We welcome visitors and encourage you to enjoy camping, fishing, paddling, boating, water-skiing, bushwalking and other activities.
Our land and waterways cover approximately 120,000 hectares, including about 13,000 hectares in Tasmania’s iconic Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA), making us the largest water manager in Australia.
We also ask that you respect and protect the environment, and help us ensure sustainable management for today and for future generations.
The following information will help you plan your visit, whether you’re heading out for a day of activity or a longer camping holiday.
Download a copy of our outdoor activities brochure here. Have a great time and stay safe.
Please adhere to all boating regulations, minimum safety rules and courtesies. Check the boat ramp sign on-site.
Camping is permitted at some sites owned and managed by Hydro Tasmania. You can find details of these sites here.
To report a crime you have witnessed on Hydro Tasmania land please contact BushWatch on 131444.
We welcome dogs on most of our land, as long as they are on a lead or under effective control. There are some exceptions to this, where our land is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA).
In these areas, the TWWHA regulations apply and you should check the onsite signage.
Recreational use of drones in or over Hydro Tasmania’s land and assets is not advised.
All proposed drone use for commercial filming or to support media, scientific, management or education purposes requires approval from Hydro Tasmania, and an application form must be submitted. Read more about drone use on Hydro Tasmania land.
In the event of an emergency, please dial 000.
Exclusion zones are marked by signage. Please do not enter the water at any time, by watercraft, swimming or on foot.
Water conditions can be dangerous around dam spillways and tailraces, with currents that may not be visible from the surface of the water.
Horse riding on our land is only permitted where there is a designated riding trail.
Information on horse riding trails can be found some local websites, and also on Discover Tasmania.
Duck hunting
Subject to complying with the following conditions, individuals are now permitted to hunt on designated land, lakes or waterways without the need to seek our permission.
Designated duck hunting areas include:
Duck hunting is limited to the abovementioned areas. We may designate restricted areas within the boundaries of the land from time to time. Shooting is strictly prohibited in any restricted area.
Duck hunting is not permitted at any of our other land or waterways.
To be eligible to hunt on our land, lakes or waterways, please ensure you;
Failure to comply with any of these conditions may result in prosecution by Tasmania Police.
Deer hunting
In collaboration with Parks and Wildlife Services and Game Services Tasmania, the sections of our land available for deer hunting is now allocated to hunters as part of the Public Land Deer Hunting Ballot.
For more information, please contact:
Public Land Deer Hunting Ballot
Game Services Tasmania
GPO Box 44, Hobart TAS 7001
Ph: 1300 292 292
deerballot@nre.tas.gov.au
Carrying firearms on our land
We are able to issue licences to allow a person to carry a firearm across our land if they need to access adjoining land to hunt. If you wish to carry a firearm across Hydro Tasmania land, please email your request to applications.mailbox@hydro.com.au with the subject: 'Carrying firearms request'.
When you are on our land (which includes our lakes and waterways), you may be required to provide evidence that you have permission to be hunting on adjoining land. Please remember it is illegal to carry a firearm on our land without our permission. This is not necessary for those with permission to hunt deer through the public land deer hunting ballot or in permitted duck hunting areas.
Hydro Tasmania reserves the right to prohibit use of firearms on our land, lakes or waterways where the safety of our employees, the public or our infrastructure assets may be compromised, and to limit damage to environmental values of particular areas.
Littering is not permitted on any Hydro Tasmania land or waterway. Please respect the environment and ensure you remove all rubbish with you when you leave.
To report littering, you can contact the Litter Hotline on 1300 135 513 (Service Tasmania).
Please park responsibly. Do not prevent access to the boat ramp or public sites.
Tasmania has three species of land snake: tiger snake, lowland copperhead and the white-lipped snake. All three species are capable of injecting venom and deserve our healthy respect, however be aware that Tasmanian snakes are unlikely to attack people unless they feel trapped or threatened. All three species are protected, so please do not harm them.Snakes do not have ears, and cannot hear sound. They detect sound by sensing vibrations passing through the ground.Bites on the lower legs or feet can be the result of stepping on a snake. This can occur when stepping over a log where a snake is basking on the sunlit side. Walkers should wear good walking boots and be aware of where they place their feet. If you encounter a snake you should avoid any sudden movements and move away slowly and quietly. The snake will usually leave as quickly as it can.
Do not swim within 20 metres of a boat ramp.
Most Hydro Tasmania land used for recreational activity does not have toilet facilities. Visitors must practice minimal impact camping. This means bringing your own portable toilets, or burying toilet waste at least 100 metres away from the water, campground and tracks in a hole 15 cm or deeper. Cover and disguise the hole when finished. Please do not bury sanitary items - these must be carried out with you.
Caravans, campervans, motor homes and portable toilets must be emptied in authorised effluent disposal stations.
Trail bike riding on our land is only permitted where there is a designated trail. Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania produces an online booklet called Ride Around Tasmania that provides information on all tracks available for vehicles with full and restricted registration.
