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, 22 August 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.

Canberra Nature Park: Mt Ainslie Base Circuit

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9 kilometers

Total climb:   222 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 55 minutes
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 96596 96439

Destination map grid reference:  none

Dates walked: 27 February 2026

 

Route

 

Description

The walk started at the Kellaway Street car park in Hackett. From there we followed tracks and trails in a counter-clockwise direction around the base of Mt Ainslie. A nice enough walk, but not much noteworthy around the route. Hence no pictures.

 

Canberra Nature Park: Tuggeranong Hill

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9.4 kilometers

Total climb:   346 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 10 minutes
Moving time: 2 hours

Maps:   Tuggeranong 8727-3S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   26.5 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 92169 74114

Destination map grid reference:  none

Dates walked: 21 November 2025

 

Route

 

Description

The walk started at Callister Crescent in Theodore. Inside the Reserve we followed a management trail to the northeast until we almost reached the Monaro Highway before turning around and heading back via the ridge we had just passed. There were some good views from the top of the hill.

 

Returning back to our starting point we did an anticlockwise loop around the base of Tuggeranong Hill.

 

Murrumbidgee River Corridor: Casuarina Sands to Knoll Lookout

General Information

Grading:  medium

Distance:   14.9 kilometers

Total climb:   451 meters

Time taken:   4 hours 30 minutes

Moving time:  3 hours 15 minutes

Maps:   Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   22 kilometers

Start/end point map grid reference:  55H FA 77526 89718

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 79969 84636

Dates walked: 31 October 2025 

 

Route

 

  

Description

This walk starts at the western end of the Casuarina Sands carpark and follows the Casuarina Sands to Kambah Pool section of the Murrumbidgee River Corridor track. For my part I was largely doing this walk to complete the last untrod section of the River north of Point Hut Crossing.

The trail begins at the end of the carpark and soon passes under the road bridge and heads south. Initially it is quite flat, following an alignment about 100-150 metres from the River. It then trends further away from the River, providing only limited views through the trees.

At two points along the track it deviates into private property over fences via stiles, with warning signs to stay on the track and not interfere with livestock. Not a difficult request, but we were bemused as to why these sections of track (which in some places followed the fenceline) were not constructed in the Reserve.

There are quite a few creeks to cross along the way, some of them bridged (the bridge over Bulgar Creek being particularly impressive, and as it turned out, a good place to have lunch) and others with steep steps down and back up again.

 

Just before our destination, the track veers left and through the fenceline once more. From here we could see Knoll Lookout in front of us.

 We climbed up to the lookout, which features elevated views of the Murrumbidgee in both directions.

 

We returned to our starting point by much the same route, stopping at Bulgar Creek for lunch.

Canberra Nature Park: Palmerville and Gold Creek

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   14.6 kilometers

Total climb:   152 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 20 minutes
Moving time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Maps:   Hall 8727-4S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   10.3 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 87709 99827

Destination map grid reference:    Palmerville 55H FB 89814 01432

                                                       Gold Creek 55H FB 89626 03881

Dates walked: 17 September 2025

 

Route

 

Description

This walk started at the McDermott Place carpark on Lake Ginninderra, for no other reason than to make the walk as long as possible. From there I headed to Ginninderra Drive, which I followed to the bridge before turning north and following Ginninderra Creek to the Palmerville Heritage Park.

 

I took a stroll through the Heritage Park and then continued along Ginninderra Creek until the Barton Highway. From there I went through the Gold Creek village area and stopped at one of the excellent cafes there for a rest before heading back to the starting point by much the same route.

Canberra Nature Park: The Pinnacle and Kama

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   12.2 kilometers

Total climb:   367 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 35 minutes
Moving time: 2 hours 12 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   9.4 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 86284 96432

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 83460 95004

Dates walked: 19 August 2025

 

Route

 

Description

This walk starts at the parking area off Springvale Drive near De Salis Street. From there I walked southeast and then southwest around the edge of The Pinnacle Reserve. At map reference 55H FA 85379 96011 I turned off down the track linking The Pinnacle and Kama Nature Reserves. Passing under William Hovell Drive through the underpass, I walked roughly southwest down as far as the Molonglo River.

