Mount Alexandra Reserve: Forty Foot Falls and Box Vale Mine Walking Track (2)

General Information

Distance:  11.2 kilometers

Total climb:  235 meters

Time taken:  3 hours 05 minutes

Map:  Mittagong 8929-2S 1:25 000

Guide:  link

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  171 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  56H KG 62381 86348

Destination map grid reference:  Forty Foot Falls - 56H KG 64236 87304

                                                    Box Vale Track Tunnel - 56H KG 63867 88724

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This was the same as the walk completed on 31 August 2017, except that we turned back at the railway tunnel and did not proceed to the lookout.

Canberra Nature Park: Hackett to Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie

General Information

Distance:  8.3 kilometers
Total climb:  472 meters
Time taken:  2 hours 10 minutes
Map:  Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  6 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 97256 96974
Destination map grid reference:  Mt Majura - 55H FA 98570 98432
End point:  Mt Ainslie - 55H FA 96327 94919

Route

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

Description

Having placed a second car on the top of Mt Ainslie, we made our way to the carpark off Mackenzie Street in Hackett where the walk began. We first made our way up to the summit of Mt Majura via formed trails. Retracing our steps almost to where the walk began, we went bush for a while to take a shortcut through to the nearest formed trail which we followed for a while before heading bush again to climb Mt Ainslie. While this was steep, it was relatively easy going. We reacquired the formed trail near the summit of Mt Ainslie where our walk ended.

Googong Foreshore: Bradley's Creek Walk to Googong Lookout and Gormans Trig

General Information

Distance:  13.6 kilometers
Total climb:  494 meters
Time taken:  3 hours 30 minutes
Map:  Hoskinstown 8727-2S 1:25 000
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  28 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H GA 4990 78589
Destination map grid reference:  55H GA 36521 91419
End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

We had intended to start this walk from the downstream picnic area at 55H GA 05221 79019, but when we arrived the gate leading down there was still locked, even though it was well after the posted opening time for the Reserve. We therefore had a longer walk from the locked gate. This wasn't so bad as it afforded a nice view of Googong Dam as we were crossing the Queanbeyan River.

We continued along Bradley's Walk from the picnic area, climbing steadily until we were at the top of the eastern ridge above Googong Reservoir. This was all along a dry and dusty management trail. 

Eventually we reached Gormans Trig, slightly off the track, where we had lunch before heading back. Not much of a view from the trig however.

Returning the same way, we detoured off the track at 55H GA 06193 78638 to check out the lookout at the northern end of the Reservoir. Some great views from there, but inexplicably I failed to take a photograph. A view from further up the trail (and including the lookout itself beyond the trees) will have to do.