The flexible weekend for mixed groups: one serious national park day in gorge country, then silt jetties orientation and lakes-town comfort without forcing everyone onto whitewater or multi-day packs.
SourceGorgePlainsEstuaryLakes
Current park notice (confirm official)
Angusvale Track / Horton’s Crossing — vehicle ford closed
Parks Victoria reports storm landslip on Angusvale Track past the Rock Creek camp area. Vehicles cannot use the Mitchell River ford between Angusvale Track and Hortons Track. Do not attempt to cross from Hortons Track for west-side access. Rock Creek camp remains accessible via Angusvale Track / Mitchell Views Track from Mitchell River Road — confirm on the official park page before you travel.
Families and mixed groups who want East Gippsland scenery without a pure paddling or pure multi-day walking commitment. One person can do the harder park day while others enjoy shorter walks or town time. Region guides: upper, lower.
Day 1 — Arrive Bairnsdale
Drive from Melbourne or elsewhere with a daylight arrival buffer
Settle accommodation, fuel and groceries
Optional short foreshore walk or early night — tomorrow is the park day
Check Parks Victoria + BoM for tomorrow’s plan
Day 2 — National park focus
Follow the Den of Nargun day core: picnic area, loop walk, cultural protocols
Optional Billy Goat Bend lookout if the group still has energy
Return to Bairnsdale rather than over-driving into a third remote site
If park access is closed, pivot to lower-river / town plan B immediately
