Lake Tyers

Lake Tyers State Park encompasses approximately 1,650 hectares of coastal heath, wetland, and forest surrounding Lake Tyers, a large coastal inlet in East Gippsland approximately 20 kilometres east of Lakes Entrance. The park protects the natural vegetation communities around the lake's shores and associated wetlands, including significant areas of coastal heathland, swamp scrub, and the interface between the inlet and ocean. Lake Tyers is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and wildlife observation, and the state park provides protected natural areas complementing the broader tourism appeal of the Gippsland Lakes region. The lake has significance for the Gunaikurnai people as part of their traditional country.

Lake Tyers State Park supports diverse coastal and wetland wildlife. The lake's calm waters support large numbers of waterbirds including pelicans, cormorants, herons, and egrets. The endangered Australasian bittern has been recorded in the reed beds around the lake margin. The coastal heath supports populations of ground parrots. Little penguins nest along the rocky shoreline near the lake entrance. The lake and inlet system supports a diverse fish community including bream, flathead, mullet, and the migratory short-finned eel that has cultural significance for the Gunaikurnai. Koalas inhabit the eucalypt woodland areas. Common wombats are abundant throughout the park.

The vegetation of Lake Tyers State Park includes coastal heathland on the sandy coastal soils, swamp scrub and heath-paperbark in the wetter areas around the lake margins, and grassy woodland on the more elevated terrain. Coastal heathland features banksias, tea-tree, native heaths, and wattles. The lake margins support rushes, sedges, and various aquatic plants including common reed. Moonah woodland, a community of coastal moonah trees, occurs in some areas near the lake entrance. Several rare and threatened plant species occur in the park, particularly in the coastal heathland communities.

Lake Tyers is a drowned river valley (ria) formed by the post-glacial rise in sea level that flooded the lower Tyers River valley. The surrounding terrain is underlain by Quaternary coastal sand deposits and older Devonian and Silurian sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The coastal inlet is dynamically maintained by longshore sediment transport and wave action at the inlet entrance. The sandy soils of the coastal plain support the diverse heathland vegetation.

Lake Tyers State Park experiences a cool temperate maritime climate moderated by its proximity to the East Gippsland coast. Summers are warm with temperatures typically reaching the mid-twenties. Winters are mild by Victorian standards, with cool rather than cold conditions. Annual rainfall averages approximately 750 to 800 millimetres. Sea breezes moderate summer temperatures, and the lake environment creates a pleasant microclimate for outdoor recreation.

Lake Tyers holds deep cultural significance for the Gunaikurnai people, for whom it forms part of their traditional Krauatungalung country. Lake Tyers Mission was established in 1861 as an Aboriginal reserve, and the community at Lake Tyers has maintained a continuous Aboriginal presence since that time. The Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust, established in 1971, manages land around the lake as part of the surviving Aboriginal community's connection to their country. The inlet's fish resources, particularly the short-finned eel, were highly valued food sources for the Gunaikurnai people.

Lake Tyers State Park was established to protect the natural values of the lake and its surroundings while accommodating the recreational uses that the lake has long supported. The park is managed by Parks Victoria in coordination with the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust, which manages adjacent land. Management focuses on maintaining water quality in the inlet, protecting the coastal heathland from weed invasion, and managing visitor access to sensitive areas.

Lake Tyers State Park offers boating, fishing, birdwatching, and coastal walking as primary attractions. The calm waters of the inlet are ideal for kayaking and canoeing. The lake's fishing is popular, with bream, flathead, and mullet the primary targets. The coastal heathland walking tracks provide access to birdwatching and wildflower observation. The lake entrance area offers coastal scenery and ocean views.

Lake Tyers State Park has boat ramp access to the lake and informal day-use facilities. Camping is available at the Lake Tyers Caravan Park adjacent to the park. The lake is accessed from Lakes Entrance via the Lake Tyers Beach road. Lakes Entrance provides comprehensive visitor services including accommodation, restaurants, and boat hire.

Conservation management at Lake Tyers focuses on maintaining water quality in the inlet, protecting the coastal heathland from invasive weeds, and managing visitor impacts on sensitive wildlife habitats. Bitou bush and blackberry invasion in the coastal heath is managed through targeted control programs. Protection of ground parrot and little penguin habitat requires management of fox and cat predation. The management of feral deer in the hinterland areas of the park is an emerging challenge.