Things to do at Fogg Dam

Enjoy Fogg Dam

Things to do at Fogg Dam

Situated 60km east of Darwin, on the route to Kakadu, there is a lot to see and do in the Fogg Dam area. The dam is accessible year-round and it is always the best time to see birdlife, during the wet season wildlife flock to use the wetland systems and during the dry season, it attracts migratory water birds and other wildlife escaping winter down South.

Make sure you wear suitable clothing and expect to get your feet wet, also pack a shady hat and insect repellent. If you are an avid bird watcher, bring binoculars and dull-coloured clothing.

Be aware, during the wet season when the dam is full, follow the crocodile warning signs to ensure safety and be careful of water buffalo also enjoying the dam.

Monsoon Forest Walk

To fully appreciate Fogg Dam and the environs, one must undertake a Monsoon rainforest walk and 2 routes are available from the eastern car park.

The shorter of the two is the ‘Waterlily Walk‘.  This is a 2.2 km meander through Paperbarks, Swamp Mahoganies, Black Wattle, Palms and Fresh Water Mangroves to get to the edge of the dam. Once here, an elevated boardwalk tracks out amongst the water lilies and into the dam area.

Along the boardwalk, multiple lookout points provide expansive views across the dam.  At times, however, this view can be obscured by the rampant growth of the native Sesbania plant. Sesbania has recently gotten to weed proportions and is a concern for the managers.

A longer walk of 3.6 km is the ‘Woodlands Walk’.  The Woodlands Walk moves through an impressive woodland dominated by paperbark trees before arriving at the edge of the forest on the floodplains.

This is a particularly beautiful walk during the wet season when the dam is full, and water extends in amongst the paperbarks.

Tour of Fogg Dam

If you are wanting to make the most of your trip to the area, join the “Colours of Kakadu” tour which takes you through the beautiful wetland. With an experienced tour guide, you will learn all about the history, ecosystems and wildlife that survive in the dam.

Fogg Dam Wildlife

It pays to get there earlier rather than later, you will see a more active feeding and foraging time of most animals and insects and also, it happens to be the more pleasant time to undertake walks.

Birdlife at Fogg Dam

Fogg Dam has recorded over 239 different species of birdlife utilising it for various durations throughout the year.  This includes around 80 international migratory birds.

Commonly encountered bird species for the casual visitor are: Egrets, Whistling ducks, Jacanas, Spoonbills, Whistling Kites, Black Kites, White Bellied Sea Eagles, Masked Lapwings, Blue Winged Kookaburras, Rainbow Bee Eaters, Brolgas, Whiskered Terns, magpie geese and Jabirus.

Some species will be seasonal such as the Terns, however many are there all year round.

For keen bird watchers, check out our articles on Fogg Dam birds (Page 1, Page 2) to set you up for a great day.

Reptiles at Fogg Dam

There is typically a good number of freshwater crocodiles in the dam area, which can be seen either basking on the edge of the dam wall access or floating in the dam itself.  Numbers and visibility will vary through the year and throughout the day, however, rest assured, they are there.

Estuarine Crocodiles also visit on occasion which is why you will find a number of croc traps in the dam and a prohibition on walking on the dam wall itself. Salties are infrequent visitors, however, they can be there, so beware.

Most of the larger snake specimens have all but died since the invasion of cane toads. On occasion, you may still find the odd Death Adder, Olive Python and a number of smaller species.  Common among these are the Golden Tree Snake, and Whip Snakes in the forests.  In the water you will find Yellow Bellied Water Python getting about.

Small lizards are plentiful as to on occasion the Merten Water Monitors which lounge along the dam wall.

Mammals at Fogg Dam

Any visit to Fogg Dam is going to introduce you to Agile Wallabies.  You can find them grazing on the abundant grasses in the area.  Other natives such as bats, rats, possums, dingos, and more are found in the woodlands.

Feral mammals such as wild pigs, buffalo and cows are also present in considerable numbers on occasion.

Plants at Fogg Dam

For the botanist, Fogg Dam is an absolute playground of gems.  From the ever present and impressive Sacred Lotus Lily through to the vines of the fringing monsoonal forest.

Many of the local plants have important traditional uses such as for food, medicine or materials for survival.  The dam and other wetlands and environs are a veritable cornucopia of useful things.

Before visiting become familiar with some of the more common plants you will cross paths with.  As a starting point consider Paperbark trees, Cluster Figs, Black Wattle, Freshwater Mangrove, Livistonia, Milkwood, Pandanus, various lilies and native water chestnuts.  Identifying these and understanding their uses goes a long way to appreciate the cultural significance for indigenous people.