Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Mt Domain (3)

General Information

Grading: medium

Distance:  12.5 kilometers 

Total climb:  698 meters 

Time taken:  5 hours 45 minutes 

Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  50 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 72311 71964 

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 69661 72739 

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This was my third climb of Mt Domain, but it was slightly different to those completed back in August of 2016 and 2017. First, the track from Fishing Gap to the summit of Mt Domain is now much clearer on the ground after three years of hiker traffic. Second, it had snowed recently and there was a fair bit still around on south facing slopes above 1200 meters elevation. Third, I lost the track down from the summit and headed off in the wrong direction for while, providing an opportunity to tramp through thick snow, explore some tough terrain south of the summit and use our navigation skills (severely compromised by going the wrong way in the first place) to get back to the track.

From the Fishing Gap carpark we managed to climb up the fire trail to Fishing Gap in a very quick 45 minutes and took a break for morning tea. We then started the climb up the walking track towards the summit of Mt Domain, which was much clearer than it was the last time I climbed in 2017. One thing I did notice was that the pink marker ribbons had disappeared from the trees, making it more difficult to reacquire the track. As we climbed the snow on the ground became thicker.

After reaching the open saddle just below the final climb to the summit we paused to take in the view of the main Brindabella Range and the looming Mt Domain a short distance away.

We also paused about halfway up the final track to the summit to take in the views over the Tidbinbilla Valley.

Finally reaching the summit we paused for lunch before heading back down. Unfortunately I almost immediately lost the track due to lack of concentration and we realised after a while that we were heading down a ridge well west of where we wanted to be. Since we encountered thick bush, fairly heavy snow and a steep slope, we decided to traverse the slope almost directly east back to the open saddle, aiming to stay at the same altitude as the saddle (about 1380 meters). This was very hard going, but the area was very spectacular. We eventually came to the saddle right on target, although by that time we had lost maybe as much as 45 minutes on our return journey. The rest of the walk was straightforward, however, and we made very good time going back the way we came up.

Canberra Nature Park: Callum Brae Nature Reserve and Mount Mugga Mugga

General Information

Grading: easy

Distance:   8 kilometers

Total climb:   223 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 50 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   9.5 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 94629 85740

Destination map grid reference:   No destination

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

We started this walk from the parking area on Narrabundah Lane about 550 metres down from Mugga Lane. We headed back up Narrabundah Lane and crossed to the other side of Mugga Lane where there was a section of collapsed fence that gave us entry to the nature reserve. We headed roughly west towards the Hindmarsh Drive side of Mount Mugga Mugga and then around the western side of the mountain. There is now a high fence around the old quarry so we could not explore the quarry itself. We did get some views of the asters side of Issacs Ridge though.

Coming around the south of Mount Mugga Mugga we soon came back to Mugga Lane, which we again crossed near the gated entrance to Callum Brae Nature Reserve. Near the gate is one of the old dynamite sheds that serviced the quarry.

We followed the track through Callum Brae Reserve. Apart from the very nice bushland in the Reserve there were occasional views to the south and over the privately-owned Callum Brae property.

The track took us right back to our cars on Narrabundah Lane.

Namadgi National Park: Brandy Flat Fire Trail

General Information

Grading:  medium

Distance:   11 kilometers

Total climb:   399 meters

Time taken:   3 hours 15 minutes

Maps:   Michelago 8626-4S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   65 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 81153 42817

Destination map grid reference:   Brandy Flat Hut - 55H FA 82727 45753

End point:  55H FA 81326 48881

Route

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

Description

We took two cars on this walk. The first we placed at the Glendale Walking Track carpark on Brandy Flat Fire Trail, just before the locked gate (the end point of our walk). The second car we drove down to the South Brandy Flat carpark just before the unsealed section of Boboyan Road begins: if you hit gravel you've gone too far. 

From the South Brandy Flat carpark we set out along a short section of walking track which soon connected with the Brandy Flat Fire Trail, which we followed from there. We first descended steeply to the aptly-named Dry Creek and then started a steep climb up the other side.

This was pretty hard going, but as we gained elevation we were treated to some good views back towards Mt Gudgenby, Yankee Hat, Mt Kelly and Rendezvous Creek on the far side of Boboyan Road.

Climbing to just a bit under 1100 metres in elevation the track levelled out for a while before we started a mostly gradual 100 metre descent to Brandy Flat Hut.

From Brandy Flat we could get a good view of Booths Hill, which we decided might be worth climbing another day.

Climbing away from Brandy Flat we passed through some more forest before the terrain opened up again and we could soon get views across to the area around Nursery Hill.

Not long after crossing Reedy Creek we came to the walking track on the right  which we followed from there. Some more nice views along the way...

