Collection

Maffra, located just a short distance from Sale, possesses a distinctive motoring history extending over a century. A historic hill climb is maintained by the Maffra and District Car Club, accompanied by a motocross track operated by the local motorcycle club. In Maffra, a large, World War II-era building constructed for vegetable dehydration has been repurposed into an exhibition space for the Gippsland Vehicle Collection.

This extensive collection includes carriages, motorbikes, trucks, cars, engines, and motoring memorabilia, with new items rotated regularly to keep the exhibits fresh. Visitors can view everything from 19th-century horse-drawn carriages to contemporary racing vehicles, along with one of Australia’s largest model car displays, encompassing over 3,500 pieces.

7. Lake Guthridge

Sale boasts a magnificent expanse of freshwater, situated at the edge of the CBD and extending south into a nature conservation reserve. Lake Guthridge, initially a bog converted into a water supply for the city, serves as the starting point of this series of water bodies.

The reservoir is surrounded by lush greenery, including lawns, shrubs, mature red gums, and the botanic gardens located on the eastern bank. A pedestrian path encircles the lake, providing access to a wooden footbridge and a detour around the adjacent Lake Guyatt. The area is teeming with black swans, ducks, pelicans, and various waterbirds, while the path showcases Aboriginal art. Children will delight in the play equipment installed along the shore.

8. Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve

One can easily reach the 300-hectare Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve without leaving the city, offering a diverse landscape of open water, marshes, grasslands, and red gum woodlands. This reserve is the prime location in Sale for birdwatching enthusiasts. Along the River Heritage and Wetlands Trail, visitors can observe various bird species, including white-faced herons, Australasian darters, pelicans, whistling kites, royal spoonbills, and white-bellied sea eagles.

Informational boards featuring clear images assist in identifying each species. Cyclists also appreciate the reserve, which provides an extended yet easy ride from Sale’s center, featuring paved paths and boardwalks.

9. Ninety Mile Beach

Within half an hour, visitors can access one of the planet’s great unspoiled beaches. Ninety Mile Beach extends even longer than its name suggests, reaching 94 miles (151 km) between Port Albert in the south-west and Lakes Entrance in the north-east. Throughout its length, the beach remains uninterrupted, lacking headlands or outcroppings except for a few offshore reefs.

The beach acts as a natural barrier for the Gippsland Lakes, which begin just outside Sale where the La Trobe River merges with Lake Wellington. The closest community on Ninety Mile Beach is Paradise Beach, located on the far western side of the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, where visitors can enjoy views of Bass Strait, partake in surfing, surf fishing, wade in the ocean, and camp by the shore.

10. Loch Sport

Readily accessible from Sale, the charming coastal town of Loch Sport is situated between Lake Victoria and enjoys easy access to Ninety Mile Beach. Loch Sport boasts a prime location adjacent to the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, providing endless opportunities for outdoor activities, both on land and water.

Additionally, to the north, the 2,390-hectare Lakes National Park is renowned for its abundant wildflowers and supports populations of echidnas, emus, koalas, and kangaroos. The town features a golf club and a peaceful waterfront on Lake Victoria, complemented by a boat ramp/jetty, marina, playground for children, and a skate park.

11. Lake Guyatt

Lake Guyatt, serving as an overflow for Lake Guthridge, offers a serene spot for peaceful walks and is enriched by its bird population. Enclosed by a reserve, visitors can follow a wide gravel path that circles the lake, connecting with trails around Lake Guthridge.

The Lake Guyatt Cultural Trail includes informative signs that explore Aboriginal culture and provide insights into the flora and fauna of the reserve. On the eastern side of the lake lies Stephenson Park, which serves as Sale’s primary venue for outdoor sports and is currently undergoing a $1.65 million redevelopment. Just southwest of Lake Guyatt, one can find the Sale Powder Magazine, constructed in the mid-1860s for the storage of gunpowder used in mining operations.

12. Gippsland Armed Forces Museum

Situated within a hangar at West Sale Airport, the Gippsland Armed Forces Museum chronicles more than 135 years of Australian military history from a perspective rooted in Gippsland. The collection includes remarkable military equipment, such as a jet that greets visitors at the entrance, along with an engine and propeller located inside the hangar.

Encompassing all branches of the armed forces, the collection consists of over 1,500 items, featuring diaries, maps, uniforms, photographs, medals, and preserved vintage posters. It includes artefacts from Gallipoli, Belgium, and France, all contributing to the narrative of Gippslanders’ roles in both wartime and peacetime.

13. Former Railway Signal Box

Located in the heart of Sale is the Gippsland Centre, the hub for most of the city’s retail and dining experiences. A pedestrian mall runs along the southern side, adjacent to Sale Cinemas. Interestingly, this area once served as the site of the Sale Railway Station, which was relocated outside the city in 1983. However, along Reeve Street on the western side, remnants of the railway’s heritage remain, including a charming weatherboard signal box, a pair of semaphore signals, and an antique level crossing gate.

14. The Wedge

Adjacent to the port and directly across from the council and court buildings on Foster Street, The Wedge serves as a premier live entertainment venue for the entire Wellington Shire. Operated by the Wellington Shire Council, it hosts a diverse array of performances, including theatre productions, musicals, dance showcases, live comedy, touring bands, classical music concerts, and tribute acts.

Events are held in the 400-seat John Leslie Theatre, which is also available for conventions, events, exhibitions, and more. For pre-show refreshments, the newly renovated Portside Cafe offers waterfront seating and operates seven days a week.

15. Sale Visitor Information Centre

Co-located with the Gippsland Art Gallery, the Sale Visitor Information Centre serves as a valuable resource for tourists seeking to maximize their experience in Central Gippsland and the Wellington Shire. Given the region’s vast array of attractions, spanning from Victoria’s snowfields to the expansive sands of Ninety Mile Beach, personalized advice is beneficial to ensure visitors do not overlook any highlights.

The visitor information centre operates seven days a week, offering complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Guests can interact with knowledgeable staff, browse an extensive selection of maps and brochures, and explore a thoughtfully curated shop featuring local arts, crafts, and food and wine products.