Pykes Creek Reservoir

Pykes Creek Reservoir, located west of Melbourne near Ballan, is a very popular recreational area offering opportunities for boating, kayaking, fishing, swimming and picnicking.

The reservoir primarily provides water for farmers in the Bacchus Marsh and Werribee Irrigation Districts. This means that the water levels can vary.

Hours of operation

Pykes Creek recreational facilities are open between 8am and 8pm daily.

Facilities and what to do

Pykes Creek Reservoir is a popular spot for boating, fishing, swimming and picnics. 

Facilities at our recreation area include:

While visiting

Please note that Pykes Creek is patrolled regularly by our compliance team.

• In the interests of making a visit to Pykes a safe and enjoyable one for everyone, vessels (including jetskis) will not be allowed on the water without displaying current registration and drivers carrying a current marine licence, and may be inspected for appropriate equipment
• Children must be supervised at all times
• Only boats powered by an internal combustion engine are permitted if the engine has a water-cooled exhaust system, discharging through the transom at or below the waterline
• Boating restrictions apply when water levels lower.

Not permitted

While visiting our facilities you are not permitted to:

• camp or stay overnight
• have fires or fire pits
• leave rubbish - all our sites are carry in carry out zones
• reserve any picnic areas
• drive or ride motorbikes along the shoreline or in fenced areas
• enter prohibited areas
• vandalise the facilities
• hunt, carry or discharge a firearm
• ride or walk horses anywhere, including in the water.
• use the park or picnic areas outside of opening hours
• undertake any dangerous activities including abseiling, paraflying, shooting and archery.

There is no public access in these areas:

• Southern Rural Water workshop and residence
• Anywhere beyond the main access gate. For instance:
  • The dam wall (including tower)
  • Greater Western Water treatment plant
  • Outlet works
  • Anywhere south of Western Highway

For more information, see Pykes Creek Reservoir prohibited areas

Request to hold events

From time to time, people wish to hold events at our recreational facilities including festivals, birthday parties and weddings. We cannot close our recreational facilities for private events and you cannot book sites. 

You must have permission to hold any organised entertainment, rally, boating event or regatta, festival, public meeting, training class or demonstration, wedding or similar ceremony, or private functions for 30 or more people.

Please email us with your request in writing.