Rocky Valley Reservoir

Swimming Hole Heaven in Victoria

Rocky Valley Reservoir is the swimming pool on the roof of the world. For long distance swimmers and triathletes, high altitude training at this reservoir, located 1800 m above sea level, will give you a competitive edge. The theory is that the thin air conditions your lungs to work harder, so that when you return to the lowlands, your blood will be supercharged with oxygen for a short time, giving you an extra burst of energy for competition. Above: Rock hopping to deeper water at Rocky Valley Reservoir (Order this image)

Rocky Valley Reservoir is still a wonderful place for the casual swimmer. Lying on your back and floating in the water, the sky is so close that sometimes you can almost touch it. Best entry to the lake is via the northern shore, where you can rock hop to deeper water and avoid the mud. The water can be very cold and a wetsuit or vaseline are recommended.

In early spring this lake was the site of the first verified ice mile swim in Australia (congrats Wyatt Song for that honour), with water temperatures dropping to just below the 5 degree threshold for qualifying for the ice mile, once any ice on the lake surface has melted.

In summer, when most ordinary mortals like myself have swum here, blow flies and March flies are in abundance. Jumping into the water is a good way to escape them. The flies are attracted to navy blue, so a pair of thick black navy blue socks is a handy way to distract them from the rest of your body. Camping sites are available all around the lake. Boating and fishing are also permitted. Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. The marker indicates the approximate location of where I swam on the northern shore of the lake. 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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