Visit Lake Jindabyne to fish for trout, sail, waterski, swim and hike. There are several parks by the lake where you can camp or rent a cabin.
Jindabyne means “valley” in the local Aboriginal language and the first Europeans had moved to this fertile land soon after the colonization of Australia.
Lake Jindabyne was created many decades ago as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, using the flow of the Snowy, Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers to pump water to the Murray River at great speed and generate hydro-power in the process.
The dam reservoir was allowed to flood Old Jindabyne after its 300 or so residents were relocated to a new town on higher ground. When the water level is low, remember to look for the top of the original church in the lake.
The lake’s Foreshore Park has a swimming beach and walking path. Visit the adjacent Snowy Region Visitor Centre with café to learn more about the hydro-power scheme and get your local tourism information or buy souvenirs.
Walk to the lake’s gigantic dam wall, which is 236feet (72 meters) high and 1,099feet (335 meters) long. The scenic lake it creates is one of the largest fresh water reservoirs in New South Wales.
Throw a line in to catch Atlantic salmon or rainbow or brook trout. There is an aquaculture trout farm on the west side of the lake.
Go sailing or waterskiing for a different perspective of the lake. Boat rental is available from the local RV park. The Lake Jindabyne Yacht Club is active during the warmer months and regularly organizes racing events.
Take the kids to the playground of the Banjo Paterson Park, named for a much-loved Australian author who wrote a famous poem about the Snowy River in 1890. If you are visiting during Easter come here for the annual Lake Light Sculpture exhibition.
For those coming from Canberra, Lake Jindabyne is the perfect stopover before venturing to Kosciuszko National Park and the ski slopes of Thredbo, Perisher and Charlotte Pass. Park entry fees apply on the Alpine Way and Kosciuszko Road. Roads are closed between Perisher and Charlotte Pass in winter (June to October).
