Brindabella National Park: Swamp Creek

General information

Distance:  12.1 kilometers return
Total climb:  375 meters
Time taken:  3 hours 40 minutes
Maps:  Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000; Umburra 8627-1S 1:25 000
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  38 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  56H FA 71303 97832 [Cotter Dam]
Destination map grid reference:  56H FA 69193 99331 [Umburra]
End point:  same as start

Route

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Description

This hike actually started out as an attempt to climb Pig Hill, but with a cavalier approach to navigation, we ended up finding this gem of a walk along Swamp Creek instead. The starting point for this hike is a point off Two Sticks Road at map reference FA717975 (Cotter Dam). To get there we drove to Uriarra Crossing and turned right into Fairlight Road, which we followed until Mountain Creek Road and turned left. About 3.7 kilometers south of the Fairlight/Mountain Creek Road intersection there is an unsignposted gravel road on the right - Two Sticks Road. We followed Two Sticks Road for about 4 kilometers until we found our start point, a side track to the right with a steep descent. We parked a little further down Two Sticks Road and backtracked to the side track to start the hike. We walked down the steep track off Two Sticks Road for about 1 kilometer until it met a T-intersection, which we followed to the left. It was at this point that we inadvertently passed the Pig Hill Trail and continued to follow the track we were on. A point of interest we found was a burnt out tractor in the undergrowth on the side of the road, possibly a victim of the 2003 bushfires.

The track climbed for some time until we came to an un-gated fence on the other side of which another track crossed the one we were on. We continued straight ahead, however, and about 3 kilometers from the start of our hike we met another T-intersection. After some discussion, we decided to turn right at this intersection and after about 500 meters we struck Swamp Creek. At this point the track we had been following ended, but there was a cut and ribbon-marked narrow walking trail that we were able to continue on. Keeping to the walking trail we followed Swamp Creek upstream for about 3 kilometers, having to cross the Creek 17 times to keep on the trail. Most crossings were easy, others required some ingenuity.

Eventually the trail ended at a locked gate with a "No Trespassing" sign - presumably the western edge of Brindabella National Park. This would have been only a few hundred meters from the Firebreak Trail, which we had some idea by this stage of the hike of following back to Two Sticks Road and our parked car. With the unequivocal sign on the gate, however, we decided to go back the way that we had come.

While this walk was a navigational nightmare of my own making in that we never got anywhere near Pig Hill, it was actually a great discovery that we would not otherwise have made.  

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Nil Desperandum

General Information

Distance:  10.2 kilometers
Total climb:  500 meters
Time taken:  3 hours 40 minutes
Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000
Guide:  link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  45 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74866 76263
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 74483 78216
End point:  same as start

Route

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Description

There are various options for where to start this walk, but we chose the parking area at Greens picnic area. From Greens we followed the marked trail along management roads hiking steadily upwards to an elevation of around 830 meters (the start point at Greens being around 680 meters). From here the trail heads down again to Nil Desperandum homestead, a bit under 5 kilometers from the start point.





This homestead is hired out for overnight stays, but the toilet and rainwater tank are available to hikers. Since the homestead was unoccupied at the time of our hike, we were able to have a look around and pause there for lunch. The northern part of the Tidbinbilla Range looms over the homestead to the west, with Camels Hump particularly prominent. After our break we followed the trail a little further to the northwest to do some sightseeing. With the help of signs and information boards we found the remnants of the camellia garden, some still in flower.



We also found the ruins of the old family swimming pool which was constructed on Hurdle Creek, and the rusted remnants of a commercial eucalyptus oil distiller.



Instead of following the same trail back to our car, we decided to backtrack only as far as the management road (Boundary Fire Trail) up the very steep hill that starts at map reference FA741782. This was a climb of about 100 meters elevation over a distance of only 800 meters. There are some good views once the peak has been reached.



Having descended to bottom of their peak, there was another substantial hill which we also had to climb. It gave us a great view towards the sun coming down over the Tidbinbilla Range.



From there we followed the trail back to Greens and our waiting car.

This is a reasonably good walk through what used to be pine forest, but following the 2003 bushfires is now going back to a natural state. The route we took to get there, which is what the guide recommends, is circuitous but is much easier than the more direct Boundary Fire Trail which we followed on the way back. In fact, I suspect it took us longer to walk back along the more direct route given the steepness of the terrain. Nil Desperandum homestead is well worth a look if you happen to find it vacant. It is also a great place to stay for a few nights - I did this in October 2016 as a result of taking this hike.

Murrumbidgee Corridor: Red Rocks

General Information

Distance:  11.25 kilometers
Total climb:  308 meters
Time taken:  3 hours 40 minutes
Map:  Tuggeranong 8727-3S 1:25 000
Guide:  link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  20 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  56H FA 84908 81249
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 86545 79167
End point map grid reference:  55H FA 87308 80314

Route

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Description

We started this hike in Winser Crescent Kambah, walking from there through to the Bicentennial National Trail which we followed to the northwest to Kambah Pool Road. We then followed Kambah Pool Road to the left until we passed into the Murrumbidgee Corridor Nature Reserve about 2 kilometers into the hike and turned south towards the river. At the river we joined the Murrumbidgee Discovery Track and followed it southeast. Our initial plan was to cross the river around map reference FA838801 and walk up Bullen Range via the Bullen Powerline Fire Trail, but after much looking around we could find no suitable crossing point, the river being quite high. Slightly dejected, we continued along the Track until we found a nice spot for a break.



From there we pressed on to our destination Red Rocks Gorge.





Having taken in the sights at Red Rocks, we left the Murrumbidgee Discovery Track  and headed northeast to link up once again with the Bicentennial Trail, which had some good views back towards the Bullen Range.



Eventually we reached the eastern side of Kambah, where we picked up a second car to return us to our starting point.

This hike was, for us, about 3 kilometers longer than it needed to be due to a lot of looking around for a suitable crossing point. It was surprisingly scenic and the trail was clear and easy to walk on. It has encouraged me to one day attempt the 27 kilometer Murrumbidgee Discovery Track from Casuarina Sands to Point Hut.