Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Johns Peak

General Information

Grading:  hard 

Distance:  14.3 kilometers 

Total climb:  708 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

 

Previous Similar Walks

6 June 2019, 21 June 2019, 16 July 2020

Route

 

Description

Another hike to Johns Peak from the Mountain Creek Carpark, following the official track. I had originally planned to continue on to Tidbinbilla Peak, but the weather conditions at the top of the range were awful: cold temperature, strong winds and heavy clouds.

Refer to previous walks for more details.

 

Ginninderry Conservation Corridor: Strathnairn to Shepherds Lookout - New Loop Route

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   7 kilometers

Total climb:   150 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 15 minutes

Maps:   Umburra 8627-1S 1:25 000

Walk information:  https://www.ginninderry.org/corridor-walking-tracks

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   17 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 81450 99525

Destination map grid reference:   55H FA 79896 98445

End point:  Same as start

 

Previous Similar Walks

Ginninderry Conservation Corridor: 23 November 2021, 22 May 2024

Route

Description

This walk combines the old Strathnairn to Shepherds Lookout track and a new section of track roughly east of the original track. The walk starts at the Strathnairn to Shepherds Lookout trackhead which is accessed from The Link on McClymont Way Strathnairn.

At the beginning of the actual walking track I took the right hand fork which also leads to the Woodland/Nguurung Bila Loop. Where the track comes to an intersection with a small bridge on the right I went straight ahead (not over the bridge!), following the orange arrows. This led me to the Burin Lookout with its views towards the mountains.

Coming soon after to an intersection I turned right and followed an old vehicular trail for a while before a new section of walking track to the left. This led me through a more forested area of the walk with some deep, steep sided gullies.

Eventually the trail came to the old Walaroo Spur lookout, and from there to the original track. I continued on to Shepherds Lookout with its wonderful view up the Murrumbidgee (I particularly liked the sun glistening off the water).

I walked back via the original track.

Canberra Nature Park: Coombs to Scrivener Dam and Return

General Information

Grading:  very easy

Distance:   7.2 kilometers

Total climb:   88 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 30 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   12.7 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 86356 89591

Destination map grid reference: 

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

We started this walk at the intersection of Harold White Avenue and Pearlman Street in the suburb of Coombs. From there we walked down to the Molonglo River and crossed to the other side, following the river under Tuggeranong Parkway until we reached another river crossing at map reference 55H FA 88106 90660. This was a good place for a photograph of the river with the last vestiges of the morning's fog.

On the other side of the river we continued on to Scrivener Damand crossed it. We then followed the fenceline of The National Zoo and Aquarium, which gave us some views seldom seen on local bushwalks.

We continued back along the river, returning to our starting point.

Ginninderry Conservation Corridor: Woodland and Nguurung Bila Loop Tracks

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   7.3 kilometers

Total climb:   213 meters

Time taken:   2 hours

Maps:   Umburra 8627-1S 1:25 000

Walk information:  https://www.ginninderry.org/corridor-walking-tracks

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   17 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 81450 99525

Destination map grid reference:   none

End point:  Same as start

Previous Similar Walks

Ginninderry Conservation Corridor: 23 November 2021

Route

 

Description

These new walking tracks were officially opened on 21 May 2024. I was lucky enough to attend the opening ceremony, although I did not get to walk the full length of the track after the opening at the Woodland Lookout since we were all driven there. I returned the very next day, however, to do the complete loop.

The walk starts at the Strathnairn to Shepherds Lookout trackhead which is accessed from The Link on McClymont Way Strathnairn. The walk is well-signposted and it is a matter of following the colour-coded arrows on the signposts. We followed the Woodland Track (pink arrows) first, primarily because I was aware of a rather steep section just after the Woodland Lookout which I would rather walk down than climb up.

We first made our way to Woodland Lookout, the highest point of the track, which gives great views towards the Murrumbidgee and the mountains.

From there we walked down the steep section of track mentioned above and then started following the Nguurung Bila Track (marked with light blue arrows). After a while we came to a very nice section of creek.

At the northernmost part of the track (and having reached the end of the Nguurung Bila Track and back on the Woodland Track) we came to the two new swing bridges, which are a bit of a feature of the walk, being the only examples in the ACT.

Crossing the bridges we continued back south along the Woodland Track (pink arrows)before turning off onto the Nguurung Bila Track (light blue arrows) once again just before the Nguurung Lookout.* We then completed the loop back to our starting point.

* If all this pink track/blue track stuff is too confusing I suggest using the Ginninderry Conservation Trust map which can be accessed through the hyperlink above, or paper copies were available at The Link.

Canberra Nature Park: The Pinnacle and Weetangera Cemetery

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   7.3 kilometers

Total climb:   158 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 30 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   9.4 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 86284 96432

Destination map grid reference:  Weetangera Cemetery 55H FA 84378 97697

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

This walk starts at the parking area off Springvale Drive near De Salis Street.

Entering The Pinnacle Reserve, I followed the Bicentennial National Trail to the right and then turned off towards The Pinnacle - I couldn't go the top because there was maintenance work happening. I then made may way along the back of the suburb of Hawker, took the underpass at William Hovell Drive and turned left to the Weetangera Cemetery. I returned back through Hawker and along the border of The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, with a brief detour off the track to a prominence at map reference 55H FA 85657 95618.