Enoggera Reservoir Tunnel

GPS Tracks

Enoggera Pipeline Tunnel (GPX)

A short but rewarding walk to a piece of Brisbane's history. Built in 1928, along with an open viaduct, this tunnel moved water from Gold Creek Reservoir to Enoggera Reservoir. See https://historyoutthere.com/2018/09/23/the-secret-tunnel-to-australias-past/ for history.

Heritage Sites

Navigation Required

Eucalypt Forest

189m

Maximum Elevation

167m

Total Climb

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Getting there:

Drive to Highwood Rd, MtCoot-tha and park short of the end of the road -27.463709, 152.922863 .

Head to the end of Highwood Rd and enter the park.

Maps: OpenstreetMap.org shows several GPS traces.

Route/Trail notes:

Head west from the end of the bitumen road, then turn right/north and go up to South Boundary Rd.

Head generally west along South Boundary Rd. From South Boundary Rd there are three options:

1. At 27.45713S 152.91672E head generally SW down the zig-zag trail. This trail is well graded and the shortest/easiest way.

2. At 27.45784S 152.91866E head generally south. This track is very steep and eroded with lots of loose rocks. A slip heading down could be quite dangerous. It was hard work going up.

3. Follow the Gold Creek Trail down then double back NE up the Tunnel Trail. This the long way around.

The tunnel is at 27.45876S 152.91704E at the bottom of the gully/valley. It's not overgrown and is easy to see.

Surprisingly, there was Optus mobile coverage at the tunnel.

Permits/Costs: Nil.

GPS Tracks

Enoggera Pipeline Tunnel (GPX)

Comments

I had a lot of difficulty finding it,. Park on Highwood Rd Trail, there is a spot on the right for you to park. The trail called "Tunnel Trail" on google maps seemed to be closed for construction so I had to take Gold Creek Trail and then just follow the coordinates, ignore Google maps, ignore the track called Tunnel Trail on Google Maps it's wrong. Probably wouldn't recommend this walk, not really worth it and you have to walk uphill the whole way back.
Clem on 23 May, 2023

Lovely walk, if not challenging as far as traction is concerned in a few places. Definitely could do with some more obvious signage for the route itself. But the few short "detours" were pleasant in any case.
Swingsloth on Apr, 2022

It's possible to crouch through the tunnel - just a few minor roof falls. However this isn't recommended because bats roost in it near the south end. Apart from disturbing them, a fairly enclosed space with a lot of bat shit in it is a health hazard. It's easy to reach the north entrance from south boundary road, and to continue along the water course to the enoggera dam circuit.
guy taking his kids on 31 Oct, 2021

The northern end of the tunnel is at 27.4567, 152.9195
Michael Rosenberg on 23 Dec, 2020

My first hike. Certainly got the heart rate going. It was not a long hike.
Jenny Wilson on 1 Aug, 2020

I had a little bit of navigational trouble with this walk but admittedly I didn’t use a GPS. Highwood Rs dead ends at Mt Cootha reserve at both ends. If you find the end where you can park directly in front of the reserve that’s the wrong end.

I could not find zig zag track and note it’s not on the Mt Cootha map. The walk down the Gold Creek Trail and then to the tunnel track was however straightforward and the steep sections weren’t too long.
Bobbe on 22 Mar, 2020

Great morning walk, the Cockatoos were out everywhere, the Tunnel was much smaller than I thought it was. I came down the Zigzag track, very easy walk, the return track was a little more difficult, I went the longest way back and the up hill was exhausting. (That's only because I'm unfit and returning to getting fit.)
Maverick on 27 Oct, 2019