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.