Healthy waterways and catchments support the wellbeing of all Victorians. Benefits include improved health and wellbeing, opportunities for social interaction and a meaningful connection with place and the environment.
Recreation around waterways also provides opportunities for tourism, which is an important part of our economy. Tourism brings people from across Victoria, Australia and the world to our waterways and businesses.
Victoria’s waterways and their surrounding landscapes are used for many leisure and recreational activities. Popular activities include:
Water agencies manage many of Victoria's recreational areas and waterways. A variety of works are performed to enable visitors to enjoy their sites. This might include installing and maintaining picnic grounds, toilet facilities, boat ramps and mooring facilities, bird hides and safe walking or cycling paths.
This work is done while balancing the competing interests of waterways. This is to find the balance of social benefits with the economic uses and the environmental needs of the water catchment areas they lie within.
Many of these water storages supply water for drinking and agriculture. They are also important habitat for biodiversity. Because of this, visitors should check to see if there are limits on what recreational activities are allowed within them. This information is available on water corporation websites.
Geospatial technology is being used at popular sites such as Lake Eildon. This technology will create online interactive maps to highlight recreational opportunities and facilities. Legislation is also used to end commercial fishing in the Gippsland Lakes. This prioritised fish stock for recreational fishing.
Areas like Green Lake in Horsham can be restored following drought. As this video from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action shows, Green Lake is an important recreational asset.
This work has brought water activities back to the area that was once again a valued recreation spot for community and tourists. Waterways are especially important for families and young people in regional areas.
Holly Westbook is a junior storage officer with Goulburn Murray Water's Water Storage Services team. Here she explains why recreation is so important and how her job helps all communities get the most of their local waterways.
Below you can find a variety of resources to further research and understand recreation and leisure on and around water in Victoria.
Houseboating on Lake Eildon – the only inland Victorian lake that allows houseboating.
Recreation area regulations for Victoria – these came into operation on 19 August 2023.
Regional Development Victoria – supporting regional communities, big and small.
Safety and risks of recreating around water – be aware and take care when in, on or around the water.
Discover what Victoria's water corporations are saying about recreational water. Learn about all of Victoria or find out which is your local water corporation.
Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water
Southern Rural Water (locations)
Better Boating Victoria – improving boating conditions for everyone.
Healthy Waterways Strategy – supporting recreation in our rivers, estuaries and wetlands.
Inclusive playgrounds in regional Victoria – a guide by the Association for Children with a Disability.
Melbourne's parks and gardens – a guide by the City of Melbourne Council.
Parks Victoria – things to do in parks across Victoria.
Victorian Fisheries Authority– an independent authority to manage Victoria's fisheries resources
The Victorian Desalination Plant's Ecological Reserve – ten years of this sustainable landscape in Wonthaggi.
Damien Cook talks waterbirds of the Gunbower floodplain – North Central Catchment Management Authority.
Merri River Kayak launch installation – Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Warrnambool City Council.
Point Richards boating ramp upgrade – improving access in Portarlington (Victorian Fisheries Authority).
Queenscliff boat ramp upgrade – improving access in Queenscliff (Victorian Fisheries Authority).
Air and water quality maps – water quality forecasts, alerts and pollution.
Healthy Waterways report cards – explore how your region stacks up.
Recreational Values of Waterways Dashboard – using PowerBI to highlight recreational case studies.
Tourism data dashboard – using PowerBI to monitor Victoria's visitor economy.
Return to the school water education resources home page.
Page last updated: 16/09/25