Enoggera Dam

Enoggera Dam, Brisbane’s heritage-listed water reservoir dating from 1866, is The Gap’s bush water playground and one of Walkabout Creek’s leading attractions.

On weekends crowds clad in swimmers and bearing all manner of flotation devices from inner tubes to kayaks, jostle for car parks at Walkabout Creek, before winding their way through the short bush trail to the tiny beach.

Here, on the picturesque shores of Brisbane’s earliest water storage dam, the scene resembles a European lake in summer, with picnickers and swimmers of all ages, families, kayakers and canoeists packing onto the grassy banks and frolicking in the water.

As well as dropping by for a cooling dip in what would have to be Brisbane’s most exclusive swimming spot, recommended is a walk around the reservoir’s edge. The Araucaria Track (a 5km circuit) is a splendid easy grade shaded path, suited to all ages, which follows the water’s edge and has a few strategically paced benches for a rest with a view.

A visit to the Wildlife Centre is also a must, with one of the best opportunities to get up close to nocturnal animals for a bargain price and view the elusive platypus. And, if not bringing a picnic, the lovely Walkabout Creek Cafe among the treesmakes a great place for a bite to eat.

Need to know – Parking bays on weekends can fill up quickly, so best to arrive early or late in the day. Otherwise catch the 385 The Gap BUZ which departs King George Square Bus and Roma Street Bus Stations at regular intervals (as well as stops in Paddington) and is approx. a 20 min ride to The Gap Park’n’Ride. From there it’s approx. a 900m walk along Mt Nebo Rd to Walkabout Creek.

Nice to know - The opening of Enoggera Dam to swimmers and non-motorized water craft use is the first stage of a new era for the Walkabout Creek centre, which will also see the establishment of a nature play zone for children, the heritage-listed cottage and pump house open to public access and more.