Art lovers planning on visiting the Archibald Prize exhibition in Sale will have free transport around town with the launch of the Archie Bus.

The bus will meet some V/Line services at Sale Railway Station and transport them to various locations around Sale, including the Gippsland Art Gallery, where the exhibition is on display.

Decked out in the Archibald Prize colour scheme, the Archie Bus started plying the streets of Sale last week and will continue until Sunday 21 November.

Apart from stopping at the Gallery in the Port of Sale precinct, its route also takes visitors to other attractions around the town, including the Swing Bridge, clock tower, Botanic Gardens and Victoria Park.

There is even the option of taking a one-way cruise from the Sale Swing Bridge to the Gippsland Art Gallery for $20 per person.

Also opening alongside the Archibald Prize exhibition is the pop-up Art Bar, located outdoors in the Port of Sale precinct.

The Art Bar is open to the general public for food, coffee and drinks during the exhibition, and will come especially to life on Friday nights with live music sessions to coincide with Friday Up Late viewings of the Archibald Prize.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Garry Stephens said the Archibald Prize exhibition was an opportunity for Gippslanders and other regional Victorians to explore the area.

"Unfortunately we can’t yet welcome people from areas where lockdown is in place, but we would love to invite our Gippsland neighbours and other regional Victorians not currently in lockdown to come and visit us, whether that be for a few hours or to make a day or weekend of it," Cr Stephens said.

"Many people from around Gippsland may not be aware of what we have to offer here at the Port of Sale precinct.

"We have this incredible arts and culture precinct in our backyard and we think it's a great time to come and get to know it."

Visit archibaldprizegippsland.com.au for tickets to the Archibald Prize, details on the Archie Bus timetable and Swing Bridge cruise bookings, the Art Bar opening times and the live music line-up for Friday Up Late.

For more information about what to do while visiting Wellington Shire visit themiddleofeverywhere.com.au or download The Middle of Everywhere app.

The Archie Bus is proudly sponsored by the Department of Transport and the John Leslie Foundation.