Tidinbilla Nature Reserve: Johns Peak, Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain

General Information

Grading:  hard

Distance:   14.5 kilometers

Total climb:   948 meters

Time taken:   6 hours 30 minutes
Moving time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Maps:   Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   52.7 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 71480 74646

Destination map grid reference:  none

Dates walked: 12 June 2026

 

Route

 

Description

I have hiked these peaks several times in the past, but never the three of them together. This was made possible by the opening of the Mindjagari Track network in 2025 which (among other things) linked Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain.

The walk starts at the Mountain Creek car park in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. From the car park we followed the Camelback Fire Trail up to where it intersects with the track to Johns Peak (55H FA 72075 78543). We made Johns Peak in good time and went on to Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain along the Mindjagari Track. The only new section for me was the Track between Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain, which is not as easy as it seems on the map: rocky ground and a few substantial climbs. The views from all three peaks are superb, but Tidbinbilla Mountain is the only one to offer 360 degree views.

After lunch on the Mountain we headed towards the Snowy Corner Track and began our real descent back to the car park, stopping at a viewing chair on the way to take in a final view over the Tidbinbilla valley.

The walk down was quite steep, strenuous, and very slippery after recent rain. It's not a great distance - only 3.6 kilometers - but it took us 1.75 hours to get from the top of the Mountain back to the car park.