North Dandalup Dam
Constructed in 1994, this is the newest dam serving Perth. Its attractive setting on the North Dandalup River, excellent recreation facilities, and coastal views make it a popular destination.
Dam information
- Capacity – 75 billion litres
- Catchment area – 153km2
- Main dam wall height (above lowest foundation) – 62m
- Major saddle dam wall height (above lowest foundation) - 22m
Visitor information
Facilities
- Picnic areas with free gas barbecues
- Recreation lake
- Toilets (including accessible)
- On-site parking
Opening hours
North Dandalup Dam is open every day of the week until 6pm (5pm from May to November).
Directions
- From Perth, take Kwinana Freeway, or Tonkin or Albany Highway to Armadale
- Follow South Western Highway for 45km to Hines Road, North Dandalup
- Turn left and continue for 6km until you reach the dam
What to do
The lovely grassed area by the recreation lake is perfect for enjoying a picnic. Please use the free gas barbecues to make your own hot lunch.
There is a recreational lake at the former Pipehead Dam (south of the North Dandalup Dam wall). Swimming is prohibited in the recreational lake due to potential health risks. Please obey signage in the area.
Walk across the two saddle dams to absorb the distant views of Mandurah, Peel Inlet, and the Indian Ocean, or take a stroll across the old Pipehead Dam wall.
After a winter of heavy rain witness the spectacle of the overflow from a spillway carved out of the natural rock.
Operations
For operational enquiries please contact 13 13 75.
Planning a visit?
When visiting a dam, please follow these simple rules to ensure you and your family have a fun, memorable, and safe experience.
- Obey directional and informational signs
- Keep to pathways, roads and recreational areas
- Be aware of uneven ground and walking hazards
- Children must be within view of a responsible adult at all times
- Dogs are not permitted on site
- Swimming, canoeing, fishing and marroning is not permitted
- Drone use is not permitted
- Do not climb walls, fences, bridges, pipework or other operational infrastructure
- Do not trespass into signposted operational and ‘No Entry’ areas
- Never attempt to operate taps, valves or controls
- Do not deface safety and security signage
- Keep emergency and operational access gates and roadways clear
People and domestic animals naturally carry pathogens that can be transferred into streams and reservoirs when they have contact with the water. The pathogens can be difficult to remove, putting our drinking water at risk and potentially making people sick. There are also restrictions on other activities such as off-road driving, camping, lighting fires and littering. Failure to comply with these rules may result in an infringement or prosecution.
All Perth’s metropolitan and regional dams are proclaimed Public Drinking Water Source Areas and are protected under the Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Act 1909, the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 and the Water Services Act 2012. Access is not permitted on the reservoirs or in the streams flowing into it. Failure to comply may result in prosecution.
Please report unmarked safety hazards, suspicious behaviour or pollution to 13 13 75.
For additional information about any of our dams, please call us on 13 13 85.