Aerial view of Gordon Dam and Lake Gordon surrounded by forested mountains in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    Gordon Dam spanning a steep wilderness gorge above Lake Gordon in southwest Tasmania.

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    Gordon Dam & Lake Gordon

    Water Feature

    Gordon Dam is a massive concrete arch dam spanning a steep gorge on the Gordon River in southwest Tasmania, creating the vast reservoir of Lake Gordon behind it. Surrounded by densely forested mountains and remote wilderness, the dam introduces an immense engineered structure into an otherwise rugged landscape. Its sweeping curved wall, deep blue water and elevated viewpoints create some of southwest Tasmania's most distinctive large-scale landscape compositions.

    -42.73008, 145.97653

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    Gallery

    Aerial view of Gordon Dam and Lake Gordon surrounded by forested mountains in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    Gordon Dam spanning a steep wilderness gorge above Lake Gordon in southwest Tasm…

    Aerial view of Gordon Dam, its curved concrete wall and Lake Gordon surrounded by rugged forested cliffs in southwest Tasmania.

    Gordon Dam curves between steep forested cliffs at Lake Gordon in southwest Tasm…

    Wide aerial view of Gordon Dam and Lake Gordon among rugged forested mountains in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    Gordon Dam sits deep within the rugged forested landscape of southwest Tasmania.

    Walkway across the curved crest of Gordon Dam overlooking Lake Gordon and forested mountains in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    The walkway across the crest of Gordon Dam overlooks Lake Gordon and the surroun…

    Top-down aerial view of the curved Gordon Dam, Lake Gordon and the narrow forested gorge in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    Aerial view of Gordon Dam spanning the deep gorge below Lake Gordon in southwest…

    Aerial view of Gordon Dam and Lake Gordon among forested mountains in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    Gordon Dam and Lake Gordon surrounded by the mountainous wilderness of southwest…

    Lake Gordon surrounded by rocky shores, forested hills and distant mountains in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    Lake Gordon stretches through the rugged mountains and forest of southwest Tasma…

    Lake Gordon surrounded by rugged forested mountains beneath dramatic clouds in southwest Tasmania, Australia.

    Dark waters of Lake Gordon beneath dramatic clouds in Tasmania’s remote southwes…

    Quick Facts

    Access

    Roadside / Step-out

    5–15 min

    Elevation Gain

    30 m

    Best Light

    Morning
    Golden Hour
    Overcast

    Low-angle light defines the curved dam wall and surrounding gorge, while soft light retains detail across the concrete, forest and dark reservoir water.

    Why This Light

    Low-Angle Relief
    Softens Contrast

    Season

    Seasonally Distinct

    Summer brings longer daylight and generally clearer views across the reservoir and surrounding mountains. Winter and spring bring wetter conditions, low cloud and mist, while autumn can provide quieter weather and subdued colour across the wilderness.

    Crowds

    Usually Quiet

    Restrictions

    Gordon Dam is reached by road through Tasmania's southwest wilderness, with parking near the dam and established pedestrian access to viewing positions. A staircase descends towards the dam wall, while elevated positions provide broader views across Lake Gordon and the surrounding forested landscape. Weather can change rapidly in this remote highland environment.

    Photography Notes

    The immense curved dam wall is the defining subject, particularly when contrasted with the steep gorge, dark water and surrounding wilderness. Wide-angle lenses emphasise the scale and geometry of the structure, while longer focal lengths isolate the dam, forested slopes and patterns across Lake Gordon. Elevated viewpoints provide the strongest overall compositions, while aerial perspectives reveal the extraordinary relationship between the reservoir, dam and rugged terrain. Mist and low cloud strengthen the sense of remoteness, while directional light reveals the form of the concrete wall.
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