Lake Morris (Copperlode Dam) is a fresh water reservoir dam servicing the city of Cairns. The Lake is located in the range immediately west of the city and some 23km (30 min) by road from the CBD with some of the best views of Cairns en-route to the dam. 

 

Copperlode Dam is surrounded by world heritage listed rainforest and offers unprecedented and exclusive access to some of the most amazing wildlife encounters that Cairns has to offer.  Regular sightings of Cassowaries and other exotic native wildlife make this day trip a must.

 

Once at Lake Morris you will find a beautiful lake within a lush rainforest setting.  Facilities open 7 days a week from 8am to 6pm.  Take a picnic lunch or use the gas and wood BBQ's.  Cairns regional Council have supplied tea and coffee making facilities. There are rainforest walks, disabled access toilets and picnic grounds.  You will also find an information display and viewing deck.  Ideal for a family picnic.

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Lake Morris has a 44km2 catchment; the lake is 332 hectares, 39km of shoreline, and is about 15% the size of Lake Tinaroo.

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Copperlode Fish and Kayak commenced operation in October 2015.  We offer fully guided SUP and kayak tours, unguided kayak hire and guided fishing charters.

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Fish Stocking:

Copperlode Dam has been stocked with bony bream, barramundi, sooty grunter, archerfish, sleepy cod, eel-tailed catfish and mangrove jack. the dam was essentially used by DPI as a trial fish stocking pond. The sooty grunter were apparently first stocked there by a fisheries biologist in the late 1970’s. Archerfish, sleepy cod, bony bream and catfish were stocked by DPI staff in the early 1980’s, and then more sooty grunter & barramundi in the early 1990’s, with significant stocking of this species ongoing from then.

A total of 3,980 mangrove jack were stocked there in December 1998 and June 1999 by DPI staff as part of a trial to test their suitability for other freshwater impoundments. All of the above-mentioned species have established breeding populations with the exception of barramundi, mangrove jack. Barramundi and mangrove jack cannot breed in freshwater and although sooty grunter can breed in freshwater it is uncertain if the feeder creeks can support spawning.

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A restocking program will commence in late 2016, with Barramundi fingerlings to be released into the dam.