Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Jedbinbilla

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:  8 kilometers 

Total climb:  238 meters 

Time taken:  2 hours 20 minutes 

Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  43 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74538 75990 

Destination map grid reference:  n/a 

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk started at Blewitts carpark. Our first challenge was to get across the Tidbinbilla River at Blewitts since there is no bridge and the water level was quite high after recent rain. After some exploration we found a fallen tree which I was able to balance-walk across, although my less agile co-walker took the lower branch which enabled him to balance with his hands on the main trunk.

Across the river we found the River Road and followed it south for a bit before we found a walking track on the right which we followed up to another management trail which we followed southwest, west and north until it became the Man on the Horse Trail. At around map reference 55H FA 73690 75953 we found a walking track on the right which we decided to follow to see where it went. This took us through some rather nice bushland with views to the east and the Tidbinbilla Range to the west.

The walking trail eventually led us to a point near the intersection of the Spur 2 Firetrail and Split Rock Trail. We followed Split Rock Trail and it was here that we first came across the new wallaby enclosure fence.

We followed Split Rock Trail until Gilmore Road, which we started to follow back to our start point. There was a gate in the wallaby enclosure fence on Gilmore Road which we had to pass through. We followed Gilmore Road until it met the Boundary Trail where we turned right and found the beginning of the river walking track. Although this is a short track it is well worth following and was a highlight of the walk.

The trail took us through to Blewitts where we finished the walk with a nice lunch and an excellent bottle of wine.

Canberra Nature Park: Black Mountain Eastern Slopes

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9 kilometers

Total climb:   320 meters

Time taken:   2 hours

Maps:   Canberra 8727-2N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   2.4 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  Canberra 55H FA 92069 95473

Destination map grid reference:   Little Black Mountain - Canberra 55H FA 91226 95326

                                                     Lookout - Canberra 55H FA 91100 93563

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

The starting point for this walk was the intersection of Dryandra Street and Frith Road in O'Connor. We started by walking under the Barry Drive underpass and made our way via management trails and faint walking tracks through some very nice forest to the prominent peak at 55H FA 92069 95326, which our guide referred to as Little Black Mountain.

From there we descended again and followed more management trails and walking tracks, generally following the contour of the mountain to a lookout platform at 55H FA 91100 93563, which gave a clear view towards the lake.

Retracing our steps for a bit, and then continuing along the clear walking track, we eventually came to the National Botanic Gardens gate on Black Mountain Road. We entered the Gardens and followed the tracks at the west of the Gardens and made our way back to the starting point.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Johns Peak (2)

General Information

Grading:  hard 

Distance:  15.3 kilometers 

Total climb:  713 meters 

Time taken:  3 hours 20 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

This walk was largely identical to the one I completed on 6 June 2019 (link), with the differences being that I did not take the shortcut through the bush on the way up, and I didn't quite reach the top of the peak due to a shortage of time and a disinclination to scramble up the rocks to the summit.

Canberra Nature Park: Aranda Bushland and Mt Painter (2)

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   7.8 kilometers

Total climb:   280 meters

Time taken:   2 hours

Maps:   Canberra 8727-2N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   6.4 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 89102 96546

Destination map grid reference:   55H FA 87748 95143

End point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk was almost identical to the one undertaken on 26 February 2019 (link). The walk started at the Aranda shops in Bandjalong Crescent and followed paths and vehicular trails to the top of Mount Painter. Leaving the summit we went cross-country and across Bindubi Street to follow a vehicular trail back into the Aranda Bushland. We found a walking track on the left that took us to the top of a hill from which point we headed back to the start point the way we had come.