What to see and do at Lake Eildon

Lake Eildon is the waterway to visit if you dream of being surrounded by rugged hills, national parks and pristine water. There are more coves and scenic views than you could explore in a single visit, and countless inlets where you can tie your boat to the shore for an evening under the stars.

This sprawling man-made lake is nestled within the foothills of the Victorian High Country, where there’s plenty of space for every type of boating adventure from water skiing, wakeboarding and jet skiing, to kayaking, fishing and cruising.

Houseboats are a popular option here too, as Lake Eildon is the only reservoir in Victoria where they’re permitted. 

The most direct route from Melbourne to Eildon takes you through the Yarra Valley to Healesville and then on the Black Spur drive – a 28km narrow winding road that cuts its way up the Great Dividing Range. To avoid it, take the marginally longer route via Melba Highway to Yea, then through Alexandra and Thornton to Eildon. 

I worked up an appetite navigating that little mountain, so it wasn’t long before we headed to Eildon Boat Club for dinner. There, I was astonished to see row after row of two- and three-storey houseboats, most with jet skis, speedboats and tenders tethered to their stern. 

Eildon Boat Club lays claim to being Australia’s largest inland boating club, with more than 400 boats moored within its members-only marina at Anderson Harbour. The clubhouse enjoys an elevated position with great views across the marina and surrounding hillside.

The following morning, I met with my hosts for the next few days, Anastasia Kouzoukas and Michael Stewart of Stewart Insurance Group, who were eager to demonstrate the laidback lifestyle. Their houseboat Laissez-Faire was waiting in a nearby cove. 

You can spend all day here, whether entertaining family and friends, sunbaking in privacy, or to simply enjoy the calm water views and soak in Lake Eildon’s famous serenity.

One of the highlights of boating at Lake Eildon is the variety of different areas you can explore. In the southerly part around the township of Eildon, you’re surrounded by lush forests and vast hilly landscapes. Farther north, the landscape is less hilly and the vegetation gives way to arid land. 

Watersports enthusiasts like to test their skills on the main lake near Eildon. Mansfield residents start their day at the lake’s north-eastern arm, and fans of the classic Aussie movie The Castle flock to Bonnie Doon. 

There are 10 public boat ramps, including near the dam wall below the spillway lookout. Depending on the water level, some ramps can be tricky to navigate and might even be closed – use the ramp finder on the Boating Vic website (boating.vic.gov.au) to search ‘Lake Eildon’. 

A note on boating safety: keep a lookout for hazards such as submerged trees. While some are easy to see where their branches stick out of the water, many are just below the surface. So, reduce your speed, watch where you go, and stay safe.

If you’re staying at a campground or on a houseboat, take your fishing gear with you. Popular species include brown and rainbow trout, especially from May to September, or try deep-water trolling with lures farther down when the water surface warms up.

Golden perch are best fished in October and November and are said to be more frequent in the lake’s northern end, while Murray cod seem to be everywhere and can be caught year-round, but with a size limit of 75cm.

Another tasty, relatively easy-to-catch species are redfin, also year-round and abundant, with large schools often targeted near submerged trees. 

If you’re after a rustic weekend getaway, you’re spoilt for choice with campgrounds all around the lake’s shores. The Fraser camping area at Coller Bay is said to have the best-equipped sites, including Candlebark, Lakeside and Devil Cove. 

The Jerusalem Creek campground, around 10km east of Eildon, has eight camping areas and is the only campground that allows dogs, albeit on leads. It’s worth the hard trek up the nearby The Pinnacle walking track (11km roundtrip).

Other more basic sites include Mountaineer, O’Toole Flat, Coopers Point and Taylors Creek. Accommodation options not quite as close to the water’s edge include a number of holiday parks dotted around the lake, as well as abundant holiday rentals and Airbnb options, and several motels.

While Eildon is a small and primarily residential town, you’ll find pretty much everything you need, including a petrol station that can accommodate trailerboats being towed. Eildon’s small shopping centre has a laundromat, fishing store with bait and tackle, a quirky op-shop, chemist, post office, hairdresser, bakery, fish and chippery, a café, and a large grocery store with a fine selection of delicacies alongside all the essentials. 

Across the street is the Visitor Centre and next door is the W J Moore Park, which at the time of our visit in November was under redevelopment but nearing completion. It’ll include a splash park, an adventure playground, new toilet blocks and change rooms, and an undercover picnic area. Future additions will include a flying fox, a skate park and a pump track. 

If you’re staying at Lake Eildon, head out for a day trip to the nearby wineries that produce some of Victoria’s finest wines and discover the region’s delicious produce at farmgates and markets. 

Lake Eildon is also the ideal place to set up base and explore the National Park’s rugged terrain, with hundreds of kilometres of hiking and mountain bike tracks, as well as dirt bike trails and 4WD adventure drives.

Escape to here at any time of year, even in winter if you don’t mind rugging up a bit. And if you’d like to experience that magical houseboat lifestyle, there are several local boat hire businesses who can help you out. 

Discover more about Eildon: Visit Victoria website

Book campsites at Parks Victoria: parks.vic.gov.au

Victorian Fisheries Authority: vfa.vic.gov.au

Eildon Visitor Information Centre: 1 Main St, Eildon

El Lago bar and restaurant, Instagram: ellago_eildon