Open Water Swimming Tasmania
DISTANCE
43.5km
WATER TYPE
Lake
EXPERIENCE
Advanced
LOCATION
Strathgordon
REGION
South West
Swim Stats
Route: Edgar Dam to Serpentine Dam
First completed: January 2025 (Helen Conway, Australia)
Successful swims: 1
Fastest male: -
Fastest female: 14:52:37 (Helen Conway, January 2025)
Route: Strathgordon to McPartlan Pass
First completed: March 2026 (as part of Tasmanian Wild West Series)
Successful swims: 4
Fastest male: -
Fastest female: Amy Gubser (6:25:25)
Overview
Swimming in Lake Pedder is an experience on a different scale. The lake stretches across a grand wilderness landscape, with the rugged mountains of the South West Wilderness rising around its dark, tannin-stained waters.
Logistics are a challenge. The lake's remoteness makes getting there an undertaking in itself, while finding a day with favourable winds can be an even greater challenge. But if the weather window opens and you can enter the water on a calm day, the reward is extraordinary - cutting through your own ripple trail, water painted with reflected mountain peaks.
When the wind picks up, the scale of Lake Pedder becomes even more apparent, creating testing conditions for the swimmer. So prepare well, be patient and flexible with your weather window, and you could find yourself swimming in one of the most spectacular wilderness landscapes in Australia.
Route Description
There are a handful of boat ramps dotted around Lake Pedder which provide fixed points to anchor each end of a swim.
Route: Edgar Dam to Serpentine Dam
Distance: 43.5km
The shortest route between the two furthest fixed points measures 43.5km from Edgar Dam boat ramp in the south to Serpentine Dam boat ramp in the north (or vice versa).
The route heads in a north-westerly direction and passes to the east of Scotts Peak. There are submerged trees near the island, so don't get too close. The swim continues north-west and through the gap between Barrier Island and Mt Solitary. This is the shallowest part of the swim, with a depth of only 3-4 metres.
After a four kilometre stretch along the shores of Mt Solitary, the swim weaves into the main body of the lake and crosses the deepest part (43m) over the original Lake Pedder.
There's then a 15km stretch heading north-west to the entrance to Bell Basin before the five - more sheltered - kilometres to Serpentine Dam boat ramp.
Route: Scotts Peak Dam to Serpentine Dam
Distance: 39.6km
This route - four kilometres shorter - starts (or finishes) at Scotts Peak Dam, also at the southern end of the lake.
The route passes to the west of Scotts Peak and through a gap between the Barrier Islands before heading to the west of Mt Solitary and in to the main body of the lake.
Route: Edgar Dam to Strathgordon
Distance: 40.8km
This route follows the Edgar Dam to Serpentine Dam path for the first two-thirds of the swim. After reaching Serpentine Island, the swim then heads north, keeping to the west of Trappes Island, and finishing at the boat ramp at Strathgordon.
Route: Scotts Peak Dam to Strathgordon
Distance: 39.6km
This is the shortest route along the length of the lake. It follows the Scotts Peak to Serpentine Dam route for the first two-thirds of the swim and then heads north, keeping to the west of Trappes Island, and finishing at the boat ramp at Strathgordon.
Route: Strathgordon to McPartlan Pass
Distance: 16.9km
The most direct route is a little under 17 kilometres. However, the swim is also offered as part of the Tasmania Wild West Series, run by the Keppel Islands Swimming Association, with a more scenic 21km route between the two points.
The swim starts at Strathgordon and keeps closer to the eastern shore of the lake before entering the breathtaking basin that runs to McPartlan Pass.
If the canal between Lakes Pedder and Gordon has been opened, there will be a favourable flow running to the finish.
Depending on the water flow, the route can be swum in reverse.
See map below or click here to view in Maps.
What you should know
Lake Pedder is very windy. Finding a day with a forgiving enough forecast for sufficient hours to complete a swim is the biggest challenge.
The prevailing wind is from the north-west, so a north-south swim is more likely. However, be prepared to change your swim plans if southerly winds are forecast.
The scenery in the southern part of the lake is more dramatic and spectacular but is more exposed to the prevailing winds.
The weather station to monitor is Scotts Peak Dam; the wind forecasts try to predict wind speeds and direction at lake level. However, the station sits about 150 metres higher than the lake itself, so the actual wind forecasts shown tend to be stronger than those felt on the water.
The water temperature at the beginning of January is around 16C and can easily rise to 19-20C by the end of January and through February. By mid-March, the water temperature will be between 14-16C again.
The water temperature is heavily affected by air temperature in the preceding days and will drop following a day or two of rain.
Air temperatures can drop considerably overnight, with single digit air temperatures (and even colder 'feels like' temps) common all through summer.
The water is heavily tannined and very dark; the swimmer will hardly be able to see their outstretched hand in front of them.
Before you go
The lake is in a remote wilderness area and medical help is a long way away. Swimmers must be very experienced and confident that they can manage cold and windy conditions.
The pilot should have valid first aid qualifications and it would be wise to have well-maintained equipment, such as a defibrillator, on board in case of emergency. Ensure plenty of blankets, etc. in case the swimmer gets hypothermic and be prepared to call the swim long before the swimmer reaches danger levels.
The only settlement near the lake is Strathgordon. It's a 2.5 hour drive from Hobart and a 4 hour drive from Launceston.
Strathgordon has the only accommodation at the lake, with very affordable options at the Pedder Wilderness Lodge, which also has a restaurant providing meals (not every night, see website for the latest opening hours). There are a few camping options around the lake.
Planning logistics is a major factor for a Lake Pedder swim. Driving from Strathgordon to either Edgar Dam or Scotts Peak Dam is close to 1.5 hours, much of it on a (good) gravel road. Expect this to take slightly longer if travelling at night due to the very high volume of wildlife.
You may choose to motor to the start/from the finish by boat. The journey will take approximately one hour but that very much depends on conditions, which can change very quickly.
Due to the long road journey to the south of the lake, it is recommended to have someone providing shore support, dropping the swimmer and crew off at the start and taking the car back to Strathgordon.
Serpentine Dam is a 15 minute drive from Strathgordon, most of which is on sealed road.
Starting or finishing the swim at Strathgordon, where the accommodation is, makes logistics simpler at least at one end of the swim.
All the boat ramps are concrete and in good condition. The ramps at Strathgordon and Scotts Peak are slightly bigger and have better trailer parking.
Honour Roll
Swim # | Name | Date | Time | Country | Route | Category | Type | Notes | Ratified By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Helen Conway | 19/01/2025 | 14:52:37 | Australia | Edgar-Serpentine | Unassisted | Solo | First recorded swim | ALDSF |
1 | Amy Gubser | 14/03/2026 | 6:25:25 | United States | Strathgordon-McPartlan Pass | Unassisted | Solo | As part of Tasmanian Wild West Series | Event |
2 | Alessandra Rossi Cima | 14/03/2026 | 7:02:35 | Brazil | Strathgordon-McPartlan Pass | Unassisted | Solo | As part of Tasmanian Wild West Series | Event |
3 | Abigail Fairman | 14/03/2026 | 7:19:00 | United States | Strathgordon-McPartlan Pass | Unassisted | Solo | As part of Tasmanian Wild West Series | Event |
4 | Susan Sherwen | 14/03/2026 | 7:25:30 | New Zealand | Strathgordon-McPartlan Pass | Unassisted | Solo | As part of Tasmanian Wild West Series | Event |