A Hidden Gem Near Home
If you're looking for something a little different on your next Gippsland adventure - this one's worth the detour.
Just a short drive from Seaspray on Victoria's stunning Ninety Mile Beach lies the wreck of the Trinculo - an iron barque that ran aground way back in 1879 and has been slowly disappearing into the sand ever since.
The Story
Built in England in 1858 the Trinculo met its end on May 30 1879 when fierce gales and rough seas pushed it onto the beach while sailing to load coal. With no natural shelter anywhere along Ninety Mile Beach the ship had no chance.
The remarkable part? Every single person on board survived - the crew, the captain, his wife and their toddler - all making it safely to shore by securing a line to the beach.
Pretty extraordinary when you think about what they were up against.
What You'll See Today
Time and shifting sands have done their work over 145 years. What remains are rusted structural ribs and hull sections poking out of the sand - how much you see depends entirely on the tide and sand levels on the day you visit.
It's not a grand spectacle but there's something genuinely moving about standing on a remote beach knowing what happened here all those years ago. The kids were fascinated.
How to Get There
Head to Ninety Mile Beach roughly halfway between Seaspray and Golden Beach
Look for the signed carpark off Shoreline Drive
Follow the signed track through sand dunes and scrub - about 100 to 200 metres
You'll hit the beach and the wreck is right there
It's an easy walk suitable for the whole family - even little legs can manage it.
Worth the Visit?
Absolutely. It's free, it's fascinating and it's the kind of place most people drive straight past without knowing it exists.
Combine it with a beach day on Ninety Mile Beach and you've got a perfect Gippsland family outing sorted.
Have you visited the Trinculo? Drop a comment below and tell us what the beach looked like on your day - every visit is a little different.
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