Introducing Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve
About 15km beyond Humpty Doo is the turnoff to Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, which lies 10km north of the highway. A carpet of green conceals most of the dam waters, which provide a wetland home to numerous water birds.
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In the 1950s investors pumped a load of money into the Humpty Doo Rice Project, a scheme to turn the Adelaide River floodplains into a major rice-growing enterprise. It lasted just 10 years due to poor infrastructure and highly variable seasons; however, the dam quickly became an important dry-season refuge for wildlife. During the Dry you’re likely to see plenty of white-bellied sea eagles, magpies geese, brolgas, jabirus, kingfishers, ibises and egrets. The reserve also contains large numbers of water pythons – which feed almost exclusively on the numerous dusky rats – plus a multitude of mosquitoes and saltwater crocodiles.
The road into the reserve goes right across the old low-lying dam wall. On the western side of the wall, the elevated Pandanus Lookout has interpretive signs and is a good spot to catch a sunset.
There are several other viewing platforms, and marked walks start at the reserve entry car park before the dam wall. The Monsoon Forest Walk (3.6km return, one hour) takes you through a variety of habitats, including monsoon and paperbark forests, then on to the floodplains. On the other side of the road, the Woodlands to Waterlilies Walk (2.2km return, 45 minutes) skirts the southern edge of the dam through woodlands that fringe the floodplains. You can walk along the dam wall to the Pandanus Lookout (2.2km return, 45 minutes) or drive it. You may see northern quolls and blackfooted bandicoots on the nocturnal walks (8988 8188) conducted by rangers during the Dry; bookings are essential.
Last updated: Apr 20, 2010
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