Googong Foreshores

Opening/closing times

North Googong

8am to 8pm during daylight saving time and 8am to 6pm at other times of the year

South Googong

8am to 7pm during daylight saving time and 8am to 5pm at other times of the year

Googong Foreshores is CLOSED on Christmas Day, 25 December, each year.

Googong Foreshores includes Googong Dam and Reservoir, a large water source for the ACT. While the area is part of New South Wales, it is managed by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service under a special agreement with NSW and the Commonwealth Governments.

Googong Foreshores is a sanctuary for wildlife and a great place to observe native animals or go canoeing, fishing, walking or cycling. The area also has a fascinating history which can be visualised during a visit to the historic homestead and London Bridge Arch in the southern reaches of the reserve.

Please do not bring dogs or horses to Googong Foreshores.

Whilst boating/kayaking is allowed, to protect water quality , please do not swim in the waters of Googong Reservoir.

North Googong

The northern end of the reserve is open 8am to 8pm during daylight saving time and 8am to 6pm at other times of the year.

In the north of Googong Foreshores are:

Googong Dam
walking tracks
picnic areas with barbecues and toilets
boating facilities

South Googong

The southern end of the reserve is open 8am to 7pm during daylight saving time and 8am to 5pm at other times of the year.

To the south, off Burra Road, you'll find:

Tin Hut picnic area featuring a wetland with bird-viewing facilities
London Bridge picnic area featuring an historic woolshed and shearers' quarters
historic London Bridge Homestead
the natural London Bridge Arch over Burra Creek

Googong Foreshores is CLOSED on Christmas Day, 25 December, each year.

Natural values

Googong Foreshores is a significant refuge for native plants and animals, including:

one of the few remaining wild populations of the threatened Macquarie Perch (Macquaria australasica), in the Queanbeyan River
the nationally vulnerable Pink-tailed Worm Lizard (Aprasia parapulchella)
Rosenberg's Monitor (Varanus rosenbergi), vulnerable in NSW
the Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullate) (168.6 KB), Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata), Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus) (182.8 KB) and Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus), vulnerable in NSW
the Silky Swainson-pea (Swainsona sericea) and Australian Anchor Plant (Discaria pubescens)
unusual Pomaderris and Dillwynia species (along the Black Wallaby Loop Track and in heathy areas between Tin Hut Dam and Tortoise Inlet)
White Box–Yellow Box (Box–Gum) Woodland
more than 165 bird species including waterbirds and raptors (look for eagles riding the thermals)

Tin Hut Dam at the southern end of the reserve features a bird hide with displays, 2 bird-hide screens and a loop walk. Spoonbills, several duck species, herons, egrets and waders can often be seen.

View the Googong Foreshores bird list (707.8 KB).

Add a plant or animal sighting to the NatureMapr or visit the Canberra Birds website.

London Bridge Arch rock formation located at Googong Dam

Things to do

Googong Foreshores provides options for:

walking
picnics and barbecues
cycling (on management trails only)
birdwatching
swimming (in Queanbeyan River downstream of dam wall only)
fishing
canoeing, kayaking, sailing or boating (electric motors only)

Fishing

The entire area is subject to NSW legislation. Authorised officers enforce regulations relating to boating and fishing. For fishing activities, you will need a NSW fishing licence.

Googong is managed as a mixed fishery and is stocked with:

Rainbow Trout
Golden Perch
Murray Cod
Silver Perch

If you’re intending to fish at Googong Foreshores, please read the fishing guidelines.

Also view our Googong Foreshore fishing Information booklet (605.1 KB).

Boating

For motor boating activities, you will need an ACT Government boat permit.

These watercraft are permitted on the reservoir:

sailboats
canoes
kayaks
motorboats with electric motors only

Windsurfers, surf skis, jet skis and boats using internal combustion engines (including outboards) are not permitted (i.e. NO petrol-powered vessels).

