Ewen Maddock Dam, Sunshine Coast, QLD.

View of Glass House Mountains over Ewen Maddock Dam

Ewen Maddock Dam is a 16 km drive west of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast or a 12 km drive north of Australia Zoo. Access is limited to daylight hours from 6 am to 6 pm, however, Seqwater is reviewing access hours so these might change in the future. Swimming is permitted in a designated area, however, keep in mind that there are no lifeguards present. Boating is limited to paddle craft and there is a small launching ramp near the main car park. No camping is allowed but dogs are permitted on a leash. There are dedicated walking only trails and several kilometers of multi-use trails for walkers, mountain bikes and horses. Unfortunately it is not possible to walk right around the lake as there are no trails on the eastern side and there is no public access to the dam wall. The dam contains bony bream and is stocked with bass, silver perch, golden perch and southern saratoga. Fishing permits are not required to fish in the lake. We have never fished here but we have walked all the trails and enjoyed a few picnics.

View of the dam wall from the picnic area.

Goanna in the picnic area.

Rainbow Lorikeets in the picnic area.

 Maddock Park, located off the Mooloolah Connection Road, is a good place to start the trails and access the short boardwalk over the lake edge. There is a parking area, toilets, picnic shelters and BBQ's. Access to a more remote area of trails is from the unsealed Ford Road.

Launching ramp for paddle craft.

Boardwalk at Ewen Madock Dam.

Once past the boardwalk there is a nice section of forest with plenty of woodland birds.

White-throated Treecreeper, female

Red-browed Finch

Brown Thornbill

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

White-browed Scrubwrens

We often walk to a curved causeway before retracing our steps back to the car park. This section of the walk is good for viewing water birds. 

Causeway

Australasian Grebe

Intermediate Egret

Darter, male.

Some birds just like to enjoy both habitats.

Variegated Fairy-wren

Willie Wagtail