Summer in Jindabyne is all about Lake Jindabyne and the outdoors. And much of the lake’s appearance is dictated by the winter snow season.

With a bumper snow year and a 220cm top snow depth, the spring melt has seen Lake Jindabyne filling to a healthy level. In the past year, the comments have often been ‘Why is the lake so low’. The previous 2024 snow season was poor and was reflected in a low water level in the lake.

Before the 2025 winter, the lake's low point was about 51 per cent in early April, and by mid-October, it had reached just over 78 per cent.

You could expect the 2025-26 summer levels to hover above the 75 per cent level as snow melt will continue into the early summer, plus any additional rainfall.

Water sports and fishing are a huge part of summer life in this popular tourist destination, and the warmer months look set to be filled with fun times on all fronts.

“Everyone likes the lake when it looks filled, it's just the perfect level now for our watercraft hire,” said Nic Davoli from Sacred Ride, who operate on the lake foreshore near the boat ramp.

“Visitors love Lake Jindabyne, it’s a key part of the holiday, whether early morning or to cool off after hiking or riding.”

The Claypits area in Jindabyne is currently under renovation, where a new carpark and revamped entry should be completed during the summer. This will also see a rerouted lake foreshore path.

There are excellent swimming locations across the lake, several beaches and boat ramps for pleasure craft to be launched. Water skiing, jet skiing, paddling and sailing are recreational activities that are constantly enjoyed during the summer.

Lake Jindabyne was formed when the Snowy Scheme dammed the Snowy River. Every time you visit Jindabyne, you cross the Jindabyne Dam wall.

The water level in Lake Jindabyne is always fluctuating and is dictated by several factors. Rain, snow melt and releases of water to the Snowy River and west for hydroelectricity generation.

Contrary to most people’s opinion, Snowy Hydro does not own the water but has a licence to manage the water.

Specific amounts of water are legislated for environmental releases into the Snowy River from Jindabyne Dam each year to help sustain the quality of the Snowy River, which reaches all the way to Marlo in Victoria. Daily release patterns are notified to Snowy Hydro from NSW DPIE Water in February of the preceding water year. These can be found on the Snowy Hydro website in the water section.

Snowy Hydro divert water from Lake Jindabyne to the western side of the mountains for electricity generation through the Murray Power Stations and to support agriculture via irrigation in what is considered the food bowl of Australia.

You always know when you have arrived in Jindabyne once you round the bend on Kosciuszko Road and see the sparkling waters of Lake Jindabyne. Enjoy your summer on the lake.