If your child rows for a school or club, you will probably spend a few weekends at Lake Nagambie. The biggest is the APS Heads of the River in March, which brings thousands of school families into a small town. This guide is for the parents, siblings and grandparents who come to watch.
01The Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre
The Regatta Centre is at 66 Loddings Lane, Nagambie, on the lake beside a long, straight buoyed rowing course. It hosts school, club, masters and canoe sprint regattas. Spectators watch from the banks near the finish.
02The regatta season
Regattas run from spring to autumn. The Shire publishes each season's dates on its boating page, which links the current closures list. The table below is the 2026 to 2027 list, updated by the Shire on 20 October 2026. The Shire says dates and times are subject to confirmation closer to each event, and our lake calendar shows the latest.
| Date | Event | Lake closure |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 24 Oct 2026 | Foot of the Goulburn Rowing Regatta | Whole lake and part of the river, 7am to 2pm |
| Sun 22 Nov 2026 | Paddle Australia Canoe Sprint | Course only |
| Sat 28 Nov 2026 | APS Regatta | Whole lake, 8am to 5pm |
| Thu 31 Dec 2026 | New Year's Eve Fireworks | Course only, 4pm to 11pm |
| Sat 30 Jan 2027 | Victorian Canoe Sprint Championships | Course only |
| Sat 13 to Sun 14 Feb 2027 | Nagambie Rowing Regatta | Whole lake, 7am to 6pm |
| Fri 26 to Sun 28 Feb 2027 | Rowing Victoria State Championships | Whole lake, 7am to 6pm |
| Sat 27 Feb 2027 | Nagambie on Water Festival | Lake bowl by the township |
| Sat 13 Mar 2027 | Scotch Mercantile Rowing Regatta | Whole lake, 7am to 6pm |
| Sun 14 Mar 2027 | Paddle Victoria Schools Championships | Course only |
| Sat 20 Mar 2027 | APS Heads of the River | Whole lake, 7am to 6pm |
| Sat 1 to Sun 2 May 2027 | Rowing Victoria Masters Regatta | Whole lake, 7am to 6pm |
The Nagambie Waterski Club also runs Saturday events on the river between Sandy Creek and Tahbilk Winery (21 Nov, 5 Dec, 9 and 23 Jan, 6 and 27 Feb), with supervised boat transit.
Check with your school, club or the regatta organiser for race times.
03Arriving and parking
On big regatta days traffic backs up and parking fills early. Arrive well before your rower's first race, and follow the marshals' directions. Check with the organiser for parking and shuttle details.
04What to bring
Bring folding chairs, shade, sunscreen, hats, water and food. Days are long and the banks can be hot or windy. A rug and a spare jumper help in March and May.
05Where to eat
Food is often available at the course, but queues get long. Grab breakfast in town on the way: see bakery and breakfast. For dinner, book ahead at pubs and dinner, or browse the Eat and drink section.
06Where to stay
Beds run out on big regatta weekends, especially Heads of the River. Book as early as you can. Compare options in where to stay, caravan parks and motels.
07For siblings between races
Races can be hours apart. Take younger ones to the Tahbilk wetlands walk, or see things to do in Nagambie for ideas close to town.
08Anglers and boaters: plan around regatta days
On whole-lake regatta days the lake closes to other boats, and both the Regatta Centre ramp and the Buckley Park ramp close, usually from about 7am to 6pm. Check what's on the lake this weekend before you tow a boat up.
09Common questions
Where is the Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre? At 66 Loddings Lane, Nagambie, on the edge of Lake Nagambie a few minutes from the town centre. On big regatta days, follow the marshals' directions rather than your GPS for parking.
When is the rowing season at Nagambie? Regattas run from spring to autumn, roughly October to May, with the APS Heads of the River in March the biggest weekend of the year. The Shire's boating page lists each season's dates.
Does the lake close during regattas? On the biggest days, yes: the whole lake closes to other boats and the Regatta Centre and Buckley Park ramps shut, usually from about 7am to 6pm. Smaller regattas close only the course.
Where should regatta families stay? Book as early as you can, because beds run out on big weekends. Compare where to stay, caravan parks and motels.