Leongatha is in Gippsland, 135 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. The town is the civic, commercial, industrial, religious, educational and sporting centre of the region, and has a population of over 5,100 (2016).
Understand
Get in
By car
Leongatha is located at the intersections of the South Gippsland, Bass and Strzelecki highways. The fastest route from Melbourne uses the A440 route/South Gippsland Highway, with the South Gippsland Highway forking off from the M1 just outside Dandenong, and the A420 section turning off outside Lang Lang.
By coach
V/Line operates coach services daily from Southern Cross station to Leongatha Station 📍. The full timetable can be found here.
Get around
See
- Stadium 4 Cinema, 14-18 Smith Street, -38.47549°, 145.94454°, +61 03 5662 5762, leongatha@stadiumcinema.com.au. Movie cinema. 2021-03-26
- Leongatha Gallery, Corner of McCartin Street and Michael Place, -38.47626°, 145.94593°, +61 03 5662 5370. W-Su 10AM-4PM. Not-for-profit arts and crafts gallery. Free 2021-03-26
- Lennie Gwyther Statue, -38.474600°, 145.946243°. This bronze statue commemorates 9-year old Leongatha resident Lennie Gwyther, who rode on horseback for 1000 kilometres to witness the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. Free 2021-03-26
Do
Buy
Eat
- The Corals Fish & Chips, 53 Bair Street, -38.47803°, 145.9471°, +61 03 5662 3368. M 5-8PM, Tu-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-8PM. Fish and chips takeaway store. 2021-03-26
- The Rusty Windmill, 45 McCartin Street, -38.47788°, 145.94414°. M-Sa 8AM-2PM. Food and coffee. 2021-03-26
- Gatha Pizza, 24 McCartin Street, -38.47678°, 145.94521°. W-M 5-9PM. Pizza restaurant. $11-20 2021-03-26
- Serafinos Blue Lounge Pizzeria, 7-9 Bair Street, -38.4765°, 145.94655°, +61 03 5662 3390. W-Su 5PM-late. Meditteranean style restaurant. 2021-03-26
Drink
- McCartin's, 2 Bair Street, -38.4767°, 145.94605°, +61 03 5662 2050, info@mccartins.com.au. Pub and bistro. Also offers accommodation from $60-100 a night. 2021-03-26
- Bairs Otago Hotel, 18 Bair Street, -38.47714°, 145.94627°, +61 03 5662 2017. Pub and bistro in an art deco setting that dates back to 1939. TAB/Keno (gambling) facilities are also available. Rooms are also offered from $40-55 a night, however there are no ensuites in any of them. 2021-03-26
Sleep
Accommodation is also available at the two pubs in town.
- Opal Motel, 155 South Gippsland Highway, -38.48859°, 145.95205°, +61 03 5662 2321, admin@opalmotel.com.au. Motel in a park-like setting on the outskirts of Leongatha, with a lawn barbeque area. $100-120 2021-03-26
- Leongatha Motel, 18 Turner Street, -38.47205°, 145.94777°, +61 03 5662 2375, contact@leongathamotel.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Pet friendly motel with 28 rooms. $120-180 per night 2021-03-26
- Leongatha Apex Caravan Park, 14 Turner Streeet, -38.47178°, 145.94672°, +61 04 1580 5414, apexcpleongatha@gmail.com. Caravan park with 39 sites and 8 self-contained cabins. The park has a games room, coin-operated laundry, an amenity block, and a barbeque. 2021-03-26
Connect
Telstra has 4G service in Leongatha, while Optus has 3G/4G coverage. Vodafone does not have mobile coverage in Leongatha.
Go next
- Wonthaggi is a former coal mining town in the Bass Coast region.
- Fish Creek is a small town with interesting art galleries.
- Wilsons Promontory is the southernmost point of the island of Australia, and is a great hiking destination.