Lake Bullen Merri, Victoria: Fishing, walking and swimming guide

Formed inside volcanic craters, Lake Bullen Merri near Camperdown in Victoria is a good spot for fishing, walking, swimming, boating, birdwatching and picnics.

Lake Bullen Merri in Victoria, Australia, was formed from three adjacent volcanic craters. This volcanic legacy gives it a clover-esque shape and dark sand beaches.

Lake Bullen Merri is just south-west of Camperdown in the Volcanic Lakes and Plains region of Victoria. This is not a region that many tourists pay much attention to, as it lies to the north of the much more appealing Great Ocean Road. However, you might go past Lake Bullen Merri and Camperdown if taking the quick route back from Warrnambool to Melbourne. It forms a pair with Lake Gnotuk just to the north.

Cyclists by Lake Bullen Merri in Victoria, Australia. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Things to do at Lake Bullen Merri

There are plenty of things to do at Lake Bullen Merri. It’s a popular spot for waterskiing and boating, although overseas tourists are more likely to stick to walking, swimming, fishing and picnics.

This Victorian crater lake measures around 3.2km by 2.8km, so walking around it isn’t a particularly arduous task. But you’re arguably better off sticking to the Lake Bullen Merri Recreation Reserve at South Beach. Which, unsurprisingly, is at the southern side of the lake.

South Beach is hardly glamorous by the standards of Australian beaches, but you can roll out a towel there on a sunny day.

Swimming in Lake Bullen Merri

Most of the time, Lake Bullen Merri is fine for swimming, although there have been blue-green algae outbreaks in the past. If swimming at Lake Bullen Merri, just stay clear of the boats.

This Victorian lake is also a popular spot for fishing. You can cast a line from beaches, banks or boat, and Lake Bullen Merri is fairly well stocked. Species of interest to fishing enthusiasts include chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon, Australian bass, rainbow trout and brown trout.

There are also plenty of birds around. Species commonly spotted at Lake Bullen Merri include egrets, herons and rosellas.