At under one hour's drive from the city centre, the Lerderderg River is a rare oasis of native bushland and near-pristine stream on the western
fringe of Melbourne. The easiest place to swim is at MacKenzies Flat, where you can lug your
esky from the car and plomp yourself down on the well maintained lawn area in between dips in the shallow, fast moving water. My last
visit was during a spring school holiday period, and there were about a dozen or so kids playing in the water at MacKenzies Flat and a bunch of
bbq lunches in full swing.
Above: Lerderderg River at Grahams Dam
(Order gifts or prints of this image)
If you're looking to combine some exercise with your swim, you can take the 3 km return walk up the river to Grahams Dam. It's about a 15-30
minute picturesque walk each way, with a couple of constructed stepping stone river crossings along the way to test your balance.
Grahams Dam wall is only around knee depth in height, but with a deeper pool immediately upstream of the dam, this can also be an option in late summer
if the river is dry at MacKenzies Flat. Graham's Dam can however still be reduced to a puddle, so swimming here can be a bit fickle outside of spring
in dry years.
A pair of sandals or swimming shoes is highly advisable for walking around in the stream. Even though the stones are smooth, they seem to hit all those delicate
pressure points in your foot that make you walk like you're on a tightrope, desparately trying not to fall into the water. The stones
can also be slippery, so keep your centre of gravity low to avoid slipping and falling onto your backside or worse.
Here is a video that I took when visiting the gorge in the spring school holidays, when the river was flowing well,
but the water level was still just low enough to traverse two river crossings without getting your feet wet.
Essential Information Before You Go:
Location: Lerderderg Gorge Road, Lerderderg State Park, 65 km (approx. 1 hour drive) west of the Melbourne CBD.
Latitude: -37.615578
Longitude: 144.425388
Getting there: From Melbourne take the Western Freeway to Bacchus Marsh and exit north at
Gisborne Road. Turn left 2 km later at Lerderderg Gorge Road and follow to the car park at the end.
Facilities: Toilets, tables, bbqs, lawns, parking at MacKenzies Flat. No faclities at Grahams Dam.
Entrance fee: None
Water clarity: Clear
Under foot: Loose stones and pebbles
Sun shade: Shade available out of the water at MacKenzies Flat. Limited to no shade at Grahams Dam.
Opening times: Always open. May be closed during extreme weather conditions (e.g. for fire safety)
Water temperature, maximum water depth, minimum swimming proficiency required, and prohibitions including
whether you can bring your dog: Order the full guide
Wheelchair access: MacKenzies Flat possibly with assistance. No wheelchair access to Grahams Dam.
Accommodation Options: No camping is permitted at MacKenzie Flat or Grahams Dam. Bush camping is available
further upstream in the conservation zone (but no solid fuel fires permitted) and at O'Briens Crossing, which
is a full day's walk from Grahams Dam. Alternatively, if you don't want to camp and are staying overnight
in the area you can try
accommodation in nearby Bacchus Marsh or
Gisborne.
Managing authority: Parks Victoria
Nearby attractions: Bushwalks in the State Forest, or for a swim you can try
Pykes Creek Reservoir,
10 km to the west as the crow flies.
Before you head out, make sure to read the
swimming safety information.
Locality Map:
The marker indicates the location of the car park at MacKenzies Flat.
Comments:
Here is one quick personal account of swimming in the Lerderderg River that illustrates how it has long been a popular place for a swim:
"I was a very small child 70 years ago when I was at this place to paddle. The cows would come through to the water also.
I spent my childhood there."
- R. Goerges, Sydney 14/01/2017
If you would like to leave a comment about this swimming hole, please fill in the comment box below. I'm particularly interested in your
experiences after visiting, and any changes in swimming conditions. All fields are required if you would like your comments published on this website.
© Brad Neal 2019. All rights reserved.
