Somerset Dam and Lake Somerset: Swimming, Boating, Fishing and Camping

Somerset Dam is a 1950s concrete dam on the Stanley River, and the lake behind it, Lake Somerset, is one of the best places for a swim, a picnic or a boat day in the Somerset Region. It is about 95 minutes by car north-west of Brisbane, with a small township just below the dam wall.

Seqwater looks after the lake’s picnic areas, boat ramps and swimming areas, and private campgrounds nearby take overnight stays. This guide covers what each area offers, the rules that catch people out, and how to get there.

The dam and the township

The dam is a mass concrete gravity dam, 305 metres long. Construction began in 1935, stopped during the Second World War, restarted in 1948 and finished in 1959. Lake Somerset is part of South East Queensland’s water grid, so it supplies drinking water as well as recreation.

The township of Somerset Dam was built in 1935 to house the workers. About 450 people worked on the dam and the town’s population passed 1,000 at its peak. Only 78 people lived in the locality at the 2021 census. Coronation Hall on Short Street, opened in 1936, is still the centrepiece, and the Somerset Regional Council runs it as a venue for events and weddings.

Swimming at Lake Somerset

There are two designated swimming areas, at The Spit and at Kirkleagh. Seqwater asks you to swim only inside the marked area, and there are no lifeguards on duty. Check Seqwater’s recreation and safety notices before you leave, including the blue-green algae levels on its website, because an algal bloom can make swimming, boating and fishing unsafe.

Picnics, BBQs and playgrounds

The Spit, Kirkleagh and Somerset Park are the three picnic areas. All three have picnic tables, shelters and free BBQs. Playgrounds are at The Spit and Somerset Park.

Drinking water is only available at Kirkleagh and Somerset Park, so bring your own if you are heading to The Spit. The water at The Spit is fine for washing hands and cleaning fish, but not for drinking. The lake is also listed with public toilets and a car park.

Boating at Lake Somerset

Motorised and non-motorised boats are both allowed, including water skiing, jet skiing, wakeboarding and tubing, along with canoes, kayaks, sailing and stand-up paddleboards. Public boat ramps are at The Spit and Kirkleagh (both double lane) and Westvale Road (single lane). Boats must be launched and brought out only at these signed recreation areas, because much of the land around the lake is private property. Overnight stays on the water are not permitted.

If you tow a skier or tuber, Seqwater says you need a competent observer on board, and everyone follows the anticlockwise direction signs. The Maritime Safety Queensland boating rules apply. Keep a safe distance from swimmers and paddlers.

Fishing at Somerset Dam

You can fish from a boat or from the shore at The Spit, Kirkleagh and Westvale Road. You need a Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS) permit before you fish, which you can buy through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Do not cross private land to reach the water, and take your line and hooks home, because wildlife on the lake gets tangled in discarded tackle. New to it? Read our beginner’s guide to fishing.

Camping at Somerset Dam

Seqwater does not run camping at the lake. All campgrounds near Lake Somerset are run by private operators, camping is only allowed in designated camping areas, and you book directly with each one. Somerset Park Camp Grounds is on 0428 180 450 and at campingsomerset.com.au. NRMA Lake Somerset Holiday Park is at 78 Kirkleagh Road, Hazeldean. Campfires are prohibited on Seqwater land unless Seqwater says otherwise.

For more options see our camping guides and camping with kids. Dogs are not allowed at the lake, so read camping with dogs if a pet is coming along.

Planning your visit

• How long: 2 to 3 hours for a picnic and a swim; a full day if you bring a boat.
• Dogs: Seqwater asks visitors to leave pets at home.
• Cost: Fishing needs a SIPS permit and camping is booked with the private campgrounds. Seqwater lists the BBQs as free.
• What to bring: drinking water for The Spit, sunscreen, a hat, life jackets for boating, and your fishing permit.
• Accessibility: the lake is listed as having disabled access; contact Seqwater for details.
• More lakes: see all our lakes and rivers.

Getting to Somerset Dam and parking

Somerset Dam is about 107 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 95 minutes by car. From Kilcoy it is about 30 minutes by car, and Kirkleagh is about 15 minutes from Kilcoy. The lake has a car park; the recreation areas are open daily during the hours above.

The closest public transport is the Translink route 896 bus to the Kilcoy coach stop on William Street, about 30 minutes by car from the dam. There is no train. Check the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.

Seqwater’s Lake Somerset pages carry current closures and notices. Details can change, so check them before you go.

Nearby

• Kilcoy – the nearest town, with Yowie Park and a lake walk.
• Fernvale – Sunday markets and the start of the rail trail.
• Brisbane Valley Rail Trail – ride or walk the old railway through the valley.
• Lake Wivenhoe – a bigger lake with trails, close by.
• Lake Moogerah – another dam lake for swimming and camping, across the Scenic Rim.

Browse more of the Somerset Region.

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