Cheshunt South - Lake William Hovell - North East

Cheshunt South - Lake William Hovell

Lake William Hovell, taking its name from the Australian explorer, is located approximately an hour's drive south of Wangaratta. Opened in November 1971, the lake covers 113 hectares of land and was built to store water from the King River for irrigation purposes downstream. Today it supplies water for irrigated crops, vineyards and grazing properties along the King River from Cheshunt to Wangaratta.

Set in mountain bushland on the King River, Lake William Hovell is a tranquil spot for fishing, boating and picnicking.

Most of the western shore is landscaped, safe and accessible.

Boating
Lake William Hovell is a popular spot for boating, kayaking and canoeing. Enjoy the peace and quiet of the lake and surrounds. Boats are allowed to travel at a maximum speed of eight kilometers per hour and use only 10 horsepower.

A 5 knot speed limit applies at any level within 50 metres of the water's edge; other vessels, navigation aids, swimmers and fixed or floating structures; and within 100 metres of vessels displaying a dive flag.

Fishing
The lake contains trout, redfin and macquarie perch, and the size can surprise, with trout up to 3kg and some large redfin. Autumn is the best time to catch Redfin and Trout, however Lake William Hovell offers year-round fishing opportunities.

Anglers with a boat can access a huge variety of water for a small lake. The eastern shore is quite deep and offers good trolling. The top of the lake, where the King River runs in, is only 20 minutes from the boat ramp and offers lure casting, trolling, bait fishing and bait drifting. In between, you can explore a number of bays on the western shore.

Swimming
A nice place for swimming with clear water. There is a designated swimming area which has a rough sand beach with picnic facilities nearby. Boats are not permitted in the designated swimming area and jet-skis and water-skiing are not allowed on the lake. This means a more relaxed and enjoyable experience for those enjoying the water.

Camping
Camping is not allowed on the foreshore of the lake, but there are unofficial camp sites in the broader King River area.

Facilities
Lake William Hovell has facilities to suit every visitor, including fishing, boating and picnic amenities.

A public boat ramp is also available near the northern end of the lake, accessible from Upper King River Road.

At the southernmost section of the lake is the entrance to the Alpine National Park, which has a myriad of tracks for four wheel driving, access to fishing spots, walking and mountain biking.

Blue-Green algae
At times, the level of blue-green algae in storages can exceed safe limits. When this happens you should avoid direct contact with the water as the algae can cause skin rashes, itchiness, sore eyes, ears and nose and nausea. If unsafe levels occur, warning signs will be positioned at major recreational areas.

Online Blue-green algae warnings are available or by calling the 24 hour GMW blue-green algae hotline on (03) 5826 3785.

Access for Dogs:

Dogs are permitted on-leash.