DRINK IN HINZE VIEWS
THIS is the best dam day out ever.
While many locals have fond memories of Hinze Dam, it’s worth another visit thanks to massive upgrades a few years ago that made it a dam site better.
While swimming is no longer allowed in our city’s drinking water, there are still plenty of fun, fitness and family activities on dam-and. (Sorry.)
One of the highlights has to be walking the wall. This almost four kilometre round-trip route can be accomplished on foot or by bike, but given the warmer weather it’s best to get underway early in the day.
The walk from the entrance at the Visitors Centre to the Dam Wall Trailhead and back is straight, flat and wide but the bitumen surface and glare off the water can make for some sweaty summer conditions.
The endless water vista, however, makes it well worth it.
For those who opt to ride, the trailhead also marks the entrance to the Peter Hallinan Mountain Bike Precinct. This precinct is a network of purpose-built mountain bike trails constructed and maintained by the Gold Coast Mountain Bike Club.
If you’ve got the right equipment – and adventurous attitude – give the family loop a spin. (Just make sure there are no competitions on.)
If you’re more interested in walking and talking, chew over these facts and figures: the Hinze Dam was built on the Nerang River in 1976 and was expanded in 1989 and again in 2011.
The dam holds 310 gigalitres of water over an area of 1500 hectares - known as Advancetown Lake. The spillway is 85 meters high and the wall is 1850 meters long.
Dam impressive.