Googong Reservoir
While Googong Reservoir is part of New South Wales, it is managed by the ACT Government (ACT Parks and Conservation Service) under a special agreement with the NSW and Commonwealth Governments. NSW Safe Boating and Fishing Regulations apply. Googong Reservoir is classed as ALPINE WATERS and a lifejacket must be worn by ALL vessel occupants.
To operate on Googong Reservoir, all skippers of powered boats need an ACT Government Googong boating permit. Only electric motors are permitted to be used. Penalties apply for petrol/diesel motor use. Boats with a petrol/diesel motor that cannot be removed are permitted if the motor remains turned off, fully raised and out of the water (see boat permit conditions for full details).
Sailboats, canoes, and kayaks are allowed on Googong Reservoir (no permit required). However, windsurfers, surf skis, jet skis, and stand-up paddleboards are not permitted, because of the much higher likelihood of direct body contact with water.
Watercraft and persons aboard must not:
- go inside the line of marker buoys surrounding the dam wall, see Googong Foreshores map (PDF 320KB), or
- land on any shore north of:
- Drumstick Point (west side of reservoir) or
- Long Neck Island (east side of reservoir).
The only exception to this is use of the public boat ramp.
Watercraft and persons aboard must also not enter:
- any ICON Water exclusion zone
- the fenced-off areas north of the boat ramp on Drumstick Point
Please return vehicles and trailers to the main car park immediately after launching or retrieving your vessel, to ensure ease of access for others. You are requested to make minimal contact with the water during vessel launching and retrieval.