Lake Tuggeranong at Ngadyung Beach

Greenway, ACT

When I visited this little beach on the western shore of Lake Tuggeranong, it was acting as a litter trap, collecting various flotsam and jetsam that had blown across to this cove. The washed up plastic bottles were offputting, but after stepping over the rim of rubbish, the water was clear and free of any obstacles for swimming. If the wind were blowing in the other direction, or the local council had recently cleaned the beach, perhaps my experience would have been more positive. Apart from this blemish, there were a few attractive features that might encourage you to visit, especially if you live locally. Above: The designated swimming area at Ngadyung Beach at Lake Tuggeranong (Order this image)

The first positive aspect of this swim was that the designated swimming area is dog-free, so you won't have to deal with local water pollution from pooping pooches. The beach had quite a few weeds growing in it, with sand only extending a short distance back from the shore, however the lawn area is extensive with several sizeable trees for shade. The beach offers sweeping views across Lake Tuggeranong, including a wide range of vegetation colour and a glimpse of the Tuggeranong shopping centre at the far end of the lake. A bike path runs alongside the back of the lawn area, so you can ride here for a picnic and possibly a swim from other parts of Canberra. Above: The foreshore at Ngadyung Beach at Lake Tuggeranong (Order this image)

According to signs on-site, the name of the beach "Ngadyung" is the local Aboriginal word for water, which is kind of self-evident when you are staring at the lake. Given that the lake was formed by a dam constructed in the late 1980s, any water in this depression during pre-European times would have looked a lot different to today. The lake, like most of Canberra's urban lakes, was designed to both be aesthetically pleasing, and to trap poor quality urban water runoff from entering the Murrumbidgee River, and the evidence at Ngadyung Beach is that it is doing its job with regards to the latter objective.

The nearby Murrumbidgee River swims (see below or on the Canberra home page) are far superior to this spot, and even within Lake Tuggeranong, I prefer Nguru beach directly opposite because it is larger and cleaner, but by all means consider this spot for a picnic with the possibility of a quick dip. Before you head out, make sure to read the swimming safety information and check with the managing authority for any current change of conditions. Water quality in the Canberra area can sometimes be unsuitable for swimming. For regular updates on whether the water quality in Lake Tuggeranong is suitable for swimming, see the ACT Government's water quality alerts. I couldn't see any signs on site on this side of the lake, but the signs at the beach on the opposite side of the lake indicate when the lake is closed for swimming due to poor water quality. As a general rule, don't plan to swim here after rain because the lake may be closed to swimming due to urban runoff from upstream areas (e.g. animal faeces, litter, nutrients causing algal blooms). The marker indicates the approximate location of the car park for the swimming beach. If the map is not zoomed in locally, as can sometimes occur when loading, simply click or tap on "View Larger Map" below.
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