 I did some further exploring around the river and a bit downstream...

 ...before heading back to the underpass and the beginning of the link trail. From there I turned left and completed a loop back to the starting point via The Pinnacle itself.

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.

 

Canberra Nature Park: Red Hill, Davidson Trig and Mt Mugga Nature Reserve

General Information

Grading: easy

Distance:   12 kilometers

Total climb:   428 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 50 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8627-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   9.3 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 91054 87473

Destination map grid reference:  Red Hill 55H FA 92384 88494
                                                    Davidson Hill 55H FA 92290 87556

End point:  same as start

 

Route

Description

This walk was identical to the one completed on 25 June 2019 (link).

 

Canberrra Nature Park: Barrer Hill from Coombs

General Information

Grading:  very easy

Distance:   6.5 kilometers

Total climb:   147 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 30 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   12.7 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 86356 89591

Destination map grid reference:55H FA 86253 90981

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

We started this walk on Harold White Avenue across from Bedbrook Street in the suburb of Coombs. We walked west along Harold White Avenue  and then down to the Molonglo River, which we crossed via a causeway at map reference 55H FA 86093 89684. We then followed the trrail along the other side of the river until we came to the Life Support Sculpture (map reference 55H FA 85442 90855) and took in the river views from there. We then backtracked and looped around to the top of Barrer Hill, and returned via the trail through the pine forest.

Canberra Nature Park: Coombs to Scrivener Dam and Return

General Information

Grading:  very easy

Distance:   7.2 kilometers

Total climb:   88 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 30 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   12.7 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 86356 89591

Destination map grid reference: 

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

We started this walk at the intersection of Harold White Avenue and Pearlman Street in the suburb of Coombs. From there we walked down to the Molonglo River and crossed to the other side, following the river under Tuggeranong Parkway until we reached another river crossing at map reference 55H FA 88106 90660. This was a good place for a photograph of the river with the last vestiges of the morning's fog.

On the other side of the river we continued on to Scrivener Damand crossed it. We then followed the fenceline of The National Zoo and Aquarium, which gave us some views seldom seen on local bushwalks.

We continued back along the river, returning to our starting point.

Canberra Nature Park: The Pinnacle and Weetangera Cemetery

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   7.3 kilometers

Total climb:   158 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 30 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   9.4 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 86284 96432

Destination map grid reference:  Weetangera Cemetery 55H FA 84378 97697

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

This walk starts at the parking area off Springvale Drive near De Salis Street.

Entering The Pinnacle Reserve, I followed the Bicentennial National Trail to the right and then turned off towards The Pinnacle - I couldn't go the top because there was maintenance work happening. I then made may way along the back of the suburb of Hawker, took the underpass at William Hovell Drive and turned left to the Weetangera Cemetery. I returned back through Hawker and along the border of The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, with a brief detour off the track to a prominence at map reference 55H FA 85657 95618.

Canberra Nature Park: The Pinnacle and Mt Painter

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9.2 kilometers

Total climb:   341 meters

Time taken:   3 hours

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   9.4 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 86284 96432

Destination map grid reference:  Mt Painter - 55H FA 87754 95142

                                                     The Pinnacle - 55H FA 85674 96486

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

Description

This walk starts at the parking area off Springvale Drive near De Salis Street.

Entering The Pinnacle Reserve, I followed the Bicentennial National Trail to the left and down to Coulter Drive. I walked down  Coulter Drive and then turned off onto the trail up to the summit of Mt Painter. Returning back to The Pinnacle Reserve the same way, I did a clockwise loop around the Reserve, stopping at The Pinnacle itself before heading back to the starting point.

Canberra Nature Park: Gossan Hill Nature Reserve

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9.2 kilometers

Total climb:   216 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 50 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   6.3 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: street address

Destination map grid reference:  Gossan Hill - 55H FA 89735 97589

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

  

Description

I started this walk from the Aranda shops in Bandjalong Crescent, Aranda, partly because it would be easy to park there, and partly because I wanted to extend the length of the walk to get to my preferred length of at least 10 kilometers. Parking was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated because it was school drop-off time. And I came up a few hundred meters short of the 10 kilometer mark.

