Blue Lake

Blue Lake resides in Australia’s winter wonderland, the Snowy Mountains. The lake was formed thousands of years ago when glaciers swept through the Great Dividing Range, carving the granite bedrock as it surged. Due to this unique formation of the lake, Blue Lake is one of only four cirque lakes found on the mainland of Australia, meaning the lakes are shaped like an amphitheatre in the foothills of a valley.

The area, located to the west of Jindabyne, is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance, under the Ramsar Convention of 1996. The site holds great biological significance due to the highly concentrated numbers of threatened flora and fauna living in the area, including the mountain pygmy possum and the broad-toothed mouse. For this reason, Blue Lake is used for environmental education with a focus on managing ecosystems and maintaining sustainable biological diversity.

You can access Blue Lake from Charlotte’s Pass at the west end of Kosciusko Road. The four hour return journey passes over the famous Snowy River, along the Main Range Track, and offers stunning glacial scenery.

Camping is not permitted due to the conservation efforts.