Lake Fyans, near the Grampians

Swimming Hole Heaven in Victoria

There are two main swimming beaches at Lake Fyans, both with gently sloping, sandy shorelines and oodles of wonderfully warm, tea coloured water. The best of the two beaches is at the back of the Lake Fyans Holiday Park on the western side of the lake, because it has extensive soft, clean sand under foot, as well as a panoramic view of the southern Grampians mountain range as the backdrop for your swim. It also has better facilities. Above: The amazing shades of amber when sun hits the water, looking towards the beach at the holiday park. (Order this image)

Lake Fyans is a swimming venue that is suitable for all ages. I witnessed toddlers jumping around recklessly in the warm shallows, teenagers swimming out to the inflated rubber ring, groups of men and women sitting half-submerged in the water for a chat, and grey nomads reclining on their camping chairs with their feet in the water, watching the sun disappear behind the Grampians at dusk.

The best features here for swimming are the sand, which I measured as extending out at least 100 metres and to a depth where I could no longer touch the bottom, and the amazing clarity of the water. This made it very easy to walk and run around in the water with confidence, because you could readily see any obstacles. These included the occasional spiny rush plant and the odd piece of floating lake weed, which can drift in when the wind is blowing towards the beach. The water itself, which is predominantly sourced from the pristine water catchments in the Grampians, is lightly tea coloured due to natural tannins. Bring a pair of googles or a snorkelling mask to observe the amazing amber colours under the water when the sun strikes through the water and down onto the golden sandy bed. Above: The rubber ring permanently hitched to a pole, about 100 metres offshore from the beach at the holiday park. PS - check out the guy on the lilo in the background! (Order this image)

There is a nominal entry fee of a few dollars for day visitors if you are swimming at the back of the holiday park, where you can park your car directly behind the beach. You pay at reception and then they let you through the boom gates. Entry allows visitors to use the toilets and other facilities at the holiday park, with the exception of the pool, which is reserved for those staying overnight. If you are staying at the holiday park, you can literally walk out of your cabin or camping spot and in less than twenty strides be on the beach.

The alternative beach at Lake Fyans is known as Kelleys Beach, which you can find along the south-western side of the lake. This beach was still popular, but had more pebbles scattered in amongst the sand, was without the view of the Grampians and the facilities were a simple run-down toilet block. There also seemed to be more motor boat traffic here on my visit. The best swimming spot along Kelleys Beach is next to the angling club, but I also saw people swimming further to the north, near the Scout camp, where there was a lot more woody debris in the water. During my visit in early 2017, there was a sign indicating that the public toilets next to the angling club were about to be upgraded. Above: Kelleys Beach (Order this image)

I visited the lake when it was sitting at 82% of its full supply level and was perfect for swimming. The lake is maintained at a good level for swimming most of the time due to its status as a town water supply reservoir, but conditions can deteriorate during drought at very low lake levels. Check the managing authority's website (GWMWater) for up to date lake level information if you are heading here in a drought year.

Below is a video that I took when visiting both the holiday park beach and Kelleys Beach in a January when the lake was relatively full.

Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Specific to this site, don't walk around bare feet under the flowering gums at either beach, because the little flower pods that have fallen on the ground have a pointy stem that sticks into your feet. There is also the occasional bull ant around the base of the trees. To avoid both of these hazards, bring a sun shade and set it up near the water's edge. The marker indicates the location of the beach at the holiday park. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can occur with some browsers, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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