Please contact Marine and Safety Tasmania to report unsafe and non-compliant watercraft behaviour.
We have four lakes where water-skiing is a permitted, and popular, activity. These are Lake Trevallyn, Lake Meadowbank, Lake Rosebery and Lake Barrington. You can find out more information about these lakes on our interactive web map.
Cutting or collecting wood is not permitted on any Hydro Tasmania land.
Fossicking and prospecting are not generally permitted on any Hydro Tasmania land.
At Hydro Tasmania we generate clean renewable electricity using large volumes of rapidly moving water and it can be incredibly dangerous around our generation sites.
Even when the water looks calm, without warning conditions can change in a matter of seconds and it can be a drowning hazard.
People using our lakes should always be aware they may be upstream of spillways, power station intakes and weirs. In these areas recreational users could potentially be drawn towards intakes and outlets, or be trapped by accelerating water.
Downstream of a power station, or at outflows, our operations can cause water levels to change rapidly. This can cause turbulent, high speed flows which could catch lake or river users unawares placing them in significant danger.
The most dangerous areas have been designated as exclusion zones, and are clearly signed.
We encourage people to enjoy our waterways but urge you to keep safety front of mind at all times and be aware of these hazards:
It is critical that you follow all rules, regulations and warnings and keep out of exclusion zones. Your safety is our priority.
Most of our lakes and waterways are operational assets for generating renewable energy. This means that water levels and flows can change very rapidly and there are areas where swimming, boating, paddling and public access is prohibited. These areas are called exclusion zones, and are in place to ensure the safety of visitors and Hydro Tasmania personnel, and to provide sustainable management of the waterway and its surrounds.
Marine and Safety Tasmania regulates the use of motorised and non-motorised craft on our waterways. Information about areas prohibited for navigation and a notice to mariners is available on MAST’s website.
Signs are in place to indicate the exclusion zones and any other dangerous conditions or warnings. You will see this information outlined on boat ramp signs, as well as on exclusion zone warning signs. It is important that everyone using our lakes and waterways recognises and avoids the dangers of moving water in these areas.
In addition to exclusion zones, there are regulations and requirements that must be adhered to when you’re using our land and waterways. These include wearing a life vest when on the water, complying with boat speed limits and not swimming within 20 metres of a boat ramp.
When you visit our lakes or lagoons please ensure you check the onsite signage for these requirements, and stay alert at all times. The requirements are also outlined on our interactive web map.
We rely on water to generate electricity, but we also manage this shared resource to balance the need for irrigation, town water supply, aquaculture, recreation, aesthetics, and biodiversity. We look to accommodate complementary use of the water that we manage, where it’s appropriate to do so, and where it does not adversely impact on hydro-generation activities.
Visit our water releases page for more information on how to request a special water release or lake levels.
These facilities will be closed from 28 January 2025 until mid-2026 due to construction activity associated with the Edgar Dam upgrades.
If you’re visiting during this period, you may encounter more traffic along Scotts Peak Road (including big trucks) and if you’re intending on travelling through to Scotts Peak Dam or Huon Campground, please be prepared for short delays as you will need to pass through the work site. We apologise for these disruptions.
Use our interactive recreational map to discover alternative destinations and facilities, including nearby boat ramps at Scotts Peak and Strathgordon. You can also camp at Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife campsites at Huon and Teds Beach.
For more information about the project, please visit https://connect.hydro.com.au/edgar-dam-strengthening-project or you can email Jane Alpine.
From 13 January to mid-April, we’ll be maintaining Arthurs Flume. During this time, the road between Tods Corner and Arthurs Lake will be closed to walkers, bikers and horse riders. You may also encounter more traffic along Highlands Lake and Tods Corner roads.
Thank you for your patience. If you’d like to know more about what’s happening, please email engagement@hydro.com.au
Butlers Gorge Road remains closed on weekdays from 7am to 5pm. This closure will be in place for the foreseeable future as we continue upgrade works at Lake King William.
This closure is to ensure public safety while we undertake works to construct a new water intake at Lake King William and there is increased heavy vehicle activity on the road.
The road is open outside of these hours, providing access to the lookout and boat ramp.
The Lake King William campground will remain closed for the foreseeable future. We apologise for any inconvenience.
There is no change to access to Mossy Marsh Dam which remains open for anglers and recreational use.
For more information about the works being undertaken at Lake King William, visit https://connect.hydro.com.au/reimagining-tarraleah
The campground at Lake King William will be closed until Autumn 2025 due to construction activity associated with the upgrade works currently underway at Tarraleah. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Please enjoy one of our many other recreational campsites. The boat ramp at Lake King William remains open for use.
For more information about the Tarraleah project and to ask questions, please visit https://connect.hydro.com.au/reimagining-tarraleah
Lake Rosebery is now reopened to the public from 6pm on Friday 7 March. The boat ramp is also now open to the public.
