Uriarra Pine Forest: Blue Range Hut

General Information

Distance:  7 kilometers
Total climb:  unknown
Time taken:  2 hours 30 minutes
Map:  Cotter Dam 8627-2N, 1:25 000
Guide:  Marion Stuart, Best Bush, Town and Village Walks in and around the ACT (2012); 
                                    pp. 68-71.
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  40 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 70503 93001
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 70582 93234
End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

The starting point for this hike is a locked gate on Blue Range Road just north of its crossing of Blue Range Creek. We started walking past the gate along blue range road for about 250 meters until we reached Blue Range Hut. Having just started walking, however, we just passed it by and continued to follow Blue Range Road through some rather nice native forest to the north and then the west before entering the pine forest.



There are occasional views of the pine forest, Cotter Dam and distant Canberra as you gain elevation.









About 1.4 kilometres into the walk Blue Range Road turns south and we followed it for about 2 kilometers before reaching an intersection (map grid reference 55H FA 69576 92431) where we turned left (northeast). This took us back to Blue Range Road about 500 meters south of our starting point. We then walked north back to Blue Range Hut where we could have some lunch and enjoy the native forest before heading home.

This is an interesting walk that isn't too taxing. The views are pleasant without being spectacular and the track is wide and easy to follow. Take time to read about the history of Blue Range Hut while you are there.

Namadgi National Park: The Settlers Track

General Information

Distance:  9 kilometers
Total climb:  unknown
Time taken:  about 4 hours
Maps:  Shannons Flat 8626-2S, 1:25 000; Yaouk 8626-2N, 1:25 000
Guide:  link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  81 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 79265 28028
Destination map grid reference:  Brayshaws Hut - 55H FA 79189 28126
                                                    Waterhole Hut - 55H FA 76231 29099
                                                    Westermans Homestead - 55H FA 77948 26775
End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk starts from a parking area on Boboyan Road a bit over 2 kilometers north of the NSW/ACT border. Brayshaws Hut, the first of three restored settler huts to be visited on the walk, is nearby.



From Brayshaws we followed a clear trail west through grassy country with occasional remnants of settler structures.



Eventually the trail led us to Waterhole Hut, about 3.7 kilometre from our starting point, and its very scenic surrounds .







We then joined the Waterholes Fire Trail and followed it south and the southeast for about 4.3 kilometers to Westermans Homestead.





From Westermans we took the walking track heading northeast back to the carpark about two kilometers away.

This is a very nice walk which only suffers from the fact that it took me almost an hour and a half to drive from my house to the starting point. Still it is well worth the effort, if only for the history of the areas' settlers. It's a good idea to take the Settlers Track brochure with you (link) as it provides a lot of the historical context for the walk.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Gibraltar Peak (1)

General Information

Distance: 7 kilometers
Total climb: 354 meters
Time taken: 2 hours
Map: Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000
Guide:  link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  45 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74987 75469
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 76766 74314
End Point:  Same as start

See blog for later identical walk on 8 June 2015.