Leeawuleena / Lake St Clair

A swim along Leeawuleena / Lake St Clair is one of Tasmania's most spectacular fresh water challenges. Set within the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the lake combines breathtaking mountain scenery with cold, pristine water and a profound sense of remoteness.

DISTANCE

13.4km

WATER TYPE

Lake

EXPERIENCE

Intermediate

LOCATION

Derwent Bridge

REGION

Central Highlands

Swim Stats

We're aware of several swimmers having swum the length of Lake St Clair though some did not record any notes. The swims listed below, therefore, are only those that have been documented; however, none have been officially ratified as marathon swims.

First completed: 2023 (First recorded swim but not ratified)

Total successful completions: 3

Fastest recorded male time: 4:14:02 (Rod Watkins, February 2023, Tandem)

Fastest recorded female time: 4:14:02 (Sam Poulsen, February 2023, Tandem)

See the Honour Roll below

Overview

Leeawuleena / Lake St Clair is Australia's deepest lake, reaching more than 160 metres at its deepest point. The existing marathon swim follows a 13.4km route along the western side of the lake, from the Narcissus River at the northern end to the Lake St Clair Lodge at the southern end.

While the swim is one of Tasmania's shortest marathon swims, the water is cold even in summer and conditions can change quickly. Winds can be funnelled along the length of the lake, adding chop for that extra challenge.

This swim offers the opportunity to experience one of Tasmania's great wilderness landscapes from the water, passing by ancient forests with a backdrop of jagged peaks. It simply has to be seen - and felt - to be believed.

Route Description

The route that has been documented to date (and that is shown on the route map below) is from Narcissus Jetty to Lake St Clair Lodge Jetty. This measures 13.4km.

The swim starts at Narcissus Jetty in the Narcissus River, reaching the northern part of the lake about 300 metres later. The swim then sticks close to the western shore of the lake before finishing at the jetty at the Lake St Clair Lodge in the south-west corner of the lake.

A slightly longer route (13.9km) is on offer if the swimmer finishes at the beach in the south-east corner of the lake. To date, this route has not yet been swum.

See map below or click here to view in Maps.

What you should know

The water temperature in the Narcissus River is cold even in summer; expect 11-13C for this part of the swim. Once in the main body of the lake, the water warms up and may reach 16C as you head further south.
For this reason, the swim is typically done from north to south so that you swim into the warmer water (and you have the boat trip at the start of the swim rather than at the end).
Unlike some of Tasmania's other fresh water swims, Lake St Clair is less affected by strong winds. The prevailing wind is from the west, so swimmers will have some protection when swimming along the western shore. The weather station to watch is Butlers Gorge.

Before you go

Lake St Clair is 2.5 hours from both Hobart and Launceston.
Accommodation is all based at the southern end of the lake. The budget option is the Lake St Clair Tourist Park which offers camp sites and bunkhouses. There's also the more expensive Lake St Clair Lodge or a premium option at Pumphouse Point.
All vehicles visiting Lake St Clair need a Parks Pass, available from the Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania.
There is only boat access at the southern end of the lake, accessed via the Lake St Clair boat ramp (single lane, concrete). This then means a boat ride up to the start of the swim.

Honour Roll

Swim #	Name	Date	Time	Country	Route	Category	Type	Notes	Ratified By
1	Rod Watkins	05/02/2023	4:14:02	Australia	Narcissus Jetty-Lake St Clair Lodge Jetty	Unassisted	Tandem	First recorded swim (male)	Not Ratified
2	Sam Poulsen	05/02/2023	4:14:02	Australia	Narcissus Jetty-Lake St Clair Lodge Jetty	Unassisted	Tandem	First recorded swim (female)	Not Ratified
3	James Walker	16/04/2024	4:48:24	Australia	Narcissus Jetty-Lake St Clair Lodge Jetty	Assisted	Solo		Not Ratified