Tarlo River National Park: Exploration of Areas South and North of Towrang Road

General Information

Grading:  medium

Distance:   8.9 kilometers

Total climb:   343 meters

Time taken:   3 hours 45 minutes

Map:  Chatsbury 8828-1N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   123 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H GB 69327 69324

Destination map grid reference:  no specific destination

End point:  same as start

Route

 

Description

The Tarlo River National Park is difficult to access, with only one public road (Towrang Road) passing through a small part of the Park's south eastern extremity. A good starting point for walking in Tarlo River National Park north or south of Towrang Road is where it meets the Quarry Trail, only a few hundred metres inside the Park. This is where we started.

We decided to explore the area south of Towrang Road first, and made our way along Towrang Road for about 350 metres before heading into the bush. It wasn't long before we came across the first of the Permian conglomerate outcrops which are a feature of this area.

These can be found around the numerous steep, but easily accessible gullies that pervade the area. The bottoms of most gullies are covered in thick bracken, and care needs to be taken when walking through it as it obscures fallen trees and other hazards.

We headed generally south, going down into one gully and back again up the ridge before the next gully. The ridges were dry forest and the walking around them was very easy.

Reaching as far south as we wanted to go, and wanting to leave some time to explore north of the road, we turned around and navigated to the Yururga Trail which we followed back to Towrang Road and our starting point. Stopping for lunch here, we then went into the northern section and had a bit of a look around. It was also a series of ridges and gullies, but less interesting than the southern section.

After exploring for only a relatively short distance we decided to return to our starting point, although by a different route.

It might be useful in the future to spend a day walking north of Towrang Road to see how far we could get into the main area of the Park. 

Hume and Hovell Walking Track: Along Micalong Creek to Micalong Creek Camp Ground

General Information

Distance:   15.3 kilometers

Total climb:   363 meters

Time taken:   4 hours 26 minutes

Map:  Bobbys Plains 8627-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   90 kilometers (via Brindabella)

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 39856 94716

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 43189 98472

End point:  same as start

Route

Description

This walk starts at the Bossowa Campsite, about 1 kilometer north of Brindabella Road on Micalong Creek. We started the walk by crossing the footbridge over the creek and following the trail around to the north east. Before long we came to a ford with some stepping stones and went back to the original side of the creek. The crossing was not easy as the rocks were irregular and slippery in places.

From here we followed the Hume & Hovell Track signs. At first we were walking along a vehicular trail which paralleled Micalong Creek. Pine forest was on the right, with native bush and views of the creek on the left.

At map reference 55H FA 41486 96674 the rack narrows to a walking trail which winds through a narrow gully above the creek with some great views.

The trail crosses over the creek, normally by a footbridge which was not at its best when we were there:

Nevertheless, we were able to cross and continue following the trail signs to the Micalong Creek Camp Ground, which is right on a very nice part of the creek.

Unfortunately the camp ground itself was a bit disappointing, with structures graffitied and items of rubbish left around.

We returned to the starting point by much the same route, but took the more direct trail at the end.