Booms will remain in place around a very small section of Henry Bay. These booms will remain along the banks of the gorge as part of the final clean-up effort and these areas should be avoided.
The Department of Health has updated advice for the public using the lake. Recent water quality testing at Lake Rosebery has shown that the water is safe for recreational activities like swimming.
The Department of Health and Inland Fisheries Service have worked together to sample and assess the safety of trout caught from Lake Rosebery. It is safe to eat trout caught from all areas open to the public.
The Department of Health recommends not eating eels caught in Lake Rosebery until further testing that includes eels is completed in the coming months.
For further information on the oil spill, please refer to the Lake Rosebery information hub.
Accommodation at Pedder Wilderness Lodge is unavailable until further notice, as the lodge being used to house Hydro Tasmania employees and contractors currently undertaking refurbishment works at the Gordon Power Station.
The Twelevetrees Bar and Restaurant as well as the Fuel services will still be open from 11am to 3pm daily, with lunch being served between 12pm and 2pm.
Opening hours will be reassessed during the winter months to accommodate changes in visitor numbers.
To stay up to date with updates for Pedder Wilderness Lodge, follow them on Facebook by clicking here, and visit their website here.
We appreciate your patience and support as our teams embark on these vital upgrades at Gordon Power Station. The team at Pedder Wilderness Lodge can't wait to welcome you for lunch throughout the year!
The Bailey bridge on Lake Repulse Road has been permanently closed.
New locked boom gates have been installed at both ends of the bridge, closing the bridge to vehicle access. Walking, horse riding and push bike riding across the bridge are still permitted.
The load rating of the bridge has been reduced from 7 to 3.5 tonnes to allow ongoing safe operation for access to the Repulse Power Station only.
Residents of Dawson Road, and others in the area who normally use the bridge, are encouraged to access Dawson Road vis Ellendale Road, south of Ouse.
If travelling in the area, please exercise caution.
For further information contact us on 1300 360 441 or via contactus@hydro.com.au
Visitors to Gowrie Park should not consume water from the local reticulated water supply. Boiling the water will not make it safe to:
Drinking the water is a low risk for pets. If you are concerned you should contact your veterinarian.
If you feel sick after consuming water, please contact your GP in the first instance or the Department of Health on 1800 671 738.
To ensure public safety, the Lake Mackintosh spillway road gate is closed to prevent access to the campground and boat ramps when the lake is within 0.3m from its full supply. For more information on lake levels, or to check the current level of Lake Mackintosh, please visit www.hydro.com.au/water/lake-levels
It can be very dangerous to use the spillway road when lake levels are high, so please do not enter when the gate is closed. The gate will only reopen when Lake Mackintosh is more than 0.3m from full, and when it is not expected for the lake to spill in the coming week.
To ensure public safety, the Lake Pieman spillway road gate is closed to prevent access to the campground and boat ramp when the lake is within 0.5m from its full supply. For more information on lake levels, or to check the current level of Lake Pieman, please visit www.hydro.com.au/water/lake-levels
It can be very dangerous to be in proximity to the lake when levels are high, so please do not enter when the gate is closed. The gate will only reopen when Lake Pieman is more than 0.5m from full, and when it is not expected for the lake to spill in the coming week.
To ensure public safety, the Lake Plimsoll boat ramp boom gate is closed to prevent access to the boat ramp when the lake is within 0.3m from its full supply. For more information on lake levels, or to check the current level of Lake Plimsoll, please visit www.hydro.com.au/water/lake-levels
It can be very dangerous to be in proximity to the lake when levels are high, so please do not enter when the gate is closed. The gate will only reopen when Lake Plimsoll is more than 0.3m from full, and when it is not expected for the lake to spill in the coming week.
Visitors to Poatina are advised to boil all water from the local reticulated water supply before using it for:
Bring the water to a rolling boil until a continuous and rapid stream of air bubbles is produced from the bottom of the pan or kettle. Kettles with automatic cut-off switches are suitable. After boiling, water may be stored or refrigerated in a clean, closed container.
Drinking unboiled water could make you sick. Particular caution should be taken by pregnant women, infants and young children, who may be at a higher risk. There is no increased risk to pets.
If you are concerned that you may be sick after consuming water, please contact your GP in the first instance or the Department of Health on 1800 671 738.
From Friday 4th to Monday 7th April inclusive, our team will be performing routine annual maintenance work on the Tarraleah No 1 Canal. Consequently, there will be no public access to the No 1 Pond which will be drained during this time.
If you're visiting the area, please be mindful of works traffic in the vicinity of the No. 1 Pond on the Lyell Highway and Butlers Gorge road.
For further information on this work please get in touch with our engagement team at engagement@hydro.com.au
Please be advised that Reece Dam will be closed to all traffic on Wednesday 28 May, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, to allow essential survey work to be undertaken.
Note:Emergency services and essential personnel will maintain access under controlled conditions.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.