Boats with a motor that cannot be removed are permitted if the motor remains turned off and out of the water and you:

have a boat permit from Access Canberra
abide by the protective guidelines in your permit

Watercraft must not:

land on any banks north of the disabled car park on Drumstick Point (west side of reservoir) except at the boat ramp or north of Long Neck Island (east side of reservoir)
go beyond the line of marker buoys surrounding the dam wall (see Googong Foreshores map(320.0 KB))

You must not enter:

any ICON Water exclusions zones
the fenced-off areas north of the boat ramp on Drumstick Point

Please return vehicles and trailers to the car park immediately after launching or retrieving your vessel, to ensure ease of access for others. You are requested to make minimal contact with the water during launching and retrieval.

At Tin Hut car park to the south, boats must be carried or wheeled by hand from the car park to the water's edge.

All visitors participating in boating should return to shore at least half an hour before gate-closing time. People using electric motors should carry oars or paddles and more than one battery to ensure they have sufficient electrical energy as well as backup, to be able to return to the boat ramp (or Tin Hut access) including in an unexpected headwind.

NSW Safe Boating Regulations apply. Googong Reservoir is classed as ALPINE WATERS and a lifejacket must be worn by ALL vessel occupants.

Walking tracks

Googong Foreshores features various walking tracks allowing you to explore sites such as London Bridge Arch, London Bridge Homestead, the Cascades gorge and take in views of the Queanbeyan River, Queanbeyan Escarpment, Googong Dam and reservoir.

Cycling is permitted on management trails only.

Please keep to the tracks and protect this special environment.

Find a track in the Googong Foreshores area.

Googong Woolshed, near the London Bridge carpark at Googong Foreshores.

Cultural heritage

For thousands of years, Aboriginal people relied on and actively managed the landscapes of the region. Much of the evidence of the previous occupation of Googong Foreshores was likely disturbed or destroyed by early pastoral activities and the construction of Googong Dam. Nevertheless, there are many locations, including within the Googong Township, that are significant to Traditional Custodians and the variety and quantity of archaeological sites that remain within the Foreshores provide some indication of the intensive use of this area by Aboriginal people.

Archaeological sites and sites associated with Dreaming stories (for example, the London Bridge Arch) provide evidence of traditional Aboriginal culture and the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have with Country. During the most recent archaeological survey, Aboriginal sites were recorded on the western side of the Foreshores, including a campsite, artefact scatters, a scarred tree, a stone cairn (possible burial site), and the sacred site of London Bridge Arch itself. Many sites recorded during previous surveys (between 1975 and 1990) have since been inundated by flood waters.

European heritage

The old London Bridge Homestead at Googong Dam

European heritage

In 1823, Captain Mark Currie was directed to the Arch by an Aboriginal guide. However, it was 1857 when John McNamara established the 12 hectare 'London Bridge' property, the first in the area. The fenced-off homestead site includes 5 different buildings of various construction materials and architectural styles. The alluvial flat near the homestead was cultivated but further from the creek the soils are relatively poor.

The property exchanged hands 3 more times and had grown to 3,642 hectares when most of it was resumed by the Commonwealth in 1973.

Googong Foreshores was acquired by the Commonwealth Government in the 1970s to provide drinking water for Canberra and Queanbeyan.

Before you go/How to get there

Before you go

Prepare by:

understanding safety, especially during fire danger periods or flooding
checking alerts

Remember:

bring your own drinking water
camping is not permitted
take your rubbish with you (bins are not provided)
check water quality before swimming (permitted downstream of the dam wall only)
check the recreational fishing rules
ride safely and follow trail etiquette as a cyclist

How to get there

Googong Foreshores is 10 km south of Queanbeyan, NSW. The northern section of the reserve is accessible from Googong Dam Road.

The London Bridge section of the Foreshores is a further 10 km south towards Burra. Take Burra Road off Old Cooma Road and turn onto London Bridge Road.

More information is available at the Ranger Station on Googong Dam Road at the northern end of Googong Foreshores.

Boundary mapping is indicative only.

More information

If you notice any issues during your visit:

report maintenance issues to Access Canberra
report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444
in an emergency, call 000

Find out about:

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700

1800 022 222

13 25 00

Googong Foreshores

Opening/closing times

North Googong

South Googong

North Googong

South Googong

Natural values

Things to do

Fishing

Boating

Walking tracks

Cultural heritage

European heritage

Before you go

How to get there

More information