From Bandjalong Crescent I walked down a pathway towards the Aranda playing fields and crossed Belconnen Way via the pedestrian footbridge. From there I turned left up towards Bitumen Track (aptly named) and then turned off onto Urban FT and Radford FT (tracks in the Reserve are pretty well signposted). I then took the Gossan Six FT up to a 667 meter lookout with views to the west.

Continuing past the lookout I turned right on to Gossan Seven FT where I had my first look at Gossan Hill and some views to the north and east.

At the end of Gossan Seven FT I turned left on to Middle FT, which took me to College Street near Radford College. Going bush, I followed the Radford College fence line until it took me back to Radford FT and Gossan One FT which parallels Haydon Drive. Again to extend the walking distance I crossed Haydon Drive and walked the trails behind Calvary Hospital. Near the Calvary parking station I had to go bush again. It probably would have been better to head towards Gungahlin Drive and then down to the track next to Belconnen Way.

I eventually made it back to where I started the Calvary Hospital deviation and walked up Urban FT and Middle FT to the top of Gossan Hill (at 669 meters the highest point of the walk. There wasn't much to look at there, and even the kangaroos seemed surprised that I even took the trouble.

From the summit I went back to Gossan Three FT and headed downhill to Urban FT, which took me back to the Bitumen Track near where I had left it. I decided to follow the Bitumen Track to the right (just to see what was there) and was rewarded with this view:

From there I headed back towards my starting point, taking a few deviations (again, just to see what was there).

Rob Roy Nature Reserve: Some Waterfalls, the Black and White Mine and Monks Hill

General Information

Grading : medium

Distance:  9.4 kilometers 

Total climb:  521 meters

Time taken:  3 hours 50 minutes

Map:  Tuggeranong 8727-3S, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  29 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 91194 72673

Destination map grid reference:  Waterfalls 55H FA 91349 70137 (approximate)

                                                     Mine 55H FA 91016 71165

                                                     Monks 55H FA 91216 71267

End point:  same as start

Route

 

Description

This walk began at the car park just off Orange Tree Crescent in Banks. Through the gate we started walking up a steep sealed track which turns into a more level gravel track at the top of this first ascent. About 2 kilometers into the walk the track divides, with the track on the right heading towards Monks Hill and the left track heading towards Mount Rob Roy. We went up towards Monks Hill for as short distance, and then went bush following a fence line south until we came to a creek in a deep gully with some small waterfalls.

We then headed back along the same fence line for a while before heading west towards the Black and White Mine.

After inspecting the mine we headed up to Monks Hill to take in some of the views before retracing our route back to the starting point.

Canberra Nature Park: Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve

General Information

Grading: easy

Distance: 7.9 kilometers 

Total climb: 344 metres 

Time taken: 3 hours

Maps:  Canberra 8627-3N 1:25 000; Bungendore 8727-2N 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  19 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  Canberra 55H GA 04479 88164 

Destination map grid reference:  Bungendore 55H GA 06798 87761 

End point:  same as start

Route

 

Description

This was essentially the same as the walk completed on 6 November 2020 (link).

Canberra Nature Park: Coolemon Ridge and Mt Arawang

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   6.3 kilometers

Total climb:   241 metres

Time taken:   2 hours

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000; Tuggeranong 8727-3S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   16 kilometres

Start point map grid reference: street address

Destination map grid reference:  Mt Arawang - 55H FA 85840 84231

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

This walk started at the carpark off Namatjira Drive near the Kambah Pool Road. It was was pretty similar to previous walks in this area, although we walked the ridge before climbing Mt Arawang from the less steep western side.

Canberra Nature Park: Mt Majura

 

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   5.9 kilometers

Total climb:   267 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 40 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   6.2 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  street address

Destination map grid reference:   none

End point:  Same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

The starting point for this walk was the carpark off Mackenzie Street in Hackett. We first walked through the reserve to the north and then followed vehicular trails and walking tracks to the summit of Mt Majura. We came back down the summit trail and then followed the zigzagging trail back down to the carpark.