Your Guide to the Gippsland Vehicle Collection in Maffra

There is something universally captivating about classic cars. Whether it is the gleaming chrome of a 1950s Cadillac, the raw, muscular stance of a 1970s Aussie V8, or the nostalgic smell of old leather and engine oil, vintage vehicles tell the story of a bygone era.

If you are a motoring enthusiast, a member of a classic car club, or simply looking for the best things to do in Maffra, there is one local attraction that absolutely must be on your itinerary: The Gippsland Vehicle Collection.

Affectionately known by locals as “The Maffra Shed,” this remarkable museum has transformed a quiet country town into a premier destination for gearheads and history buffs across Australia.

But planning the perfect motoring weekend requires more than just a great destination; it requires the right basecamp. If you are organising a trip for your car or motorcycle club, finding accommodation with parking for trailers in Gippsland can be a logistical nightmare.

Here is our ultimate guide to exploring the Gippsland Vehicle Collection, hitting the open country roads, and parking up at Happy Days Accommodation – the region’s ultimate rally base.

What Is the Gippsland Vehicle Collection?

The Gippsland Vehicle Collection is one of regional Victoria’s most impressive and underrated attractions. Housed in a purpose-built facility in Maffra, it holds a remarkable collection of vintage and historic vehicles – cars, motorcycles, trucks, tractors, and more spanning more than a century of mechanical history.

The collection is not just a row of shiny things to walk past. It’s a curated journey through transport history that reflects what life in rural Gippsland looked like across different eras, how farming and industry shaped the region, and how ordinary Australians related to the vehicles that defined their working and recreational lives. There’s real storytelling here, and it makes the experience far richer than you might expect. Highlights of the collection include rare and one-of-a-kind vehicles that you genuinely won’t see anywhere else, beautifully restored motorcycles representing decades of Australian and international manufacturing, agricultural vehicles that will resonate deeply with anyone who grew up in the country, and rotating special exhibitions that give regulars a reason to come back. Entry is very reasonably priced, the facility is accessible, and the volunteers who staff it are often walking encyclopaedias of vehicle history – don’t be shy about asking questions.

How to Make a Weekend of It

A visit to the Gippsland Vehicle Collection is the kind of thing that works brilliantly as an anchor activity for a broader weekend away. Here’s how to do it properly.

Friday Evening : Arrive at Happy Days

Drive down from Melbourne or wherever you’re coming from, check into Happy Days Accommodation in Tinamba, and let the pace of Central Gippsland do its work on you. Settle into your room, let the dog investigate the five acres, and wander next door to the award-winning Tinamba Hotel for dinner. If you haven’t eaten there before, prepare to be pleasantly surprised – this is not your average country pub meal.

Saturday: The Collection and Maffra Township

Head into Maffra after your complimentary Happy Days breakfast. The Gippsland Vehicle Collection is your main event allow two to three hours if you’re genuinely interested in the exhibits, more if you fall into conversation with the staff. After the collection, explore Maffra’s main street. The town has a good selection of cafes, a well-stocked local supermarket, and some excellent bakery options. Maffra is also home to the Sugar Beet Museum (more on that in July’s blog), which pairs nicely with the Vehicle Collection for a full day of local history.

Saturday Afternoon: Countryside and Fresh Air

The afternoon is yours. Gippsland Plains Rail Trail runs right past Happy Days, so a late- afternoon walk or gentle bike ride along the trail is an easy way to shake off the museum legs. The wetlands section near Tinamba are a genuine highlight, and the late-afternoon light on the mountains is something worth slowing down for.

Central Gippsland also offers some of the most spectacular, uncongested driving roads in Victoria. Another option for spending the afternoon is driving around and exploring the surrounding Wellington Shire.

• The High Country Run (Licola): Head north from Maffra through Heyfield and wind your way up the Macalister River valley to the remote alpine town of Licola. This road features sweeping bends, dramatic gorge views, and brilliant tarmac, making it a favourite for motorcycle touring groups.
• The Lake Glenmaggie Loop: For a shorter, scenic afternoon cruise, take the winding roads around the Lake Glenmaggie weir. The lush dairy country and water views offer spectacular photo opportunities for your club’s vehicles.
• The Coastal Cruise: Point your bonnet south towards Sale and journey down to the 90 Mile Beach for a fish and chips lunch by the ocean, before taking the backroads back to your accommodation.

