Uriarra: Tongs Hole and Downstream Molonglo River

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   2.6 kilometers

Total climb:   180 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 10 minutes

Maps:   Umburra 8627-1S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   20 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 79466 97509

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 79510 97031

End point:  Same as start

 

Route

 

  

Description

This walk starts on Stockdill Drive, just before the gates into the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre. We first followed the walking track down to Tong's Hole, which is quite a nice spot on the Molonglo.

 

From there we continued off-trail down the Molonglo, hoping to get as far as the Molonglo plank bridge. Unfortunately, however, we came across a rather robust outfall from the Water Quality Control Centre which we could not cross. Crossing to the other side of the Molonglo River to pass this by was also not an option, so we had no choice other than to turn back. We took a higher route back to our starting point, which gave us some compensating views down the river and westwards.

 

Overall, the walk was a bit of a disappointment. 

 

 

Rob Roy Nature Reserve: Mt Rob Roy

 General Information

Grading: medium

Distance:   11.5 kilometers

Total climb:   594 meters

Time taken:   3 hours  40 minutes

Maps:   Tuggeranong 8727-3S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   29 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 91197 72691

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 93088 69956

End point:  same as start

Route

 

Description

The hike started from Orange Thorn Crescent in the suburb of Banks. We proceeded up past the water tank and the steep climb to Big Monks Hill. We retraced our steps from Monks and then followed the trail south to the southern spur of Mt Rob Roy. A nice view to the west along the way.

 

 

The track divides at map reference 55H FA 93273 69075 and there is a locked gate there with a no trespassing sign. Rather than risking the landowner's ire, we just went north through the bush until we came to the track leading up the southern spur of Rob Roy. We had a break at the summit before heading back along the management trails to our start point.