Hit the road for wide skies, fresh water and views to take your breath away.
Just 20 minutes from Albury Wodonga, you’ll find the still blue waters of Lake Hume, where the Murray and Mitta Mitta rivers come together. In the distance, hazy blue mountains rise layer by layer, giving the whole scene a sense of quiet majesty.
Lake Hume is the perfect spot for scenic strolls, family picnics, refreshing swims or trying your hand at catching a fish. Standing proud at the heart of the lake, the Hume Dam wall invites you up for a walk on the wall – a vantage point that lets you watch the lake change colour as it reflects a shifting, wide-open sky.
Picnic Spots and Trails at Lake Hume
Time for a sanga? Find a shady spot under the gums with a stunning outlook over the lake, and roll out your rug. Our Picnic Guide has plenty of inspiration for the best spots to set up.
When it’s time for a little exercise, walk the foreshore along the High Country Rail Trail, or take it all in on a bike. The beautiful views and easy trails skirting the lake’s edge make for the kind of ride that makes you forget about time. Finish with a swim to cool down, or take a well-earned sprawl on the grass for some sky-gazing.
Take It Slow or Chase a Thrill
If the weather’s warm – or you’re into a bit of cold-plunge therapy – take a dip at a quiet swimming spot. Prefer to stay (mostly) dry? Launch your kayak or stand up paddle board and glide across calm, open water as the world slows down around you. If you have a boat, there’s plenty of accessible boat ramps, and the lake is perfect for wakeboarding, wakesurfing, waterskiing or jetskiing to really put the wind in your hair.
Fishing on Lake Hume: What You’ll Catch
If you’ve got your tackle box handy, cast a line and try your luck with reeling in rainbow trout, brown trout, famous Murray cod or redfin. With wide banks, boat ramps and a 360 degree view that slows your heart rate, this is what fishing is all about.
Fisheries Victoria stocks the lake with golden perch and brown and rainbow trout annually, and a reciprocal licence agreement between bordering states means you can fish on either a Victorian or NSW licence, under Victorian fishing rules. Grab your fishing licence here. Just note: boat ramp access can be limited when water levels are low, so check conditions before you go.
Walking the Hume Dam Wall
There’s something pretty damn awe-inspiring about standing on the Hume Dam wall. (Sorry not sorry for the pun.) With sweeping views across Lake Hume and the rolling hills beyond, this is a place to behold human engineering on an epic scale.
Now recognised as a National Engineering Landmark, the dam was constructed over 17 years and completed in 1936; it was a monumental feat of collaboration between Victoria and New South Wales. Its herculean wall holds back nearly six times the volume of Sydney Harbour and continues to play a vital role in regulating the Murray River and supplying water across three states.
So get ready for a truly unique way to cross the border between NSW and Victoria. Bring your camera, take your time, and try not to drop your jaw – or your phone.
Lake Hume Sunsets and Scenic Views
As the day winds down, stick around. The sky here knows how to put on a fancy show. As the evening settles in, watch the light turn golden, then pink, then purple, before a dusky blue reveals the first star of the night. Make a wish.
You’ll leave Lake Hume with that contented, sleepy feeling that comes from a day spent by the water. It’s our version of the beach – but with a whole lot of country charm.
Where to Stay on Lake Hume
Stay close to the lakeside views with accommodation options on either side of the border. Discovery Parks – Lake Hume, Victoria, offers cabins, caravan sites and powered camping spots right by the water so you can swim until dusk and wake for an early morning lap session (if you’re one of those ambitious, crack-of-dawn types).
On the NSW side, Lake Hume Holiday Park is a top pick, with campsites, villas and cabins. Add on a tennis court, solar-heated swimming pool, children’s water park, playground and lakeside view, and there’s something to keep everyone smiling.
Come for the lake views, stay because everyone’s too relaxed to pack up.