Lake Alexandrina is a large, shallow lake in South Australia, located approximately 102 km from Adelaide near the town of Wellington. Together with the contiguous Lake Albert and the Coorong lagoon, it forms the mouth of the Murray River — the terminus of one of the world's longest navigable waterways. The lake was named by explorer Charles Sturt in 1830 after Princess Alexandrina, who later became Queen Victoria. Its depths range from approximately 1.5 to 4.5 metres, and this shallow character is central to understanding the paddling experience here.

The shallow depth means that winds can rapidly generate steep, dangerous wave conditions. Paddlers with experience on the lake strongly recommend waiting for winds of 10 km/h or less, and consider 20 km/h already too strong due to the waves that can build across open water. Conditions can change quickly, so checking the Bureau of Meteorology forecast before setting out is essential. Because of this, paddlers crossing the lake should carry extra food and water in case they need to wait several days for suitable conditions.

Under South Australian regulations, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert are classified as semi-protected waters rather than standard inland protected waters. This means more stringent safety equipment requirements apply: paddlers must wear an approved lifejacket (Level 100 or higher, Level 50, or Level 50S) at all times, carry a bailer, a waterproof buoyant torch for use between sunset and sunrise, at least one litre of fresh water, a spare paddle, a V-sheet, a tow line of at least 15 metres, a registered 406MHz EPIRB, and a liquid-damped magnetic compass fixed to the vessel.

A popular paddling route begins at the Wellington ferry crossing and travels south down the Murray River into Lake Alexandrina, continuing to Point Pomond (Pomanda Point) on the western shore — a loop of approximately 26 km taking 6 to 8 hours or a full day. White sandy beaches near Pomanda Island offer rest stops along the way. On the return leg, paddlers should keep to the eastern shore of the lake to avoid missing the entrance back into the Murray River. Note that Point Pomond is private property and camping is not permitted there.

For those crossing the lake as part of a longer Murray River journey, the southern and eastern route with an overnight stop at Narrung camping reserve is considered the safest option, as it minimises long open-water crossings.