South East Queensland Dams, Lakes & Waterways Destination Guide

South East Queensland is shaped by an extensive network of dams, lakes, rivers and waterways, ranging from major drinking-water reservoirs and flood-mitigation lakes to smaller forested reservoirs and scenic inland waterways.

These landscapes extend from the Brisbane region through the Sunshine Coast, Scenic Rim and Gold Coast, providing an extraordinary variety of aerial photography opportunities.

Major SEQ Dams & Lakes

Among the region's most significant water landscapes are:

• Lake Wivenhoe — a major Brisbane River reservoir providing drinking-water storage and flood mitigation.

• Somerset Dam — a large reservoir upstream of Wivenhoe surrounded by forested hills and rural landscapes.

• North Pine Dam / Lake Samsonvale — an important water-storage area north of Brisbane.

• Hinze Dam / Lake Advancetown — a major Gold Coast water-storage and recreational destination.

• Lake Moogerah — a Scenic Rim lake surrounded by distinctive mountains, including Mount Edwards.

• Lake Maroon — a Scenic Rim reservoir set among dramatic mountain landscapes.

• Lake Wyaralong — an inland lake surrounded by hills, forests and rural country.

• Lake Manchester, Gold Creek Dam and Enoggera Reservoir — smaller waterways located within or close to Brisbane's western landscape.

These reservoirs form part of the broader SEQ water system managed by Seqwater.

Brisbane River & Coastal Waterways

The region's waterways extend beyond dams and reservoirs. The Brisbane River, Gold Coast waterways and connected creeks and estuaries create an extensive network of water landscapes linking inland catchments with Moreton Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

From above, river bends, islands, channels, wetlands and surrounding urban or rural landscapes reveal relationships that are difficult to appreciate from ground level.

Water Landscapes from Above

Dams and lakes are particularly dynamic aerial photography subjects because their appearance changes with rainfall, water levels, season, weather and sunlight.

Aerial views can reveal:

• Winding shorelines and bays

• Former valleys beneath reservoir waters

• Forested catchments

• Islands and peninsulas

• River and creek channels

• Mountain reflections

• Changing water levels

• The relationship between waterways and surrounding landscapes

Low-angle morning and afternoon light can emphasise shoreline patterns, reflections and topography, while changing water levels can dramatically alter the visual character of a reservoir.

SEQ Dams & Lakes Aerial Photography

Oz Straya Panoramas documents South East Queensland's dams, lakes and waterways through original aerial photography, including Lake Wivenhoe, Somerset Dam, Lake Wyaralong, Lake Manchester, Lake Maroon, Lake Moogerah, Enoggera Reservoir, Lake Kurwongbah and Gold Creek.

The imagery is suitable for tourism, editorial and publishing, commercial marketing, environmental and educational projects, websites and fine-art applications.

Explore the individual galleries to discover South East Queensland's dams, lakes and waterways from above.