What it is
The lake was the rowing and canoeing venue of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, and rowing clubs still train on it. A path of about six kilometres runs around the shore, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists, and the water attracts black swans and other birdlife.
A heritage tramway runs along part of the western shore beside the Botanical Gardens, and boathouses and cafés line the eastern side along Wendouree Parade.
Getting there by bus
Bus 10 runs along Gillies Street North on the western side and stops at Lake Gardens Ave/Gillies St N and Botanical Gardens/Gillies St N, a short walk from the shore. Bus 26 runs along Sturt Street past the southern end of the lake, stopping at St Patricks College/Sturt St and Dawsons Ave/Sturt St.
On the north-eastern side, bus 11 stops along Howitt Street.
