Deep in the NSW Snowy Mountains lies Australia’s highest lake; Lake Cootapatamba. Towering at a staggering 2024 metres above sea level, Lake Cootapatamba is a hidden gem within the Kosciuszko National Park that not all explorers are lucky enough to see. Lake Cootapatamba and its crystal clear waters were formed by glacial movements during the ice-age around 20,000 years ago. The lake is a site of significant importance to the local Aboriginal community, with the term ‘Cootapatamba’ translating to the “icy waters where the eagle swoops to drink”, an ode to the wildlife seen throughout Lake Cootapatamba. Lake Cootapatamba offers visitors the chance to embrace some of the local wildlife, with the seclusion of the area providing a platform for the conservation of glacial flora and fauna. As the lake experiences extreme weathers during the winter months, a small red shelter sits on the side of the lake used to provide assistance to people stuck in poor conditions.
Due to the altitude, Lake Cootapatamba usually remains frozen between June and September, when such recreational activities as skiing and ice-climbing are popular. During the summer period visitors can canoe, fish, swim and enjoy some of the most picturesque trails in NSW....
