Lakes Entrance is among the top 10 towns in Australia.
That’s according to data from travel and accommodation website, Wotif who last week announced their Aussie Town of the Year Awards for 2021, with Lakes Entrance coming in at number five – one of two Victorian towns alongside Great Ocean Road hamlet, Apollo Bay, at number three.
✩ TOP 10
1. Cairns, Queensland; 2. Pokolbin, New South Wales; 3. Apollo Bay, Victoria; 4. Mudgee, NSW; 5. Lakes Entrance, Vic; 6. McLarenVale, South Australia; 7. Hervey Bay, QLD; 8. Exmouth, Western Australia; 9. Port Macquarie, NSW; 10. The Entrance, NSW.
Wotif described Lakes Entrance: “The water is where you want to be when visiting Lakes Entrance – where the Gippsland Lakes meets the Southern Ocean. Spend your day kayaking, fishing or swimming, and your evenings dining at one of the many great restaurants in and around town.”
While the always popular Cairns took out the top prize, Lakes Entrance’s position showed its value for money for travellers.
“I’m so pleased and excited for our tourism operators to see Lakes Entrance be given this recognition,” East Gippsland Marketing’s marketing manager, Hayley Hardy, said.
“Our operators have had an incredibly difficult 2020 and it’s just wonderful to see all their hardwork be acknowledged by Wotif.”
Lakes Entrance Action and Development Association president, Bruce Hurley, was thrilled with the news given the town has undergone many recent upgrades since last summer’s bushfires and COVID-19 lockdowns halted tourism for a long period of time.
“The publicity promoting the top 10 towns to the travelling public will assist the town’s recovery from the 2020 disasters,” he said.
“The listing confirms what residents know - Lakes Entrance is an idyllic location and a great place to live.”
The winning destinations were awarded based on their accommodation quality, affordability and traveller satisfaction. New to this year, the awards also recognised destinations that had met the changing needs of travellers over the past 12 months, by offering increased flexibility, good-value deals and appealing activities and attractions. In addition, many of the winning towns used the past 12 months to renew their offerings and re-emerge stronger as a result of the ongoing challenges, according to Wotif managing director, Daniel Finch.
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Lakes Entrance has made a resurgence in popularity following a difficult 2020, featuring in fifth place on travel and accommodation website, Wotif’s Top 10 Aussie Towns list for 2021.
