Description
The impressive 41-metre high dam wall offers a scenic lookout over formal gardens, forested slopes and the broad, peaceful reservoir lake. Construction on this grand piece of engineering took place from 1920-1927, and the Maroondah catchment is still an important source of Melbourne’s water.
The gardens were created gradually after the completion of the wall, and include a sundial and the stone-paved Rose Stairway lined with rose bushes and Golden Pencil Pines. The gardens feature towering native eucalypts as well as many exotic deciduous trees with beautiful Autumn colours.
Picnic in the park amongst the old eucalypt stands or the exotic trees and play in the open grass areas. The park features six rotundas, one shelter, six barbecues (gas and electric) as well as picnic tables scattered around the gardens, perfect for visitors to barbecue or just sit and enjoy the scenery. If you're looking for a quieter spot, head for the area near the Watt's River Rotunda in Hendersons Picnic Area.
There are a number of easy and moderate walks around the park. Take a short walk through the forest on the Maroondah Forest Track. If you would like a longer walk you can then follow the Henderson’s Hill Track up the slope for another 1.4km. From here you can choose to extend your walk to Donnellys Weir in Yarra Ranges National Park.
If cycling is more your thing, ride your bike across the dam wall to Donnellys Weir and then challenge yourself to ride up to Mount St Leonard along the start of the Bicentennial National Trail.
Walk to the bottom of the dam wall to observe the grandeur of the wall from below and then climb the Rose Steps (or walk the circular track to avoid the stairs) and walk across the top of the dam wall to view the expansive reservoir and parkland.
When the dam overflows across the spillway once or twice a year, the Falls Lookout provides a spectacular view of the waterfall. Water can also cascade over the lower rockface when Melbourne Water intermittently release water from the dam via the lower outlet.
The spillway waterfall is spectacular when it is running. If the Melbourne Water dam levels website says the dam is 100% full then there's a good chance water is flowing into the spillway and over the waterfall.
Take your dog for a walk on a lead through the open parkland. However, there are no dogs allowed on the forest walking tracks to the north of the Watts River, or on the Dam Wall itself.
Hours
Gates open at 8:00am all year round.
Closing times:
1 Dec to 31 Jan – 9:00pm
1 Feb to end of daylight savings (first Sun in Apr) – 8:00pm
End of daylight savings (first Sun in Apr) to 30 Apr – 6:00pm
1 May to 31 Aug – 5:00pm
1 Sep to start of daylight savings (first Sun in Oct) – 6:00pm
Start of daylight savings (first Sun in Oct) to 30 Nov – 8:00pm
Logging Requirements
To "find" this cache, please email or message me with answers to the first two questions, and post a photo in your log.
1. On the dam wall, there is a plaque with information about five time capsules. In what year were the time capsules placed?
2. Nearby, you will see two historic valve houses built in a classical domed style. What is the letter painted on the door of either one?
3. In your log, post a photo of either the Sundial or Rose Steps, with you or something unique to you - your GPSr, footsie, team name on paper etc are all acceptable.
Your photo must be posted in your "Found It" log. Do not send photos to me by email or message.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.