The Aqueduct

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

The Aquaduct on Table Mountain is the main water feed for the Hely-Hutchinson and Woodhead reservoirs. It's a beautiful hike that is accessed from the Waterworks Museum at the northern end of the Hely-Hutchinson reservoir wall.

From the Waterworks Museum cross the cement road towards the dam wall and look for the path that leads past the dam. It's a clear path, but the first few metres are a bit overgrown and sometimes easy to miss. Once you are on the path it leads you past the Hely-Hutchinson reservoir on your right and follows a small stream for about 650 ft/200 m. It crosses this stream and begins an easy scramble up the side of the stream which now falls through a narrow but impressive gorge. The path then levels out and follows the stream as it tumbles through a number of small waterfalls and clear pools.

After about 2,600 ft/800 m, the path begins to lead away from the stream and crosses what is clearly a man-made channel, the aqueduct. The aqueduct was built in the 1890’s to channel water from St Michael Peak into the reservoirs. About half way along the wall a beautiful little waterfall falls into the channel.

Continue along the wall until the path meets Smuts Track between Skeleton Gorge and Echo Valley.

In summer (December to March) - particularly in February - each year you'll hopefully be fortunate enough to spot the famous Pride of Table Mountain, the red disa (disa uniflora). You may also see the blue drip disa (disa longicornu), the glanded disa (disa glandulosa), and others.