Canberra Nature Park: Red Hill and Davidson Hill (1)

General Information

Grading: easy

Distance:   9 kilometers

Total climb:   280 meters

Time taken:   2 hours

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

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

Description

This walk had the same destinations as the walk completed on 20 November 2018 (link), but started from a different point and took a different route. 

We started from the carpark near the ACT Scouts Branch Head Office off Kitchener Street between the suburbs of Hughes and Garran. We walked around the Federal Golf Course to the north before heading east, crossing the road the the Federal Clubhouse and climbing Red Hill. Following the ridge line, we reached Davidson Hill and stated to descent down its south side. We turned west onto the West Powerline Trail before heading back around the base of Davidson Hill and Red Hill and back around the Federal Golf Course.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Johns Peak and Tidbinbilla Peak

General Information

Grading:  hard

Distance:  16 kilometers 

Total climb:  869 meters 

Time taken:  5 hours 30 minutes 

Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  52 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 71471 74628 

Destination map grid reference:  Johns Peak   55H FA 71378 77330

                                                    Tidbinbilla Peak   55H FA 70688 76929 

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

Although I had walked up to Johns Peak only two weeks before (link), I enjoyed it so much I thought I'd go up again and continue on to Tidbinbilla Peak. If there had been more daylight hours to play with (it was, after all, the Winter Solstice) I would have been inclined to continue on to Tidbinbilla Mountain; but that will have to wait for spring.

We took the same route up to Johns Peak in perfect winter walking weather with some nice views of the climb ahead of us from the Camel Back Trail.

From Johns Peak we continued along the walking track on the top of the Tidbinbilla Range which dog-legs to the west and then southwest to Tidbinbilla Peak. This is a particularly nice section of walking trail: good views and not at all strenuous. From Tidbinbilla peak we could see Tidbinbilla Mountain and The Pimple, and also had views towards the Brindabellas one way and Canberra the other.

It was pretty cold on top of Tidbinbilla Peak, with some clouds starting to scud across the sky and an increasing southerly breeze. We returned along the walking track and Camel Back Trail, finding another view of Johns Peak from the opposite side (the side we climbed).

About mid-way along the Camel Back Trail we were treated to the sounds of a nearby lyrebird going through its repertoire of other birds' songs: we heard it mimic cockatoos, magpies, currawongs, kookaburras and many others we couldn't identify. No sign of the bird itself, but it must have been very close to us.

Canberra Nature Park: Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   10.3 kilometers

Total climb:   180 meters

Time taken:   2 hours

Maps:   Hall 8727-4S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   18 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FB 95406 06415

Destination map grid reference:   no real destination

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk commenced at the Mulligans Flat carpark on Amy Ackman Street, Forde. We first headed in an easterly direction through a number of gates in the electrified fences protecting wildlife in the Reserve. Reaching the ACT-NSW border we followed it around to the north and west before heading back and completing the loop. While this was a pleasant enough walk with clear trails and minimal climbing, there were no particularly picturesque views: hence no photos.

Murrumbidgee Corridor North of Kambah Pool (2)

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   7.4 kilometers

Total climb:   332 metres

Time taken:   2 hours

Maps:   Tuggeranong 8727-3S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   19 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 82696 81011

Destination map grid reference:   55H FA 82536 83704

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This is a shorter version of the walk completed on 1 December 2018.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Johns Peak

General Information

Grading:  medium

Distance:  13.7 kilometers 

Total climb:  710 meters 

Time taken:  3 hours 35 minutes 

Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  52 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 71471 74628 

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 71378 77330 

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

On my way to this hike I saw an emu and a wedge-tailed eagle just off the road near the Cotter Reserve. Having had this piece of good luck I was hopeful that I might catch a glimpse of a lyrebird at Tidbinbilla.

Parking the car at the Mountain Creek carpark I headed off up the walking trail to the Camelback Fire Trail, which I followed to the north, the song of unseen lyrebird mocking me along the way. I'd forgotten just how steep and tiring the first two kilometers of the fire trail are, and was grateful when the track levelled out a bit at the 1100 metre elevation mark. I continued along the fire trail until I passed Johns Peak to the west of me, and started to look for places to climb straight up through the bush from the fire trail to the top of the ridge that approaches John Peak from the north-northeast. Having passed by a couple of spots that looked better on the map than in reality, if found a spot at map reference 55H FA 71934 77835 which, although steep, was only about 200 metres from the ridge and seemed to be free of thick scrub and forest regrowth. It was, in the end, a relatively easy climb and I found the foot trail leading up to Johns Peak with little trouble.

Following the foot trail I had my first glimpse of the summit of Johns Peak ahead, with the Brindabella Range to my right and Camels Hump behind me.

Soon the track started to climb more steeply, and in some places I had to climb over rock outcrops. The views, however, just got better and better.

Reaching the summit, the best view was back towards Camels Hump.

After a short break at the summit, I headed back the way I'd come. Instead of cutting through the bush to get back to the fire trail, however, I followed the foot track all along the ridge. This increased the distance I had to walk, but it was worth it. Following the trail is a bit tricky in some places, but if you follow the top of the ridge it's hard to go wrong. Coming back to the Camel Back Fire Trail I followed it down to Mountain Creek. Along the way I saw a lyrebird gliding down the slope ahead of me. A great day for elusive native birds.