waterholes for swimming in Victoria

Introduction

a nice waterhole or stream can really add to the camping experience, and this is why nearly all the beach camp grounds are fully booked out in summer school holidays and weekends many months in advance
the following is a list of some nice spots for a swim when camping inland in Victoria
in addition to these, there are also lots of free lakeside camping options which allow swimming and boating, for example:
- Lake Lascelles, Hopetoun
- Delatite Arm campgrounds Lake Eildon
- Lake Burrumbeet near Ballarat
- Jubilee Lake, Daylesford - free hot showers and adjacent commercial campground or the free campground at Mt Franklin reserve campground, near Daylesford
- Green Hill Lakes Camping Reserve, Ararat - has hot showers and there is always space available ($10 donation requested)
- Green Lake, Corop - has free hot showers
- Lake Lonsdale near Stawell
- Lake Fyans near Grampians (commercial)
- Lake Boga in western Victoria
- Wooroonook Lake or Green Lake just south of Sea Lake in NW Victoria
- Lake Elingamite
- Tchum lake (Birchip)

many lakes and rivers develop dangerous levels of toxic blue gree algae especially in summer - check the warnings

Ayson's Reserve Camping Ground
Murray River / Gunbower Creek camping at Koondrook - one of the best spots for kayaking and bird watching
Murray River camping
Trawool Wildlife Reserve Campground on the Gouldburn River and Horseshoe Lagoon Nature Reserve
Maritz Bend on the Goulburn River nth of Murchison
Mitta Mitta river NE victoria

Ladies Bath Falls at Mount Buffalo
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8H-XQjPdiI
Sinclair's Waterhole on Buckand River at Buckland near Bright
Braithwaite Beach, Eurobin (3.5 hours from Melbourne CBD)
Tronoh Dredge Hole, Harrietville (4 hours from Melbourne CBD)
Rollasons Falls, Mt Buffalo (4 hours from Melbourne CBD)
Mermaid Beach Rockpool, Mt Beauty (4 hours from Melbourne CBD)
Pretty Valley Creek Pools, Falls Creek (5 hours from Melbourne CBD)
Murray River camping - east of Lake Hume it is more shallow eg. Burrowye Reserve
Mitta Mitta river NE victoria

Lerderderg Gorge, Bacchus Marsh
Werribee Gorge at Needles Beach
Cooper's Bridge, Meredith
- lovely sand-based river swimming waterhole with small beach adjacent to a small carpark and the potential of one or two small hike tents for overnight camp only 5-10min drive to Meredith where there is petrol, pub, general store and cafe
- better for campervans or rooftop tent in the car park rather than actual tents as the ground for the tents is not very flat
Otways
- some of the waterfalls are OK for a quick dip such as Phantom Falls near Lorne but they have slippery rock floors
- Cumberland River and Jebb's Pool near Lorne is an option
- St George River Estuary, Lorne
there are many lakes (see above)