Lake Jindabyne

Lake Jindabyne is a large artificial lake on the Snowy River at Jindabyne in the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales, within the Snowy Mountains. Created in 1967 by Jindabyne Dam as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, it flooded the original township. Notable for its alpine setting, trout fishing, water sports and foreshore parklands, it serves as a year-round gateway to Kosciuszko National Park and nearby ski resorts.

Visitors can expect a large alpine lake surrounded by foreshore parklands, walking and cycling paths, and mountain views. The lake offers open water for boating, sailing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, shoreline areas for fishing, swimming and picnicking, and lookouts over the dam wall. The town foreshore at Banjo Paterson Park provides landscaped gardens, playgrounds, barbecues and easy lake access, with Kosciuszko National Park and ski fields nearby.

Lake Jindabyne was created in 1967 with the completion of Jindabyne Dam as a major component of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Australia's large hydro-electric and irrigation project. The damming of the Snowy River flooded the original township of Jindabyne, which was relocated to its present site above the lake. Remains of the old town are occasionally visible when water levels are low.

The lake lies within Ngarigo Country and the broader Snowy Mountains cultural landscape. It is a central recreational and community focal point for Jindabyne and the Snowy Monaro region, supporting trout fishing culture, water sports and alpine tourism that underpin the local visitor economy.