Canberra Nature Park: Bluett's Block and the Molonglo River

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9.4 kilometers

Total climb:   312 meters

Time taken:   2 hours
Moving time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   5.6 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 872661 91832

Destination map grid reference:  none

Dates walked: 22 May 2026

 

Route

 

Description

This walk starts at the entrance to Bluett's Block Reserve off Uriarra Road about 1.6 kilometers past the Coaldrake Avenue roundabout. There is a small car park here next to the gate.

Climbing over the gate I came to some power lines which I followed to the top of the rise before heading right into some very nice bush.

I made my way to a rise at 55H FA 82859 92276 and from there to Springybark Hill (55H FA 82774 92513).  Some great views all around from there.

I next followed the western edge of the Reserve (marked by a barbed wire fence) and back to the main road through it. I headed north along the road until I came to the Molonglo River.

 

I followed the track beside the river, then heading for the shops at Denman Prospect where I could stop for a coffee. After that I walked up Holborow Avenue until I found a place where I could re-enter Blewett's Block Reserve (around 55H FA 83696 92693), a bit south of where I re-joined the road on the outward journey. I went bush at first, since I couldn't follow the road due to construction fences. Eventually, however, I was able to use the road again at around 55H FA 83499 92325 and continue along it to the starting point. This was not a particularly satisfying sector of the walk due to the very loud construction noises coming from just left of the road.