...and we were able to pause in one of these spots for lunch before making it back to the car we left at Glendale.

Canberra Nature Park: O'Connor Ridge and Lyneham Ridge

General Information

Grading: easy

Distance:   8 kilometers

Total climb:   177 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 40 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   4 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 92047 96627

Destination map grid reference:   No destination

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk began at the dirt carpark on Dryandra Street about 400 meters from the Macarthur Avenue roundabout. We followed a clockwise route along various paths taking in O'Connor Ridge and Lyneham Ridge and involving two crossings of Gininderra Drive. It wasn't particularly scenic, apart from a frog-filled dam not far from Gininderra Drive (see route map above).

Nevertheless it was a pleasant enough walk and some good exercise.

Pierces Creek Forest: Sugarloaf Hill and Hardy Hill

General Information

Grading:  medium

Distance:   11 kilometers

Total climb:   604 meters

Time taken:   4 hours

Maps:   Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   27 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74521 87733

Destination map grid reference:   Sugarloaf Hill - 55H FA 74574 86997
                                                     Hardy Hill - 55H FA 72420 85569

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk began at a point on Vanitys Crossing Road north of Sugarloaf Hill. We immediately headed bush, making straight for the summit of Sugarloaf. At first the going was easy, even after we began to steeply climb, but soon we started to encounter thick native forest regrowth all around the crest of Sugarloaf.

Nevertheless, we reached the summit of Sugarloaf very quickly. We were disappointed that the regrowth obscures any view though.

Continuing down the south side of Sugarloaf - quite steep and treacherous - we had a view of our next destination, Hardy Hill, inn the distance.

Reaching the base of Sugarloaf we looked for the north-south track shown on the map at reference  55H FA 74402 86677, but it was difficult to locate. This was one of a number of tracks within the old Pierces Creek Pine Forest that are being reclaimed by native forest, erosion and blackberry.

We eventually found the road heading west that we were looking for and followed it for about 1.5 kilometres before veering south west towards the locked gate at map reference 55H FA 72186 86099 which is the boundary of Namadgi National Park. There is a steep track just past the gate on the left, and this we followed to the top of Hardy Range. An indistinct trail to the left - another track marked on the map that is disappearing - took us to the Hardy Hill Trig.

Sadly, no views from here either.

Returning to the track we came up we continued first along Hardy Ridge and were rewarded with a few nice views and lunch before backtracking down to the locked gate.

From the locked gate we climbed through the busk to the summit just north of the gate before joining the track which follows that ridge all the way to Vanitys Crossing Road. Some great views of Cotter Dam along the way.

We followed Vanitys Crossing Road back to the car.

Stromlo Forest: Mt Stromlo

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   6.7 kilometers

Total climb:   235 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 30 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   16 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 82558 91853

Destination map grid reference:   55H FA 82779 90045

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

Although I have been up Mt Stromlo many times, this was the first time I walked there. We started from the Stromlo Forest Park Western Carpark off Uriarra Road and followed the track generally southwards to the top of Mt Stromlo. There is still a mix of bushfire ruins and new buildings on the top of the mountain, and also some decent views.

On our return leg we followed a different trail east of the mountain.

Tallaganda National Park: South Black Range Trig

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   7 kilometers

Total climb:   250 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 45 minutes

Maps:   Bombay 8827-3S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   50 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H GA 30854 74319

Destination map grid reference:   55H GA 29995 76996

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk was a bit of an afterthought following a tour of the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope at Hoskinstown. This is well worth a look if you are lucky enough to find a tour operating.

To reach the starting point for this walk we drove to Hoskinstown and turned left on to Forbes Creek Road until its intersection with the North Black Range Fire Trail, not far past the National Park border. While there is a parking area at the intersection, we were a bit pressed for time and drove part way up North Black Range Fire Trail and parked there.

The native forest in this part of Tallaganda National Park is particularly striking.

We followed the fire trail north, a mostly gentle uphill climb. At one point we diverted off the trail into the bush, partly to better enjoy the forest and partly to take a shortcut to the South Black Range Trig (1262 metres). As with many shortcuts this proved a lot more difficult than it looked, and after my co-hiker took a nasty fall we decided to get back on to the fire trail. Around map reference 55H GA 30300 76900 there is a walking track off to the left which leads up to South Black Range Trig. We followed this track until we found the Trig on top of a huge boulder.

There were the remains of a wooden extension ladder near the boulder, half of which was quietly decaying on the ground and the remainder was propped up against the tree to the right of the picture above.

I suppose this must have been used by thrill seekers to shimmy across a tree branch to the top of the boulder, but neither of us thought it worth the risk. Sadly there is no clear view in any direction from South Black Range due to the forest all around.

We returned to our car by the same route, but this time avoiding false shortcuts through the bush.