Sunday : Blores Hill or Local Winery

Round out your weekend with a morning hike up Blores Hill for panoramic views across the valley, or head to Blue Gables Winery for a relaxed cellar door tasting before the drive home.

Why Car and Motorbike Clubs Love Happy Days Accommodation

Happy Days Accommodation is a well-established favourite for vehicle clubs doing weekend runs through Gippsland. Organising a weekend away for a car club, 4WD group, or motorcycle group comes with a very specific set of headaches. Standard highway motels simply don’t cut it. You need secure parking, room to maneuver trailers, and communal spaces where the club can gather after a long day of driving.

At Happy Days Accommodation in Tinamba (just a 10-minute drive from the Gippsland Vehicle Collection), we have tailored our five-acre rural property to be the premier rally base accommodation in Gippsland.

Here is why motoring enthusiasts make us their annual headquarters:

1. Trailer Parking & Wide Open Spaces

We know that many historic vehicles arrive on the back of a trailer. Our sprawling property features wide, accessible driveways and massive turning circles. You won’t have to perform a 20-point turn or unhitch your trailer on a busy main road. We have ample, secure, off-street parking for your pride and joy.

2. Undercover Protection

Gippsland weather can be unpredictable, and no one wants to leave a soft-top convertible or a freshly polished classic out in the elements. We offer extensive undercover parking options to keep the morning frost and evening dew off your vehicles.

3. Whole-Property Group Bookings

When your club goes on tour, you want to stay together. Happy Days features a spacious Bungalow and multiple private Suites, all equipped with comfortable Queen beds and private ensuites. By booking out the entire property, your club gets exclusive use of the estate. You get the privacy of a large holiday rental, with the high-quality amenities of a boutique motel.

4. Communal Debriefs: The BBQ & Fire-Pit

The best part of a club run isn’t just the driving; it’s kicking tyres and swapping stories at the end of the day. Our property features a fantastic communal outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. Grab some local sausages from the Maffra butcher, fire up the BBQ, and gather the crew around the fire-pit as the sun sets over the Great Dividing Range.

5. Walk to the Tinamba Hotel

If nobody in the club feels like cooking, you are in luck. Happy Days is located just a short, few-hundred-metre stroll from the award-winning Tinamba Hotel. You can safely park your cars for the night, leave the keys in your room, and walk down to the pub for an incredible paddock-to-plate dinner and a few pints of local craft beer. No designated drivers required!

Leanda and family have hosted everything from classic car rallies to motorbike touring clubs and they understand exactly what club groups need: practical facilities, a flexible atmosphere, and a host who’s happy to recommend the best roads in the region. If you’re planning a club run that takes in the Gippsland Vehicle Collection, Happy Days is the natural home base. Get in touch early, especially for weekend dates in spring and autumn.

Good to Know Before You Go

The Gippsland Vehicle Collection is located in Maffra and is open most days – check current hours on their website or Facebook page before visiting, as hours can vary seasonally and for special events. The facility is wheelchair accessible and family-friendly. Maffra itself is a friendly country town with good amenities. Fuel, groceries, a range of dining options, and the Sale-Maffra rail trail are all readily accessible. And if you’re travelling with the dog, Happy Days is set up perfectly for it. Five acres of green pasture, a relaxed outdoor atmosphere, and hosts who genuinely love animals make it one of the best dog-friendly stays in the region.

Book Your Gippsland Vehicle Collection Weekend

Start planning your weekend with a stay at Happy Days Accommodation. Whether you are attending one of the Gippsland Vehicle Collection’s famous swap meets, joining a weekend club rally, or just taking your classic car out for a solo country run, Central Gippsland is a motoring paradise. Don’t settle for a cramped motel car park. Treat yourself – and your vehicle – to the space, security, and luxury of Happy Days Accommodation.

0430 054 462 | happydays@wideband.net.au | 6A Tinamba-Seaton Road, Tinamba VIC 3859 | happydaysaccommodation.com