High Country Life

Lake Eildon boasts majestic mountain ranges, lush forests and tranquil surroundings that create a relaxing ambiance, offering year-round recreational and relaxation opportunities. Perfect for boating enthusiasts and hikers alike, its vast waters can accommodate boating enthusiasts and provide scenic hiking trails.

Created in the 1950s to provide life-sustaining irrigation water to an expansive region in northern Victoria, this vast man-made reservoir has an enormous capacity. At full capacity it covers an area six times larger than Sydney Harbour.

Fishing

The lake’s vast size offers ample room for everyone to find their own special boating or fishing spot, from public ramps across the park, or renting out an entire houseboat if desired!

Anglers have enjoyed an exceptional fishing season this year with Cod reaching up to one metre and Yellow Belly reaching the 60cm range. Trout are still being caught in good numbers on both bait and lure; among the best methods being scrub worms, earthworms, power bait and yabbies with either a running sinker rig or paternoster rig as a method for targeting trout.

For anglers searching for larger fish, try vertical jigging with heavyweighted soft plastics, vibes or blades along shorelines where visible timber emerges from the water, such as Yellowbelly or Cod. Also try trolling shallow diving hard body lures such as Jackall TN series hard body lures in dark colors such as purple, fruit salad and black for shallow diving hard body fishing.

Point fishing at Eildon Lakes can be very rewarding as fish tend to congregate around rocky points on its edges. You can do it both from your boat and on shore; simply find an area with timber on its edges and start casting!

Murray Cod can be caught at Eildon all year-round, although they’re most active during warmer months. Golden perch are also highly sought-after during spring, often caught using both bait and lures.

if you are searching for an enjoyable family friendly weekend getaway, Eildon might just be perfect! Just a two hour drive from Melbourne and featuring plenty of camping sites including Delatite Arms Reserve, Fraser Camping Grounds and Jerusalem Creek Campground – each providing basic facilities while giving visitors plenty of fishing action! Spend your weekend at the lake enjoying this breathtaking national park experience, setting up your swag and casting out your fishing rod! You won’t regret spending an unforgettable weekend there.

Kayaking

Lake Eildon National Park provides water-based recreational activities that will appeal to the whole family, with over 500 kilometers of shoreline and sheltered bays providing ample opportunity for swimming, kayaking, water skiing and houseboating activities – as well as more leisurely pastimes like houseboating! Bonnie Doon River, Ovens River and Buckland River also prove popular destinations for paddlers.

The lake is fed by the Goulburn River and, on average, approximately 91% of its water is diverted to Melbourne’s metropolitan area while the remainder irrigates Bonnie Doon and beyond. Boasting an enormous surface area – over six times larger than Sydney Harbour – this vast inland waterway flows past popular country towns Jamieson, Alexandria, and Eildon, making it perfect for houseboat holiday makers or those searching for peace and serenity on the water.

Attracted by its trophy-sized Murray Cod population as well as trout, redfin and Yellow Belly (Golden Perch), all these species can be targeted throughout the year; Murray Cod tending to become more active during warmer months and with best success being targeted two hours before sunset.

Bait fishing on Lake Eildon is an effective and enjoyable experience, and the most commonly used baits include scrub worms, earthworms, power bait, yabbies and minnows. Bait can either be suspended from a float or put onto a paternoster rig depending on your fishing style; lip-less crank-baits such as vibes or spinnerbaits in dark colours have proven very successful for trolling as well.

Kayaking can be an enjoyable family activity that offers plenty of challenges. There are several accessible routes around Lake Eildon; the easiest path being near Burnt Bridge. At lower water levels you may even enjoy some exciting rapids!

If you’re up for an adventure, try your hand at kayaking some Class 3-4 rapids near Mount Buller or more difficult Grade 5-6 sections in the Upper Goulburn River – these rapids may pose danger and should only be attempted by experienced kayakers.

Water Skiing

Lake Eildon offers waterskiers of all skill levels the opportunity to develop their skills or pump up the adrenaline with 515km of shoreline that offers endless waterskiing and wakeboarding possibilities. Bring along friends or family members for a day full of thrills and spills on the water.

Lake Eildon National Park features five15 km of waters with boat ramps located throughout its perimeter, as well as picnic and camping areas dotted throughout. Large popular campsites like Delatite Arm Reserve in the north and Fraser Camping Grounds in the south offer ample room to spread out while providing facilities. Campsites must adhere to certain restrictions such as camping only within designated camping areas – dogs may visit both sites, provided they remain leashed.

Lake Eildon is one of Victoria’s premier fishing spots and renowned for its trout population. Fisheries Victoria ensures the lake and pondage remain well stocked, providing plenty of fish to be caught year round – though peak time would be before New Year when fish abundance increases significantly.

Lake Eildon offers many opportunities for sailing and canoeing enthusiasts, with its clear waters framed by majestic mountains. Plus, Lake Eildon boasts an abundance of wildlife like kangaroos, wombats and varied birdlife that makes for a wonderful outdoor experience!

Walking tracks allow visitors to discover and explore Lake Eyre and its surroundings, with picturesque lookouts like Merlo and Blowhard Summit providing unforgettable vantage points.

Lake Eildon, Victoria’s only inland lake where houseboats are permitted, makes for an idyllic holiday destination just two hours drive from Melbourne and features High Country town, wineries, berry farms and restaurants as its surroundings.

GMW is closely monitoring Lake Eildon’s catchment conditions and rainfall forecasts to update storage inflow projections and make decisions regarding releasable water – this information will be shared regularly with customers.

Swimming

Lake Eildon welcomes visitors with sparkling waters that allow them to swim, kayak, sail and fish under majestic mountains. Boasting quiet beaches and tranquil inlets to discover, the lake provides visitors with opportunities for solitude as they navigate its sparkling waters – home of kangaroos and wombats as well as diverse species of wildlife – but also boasts numerous scenic hikes that lead to lookouts or gold prospector settlements in its park setting.

Merlo Lake is huge, and there are multiple boat ramps throughout its region for visitors to use and hire boats from. Additionally, Merlo’s Lookout provides breathtaking views over Wallaby Bay.

There’s plenty of space for water skiing and wakeboarding on this lake; for something different try wakeboarding instead! Additionally, it is an ideal spot to bring your family for a swim; its waters tend to be calm and safe for children of all ages.

Although blue-green algae poses serious threats, swimming on Lake Eildon remains a viable holiday activity. To minimize risk, however, stay closer to shore for greater chances of avoiding any potentially hazardous blooms.

Lake Eildon is an increasingly popular tourist destination, and the national park that encompasses it boasts numerous secluded beaches, lakes and waterfalls that make an idyllic backdrop for day trips or overnight camping excursions with loved ones. Enjoying nature is something everyone should experience and it provides ample opportunity for creating lasting memories together.

If you want to extend your visit, Lake Eildon National Park offers various campgrounds including Delatite Arms Reserve, Fraser Campground and Jerusalem Creek. However, for an unforgettable experience try one of the houseboats available around the lake; these houseboats give you free reign to explore any part of it that suits you best and come in both short-term rental packages and long-term options to fit every budget – you can book them online through Lake Eildon Houseboats.