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.
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.
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