Enoggera Reservoir: Swimming, Paddling and Bush Walks at The Gap

Enoggera Reservoir is a heritage-listed dam next to The Gap in Brisbane’s west, where you can swim in a buoyed area, launch a kayak or paddleboard, fish from the shore and walk or ride into the D’Aguilar bushland. It was built in 1866, it is about 14 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, and you get to the water through the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre off Mount Nebo Road.

Motorised boats are not allowed on the reservoir, so the water is for swimmers, paddlers and anglers. The foreshore also links to a large network of bush trails.

Can you swim at Enoggera Reservoir?

Yes, but only in the designated swimming area, which is marked with buoys on the water. Swimming anywhere else on the reservoir is not permitted. The beach area has both the designated swimming area and the paddle craft launch point.

The swimming area is open every day, from 5:30 am to 6:30 pm between September and April and from 6 am to 5:30 pm between May and August.

There are no lifeguards at the dams and lakes Seqwater manages, so you are responsible for your own safety. Seqwater’s advice is to:

• swim only in the marked area and always know where your children are;
• wear a lifejacket;
• never dive into water where you cannot see the bottom, because still water can hide submerged obstacles and uneven ground;
• not swim after drinking alcohol;
• follow the signs and any directions on site.

Seqwater also has an alert that eel-tailed catfish nest here seasonally and may become aggressive in shallow water, including the designated swimming area. Take care and follow the signage if you are in the water. Snakes and biting insects live in the area as well, and wildlife is more active in warmer weather. The snake bite first aid guide covers what to do if the worst happens.

Kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddling

Kayaks, canoes and stand up paddleboards are all allowed, and the beach area has a paddle craft launch point. You must not launch, beach or retrieve your craft anywhere other than the approved designated areas.

Stay out of any exclusion zones, keep well clear of the dam wall, give other water users plenty of room and watch for changing conditions. Wear a lifejacket even if you are an experienced paddler.

Fishing at Enoggera Reservoir

You can fish from the shoreline or from a paddle craft, but you need a fishing permit under the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme, run by Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries. Buy it before you start fishing. Dispose of line, hooks and rubbish carefully, to protect the local wildlife. New to it? Start with our beginner’s guide to fishing.

Bush walks and mountain bike trails

The foreshore is an entry point to one of the biggest trail networks on Brisbane’s doorstep, for both walkers and mountain bikers. From here you can walk or ride on to Gold Creek Reservoir and Lake Manchester, head further into the adjacent national park, or join Brisbane City Council trails.

On shared trails, mountain bike riders give way to walkers and everyone gives way to horse riders. Carry drinking water, a first aid kit and a snake bite kit, check the forecast before you leave, stay on the marked trail, and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back if you are on your own. For general advice, see our hiking trail tips for South East Queensland.

A heritage dam: the history of Enoggera Reservoir

Enoggera Reservoir was the first major dam built in Queensland and is the oldest reservoir in Brisbane. It was one of three dams built to store water for Brisbane between 1864 and 1916, and it was the third largest dam built in Australia in the 1800s. The dam wall is 380 m long, and the reservoir holds about 4.3 billion litres at full supply (4,262 megalitres).

A concrete spillway was added in 1976 and the embankment was raised to help with flood mitigation. The dam is on the Queensland Heritage Register. It is not currently used as a drinking water source, although Seqwater says it could supply drinking water during a drought. When the reservoir reaches full capacity, water flows over the spillway and safely out of the dam.

Is Enoggera Reservoir dog friendly?

Plan on leaving the dog at home. Seqwater’s advice for Enoggera Reservoir is to leave pets at home unless you are in an approved dog on leash area, because pets can disturb wildlife, and no such area is listed for the reservoir foreshore.

Planning your visit

• How long: a couple of hours for a swim or a paddle; the trails can fill a whole day.
• Best time: the warmer months for swimming, when the swim area opens at 5:30 am. Wildlife, including snakes, is more active in warm weather, so watch where you step.
• Cost: no entry fee is listed. Fishing needs a permit.
• What to bring: drinking water, a lifejacket for every swimmer and paddler, a hat and sunscreen, and a first aid and snake bite kit if you are heading onto the trails.
• Accessibility: no details are published for the foreshore or the trails. If you need step-free access, check with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, which runs the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre facilities, before you go.

Getting there and parking

The reservoir is next to The Gap, about 14 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, which is about 30 minutes by car without traffic. Access to the beach area, the swimming area and the paddle craft launch is through the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre, off Mount Nebo Road.

For public transport, plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30, and check how far the nearest stop is from the Mount Nebo Road entrance.

The official details are on Seqwater’s Enoggera Reservoir Walkabout Creek Foreshore page and its swimming page. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Mt Coot-Tha Lookout – Brisbane’s most famous free view, from Mt Coot-tha, east of The Gap.
• J C Slaughter Falls – a creekside picnic area on Mt Coot-tha with a small waterfall and the start of the Summit Track.
• Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha – a free 56 hectare garden at the foot of Mt Coot-tha with a Japanese Garden and a glass tropical dome.
• Hinze Dam – another SEQ dam where you can paddle and fish but not swim, on the Gold Coast.
• Lake Wivenhoe – a large dam lake west of Brisbane.

Browse more lakes and rivers and swimming spots, or see everything in Brisbane.

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