Lake William Hovell

Swimming Hole Heaven in Victoria

This open body of water at the top of the King River Valley is good for swimming long distances in calm, clear water. There is a designated swimming area near the car park at the second turning circle after entering the lakeside area. It includes a gritty sand beach that gently slopes into the water, as well as a lawn area, and barbecue facilities and a toilet nearby. Take in the views of the surrounding mountain ranges as you stretch out into the water either direction. Above: The designated swimming area at Lake William Hovell (Order this image)

Boats are not permitted in the designated swimming area. In amazing news for swimmers, no noisy jetskis and no water-skiing are permitted anywhere on the lake, so you are less likely to get run over by a water craft here than in other similar large lakes in northern Victoria. These rules mean the vibe here is quite tranquil, and the general hubbub is largely restricted to the noise of people having fun in the water and along the shoreline. Above: View of Lake William Hovell overlooking the designated swimming area (Order this image)

Outside of the designated swimming area, if you want to avoid any summer weekend crowds, you can find yourself a spot further upstream along the bank, where there is vehicle access for another few hundred metres. Under foot in these areas there is more compacted clay than sand, but you will find more shade at the edge of the water, particulalry in the afternoon.

Here is a video of my swim at Lake William Hovell, taken when the lake was close to full capacity and at its best for swimming. Overall it is a peaceful, uncomplicated and unconstrained swim:

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 swim, the managing authority advises (for boating around the whole of the lake) that there are submerged hazards, above water hazards and sudden drop-offs. At the time of my visit, there were no specific warning signs on site in the designated swimming area. The marker indicates the approximate location of the day visitor car park near the designated swimming area. 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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