Albert ParkRating:1st January 1998

This drain offers a challenge to the dedicated drain explorer. It is a challenge that can be overcome with a little determination and persistence however. Both sections of this drain have low roofs and require stoop.

If this has not put you off the drain, think again. This drain is actually worth visiting, if only for the lake overflow.

Drain report

1. Seaside entrance. The downstream section emerges into a creek by the beach and at high tide it only has fifteen centimeters clearance between the water and tunnel roof. Even at low tide the water is not much shallower.

2. Midstream entrance. A waist high fence must be navigated, the fence is mainly there to keep small children from the nearby school out of the drain. The upstream end of the drain consists of a 1.4 meter rectangular concrete drain while the downstream end is a 1.6 meter RCP.

Crawling over the litter trap to enter the tunnel where there is normally a build up of debris and dirt. The water here is normally ankle deep but soon shallows out. It is possible to walk along the side of the tunnel or walk along the middle in the water to gain an extra few centimeters in height. Either way will require a bit off stoop. It's time now to admit that you're not immortal and take a few breaks along the way. Run down the tunnel until your back groans then rest for a minute before running again. It should take three or four rests to get to the junction.

3. Side tunnel. Just before the junction. At the split, a tunnel head off east while another one curves off north east before curving off to the left. However, just before the junction a small tunnel branches off the left side of the tunnel which has light pouring in, even through the day. This is the tunnel which leads to the Albert Park overflow. Now this is a tunnel that requires some crawl. It's only fifty meters though, and a side ways crab crawl works best.

This small overflow room is really cool. The overflow chamber behind the lake is a very interesting feature, probably the best in the drain. The gap here looks a bit narrow but to my surprise I was able to squeeze through. Go through the center gap and use the concrete outside to prevent yourself from falling into the lake. The water here is about a meter deep, so it's no problem if you do fall in, unless your non waterproof equipment such as cameras etc go in with you. You can squeeze in through the gap and confuse the heck out of bemused joggers.

4. Split. Just beyond the side tunnel leading to the overflow the tunnel splits. The right hand tunnel continues on eastwards, under a street. The left tunnel very rapidly becomes a low crawl tunnel, surprisingly about 3 meters wide but only a meter high. You should spot light about 100 meters in. A long crawl up the tunnel to this light will require a lot of endurance. After crawling under an extremely low bit you will find a round type cast iron grille which is fairly easy to open. You may be surprised at how close it is to the lake overflow. You'd swear you had crawled for a lot longer.

Warning, due to government cut backs the UA City Water Authority is now levying tolls on this and other drains. All drain explorers must have exact change. No change will be give. Failure to pay tolls may result in incarceration.

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