Tidinbilla Nature Reserve: Johns Peak, Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain

General Information

Grading:  hard

Distance:   14.5 kilometers

Total climb:   948 meters

Time taken:   6 hours 30 minutes
Moving time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Maps:   Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   52.7 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 71480 74646

Destination map grid reference:  none

Dates walked: 12 June 2026

 

Route

 

Description

I have hiked these peaks several times in the past, but never the three of them together. This was made possible by the opening of the Mindjagari Track network in 2025 which (among other things) linked Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain.

The walk starts at the Mountain Creek car park in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. From the car park we followed the Camelback Fire Trail up to where it intersects with the track to Johns Peak (55H FA 72075 78543). We made Johns Peak in good time and went on to Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain along the Mindjagari Track. The only new section for me was the Track between Tidbinbilla Peak and Tidbinbilla Mountain, which is not as easy as it seems on the map: rocky ground and a few substantial climbs. The views from all three peaks are superb, but Tidbinbilla Mountain is the only one to offer 360 degree views.

After lunch on the Mountain we headed towards the Snowy Corner Track and began our real descent back to the car park, stopping at a viewing chair on the way to take in a final view over the Tidbinbilla valley.

The walk down was quite steep, strenuous, and very slippery after recent rain. It's not a great distance - only 3.6 kilometers - but it took us 1.75 hours to get from the top of the Mountain back to the car park.

Canberra Nature Park: Bluett's Block and the Molonglo River

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9.4 kilometers

Total climb:   312 meters

Time taken:   2 hours
Moving time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   5.6 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 872661 91832

Destination map grid reference:  none

Dates walked: 22 May 2026

 

Route

 

Description

This walk starts at the entrance to Bluett's Block Reserve off Uriarra Road about 1.6 kilometers past the Coaldrake Avenue roundabout. There is a small car park here next to the gate.

Climbing over the gate I came to some power lines which I followed to the top of the rise before heading right into some very nice bush.

I made my way to a rise at 55H FA 82859 92276 and from there to Springybark Hill (55H FA 82774 92513).  Some great views all around from there.

I next followed the western edge of the Reserve (marked by a barbed wire fence) and back to the main road through it. I headed north along the road until I came to the Molonglo River.

 

I followed the track beside the river, then heading for the shops at Denman Prospect where I could stop for a coffee. After that I walked up Holborow Avenue until I found a place where I could re-enter Blewett's Block Reserve (around 55H FA 83696 92693), a bit south of where I re-joined the road on the outward journey. I went bush at first, since I couldn't follow the road due to construction fences. Eventually, however, I was able to use the road again at around 55H FA 83499 92325 and continue along it to the starting point. This was not a particularly satisfying sector of the walk due to the very loud construction noises coming from just left of the road.

Canberra Nature Park: Mt Ainslie Base Circuit

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9 kilometers

Total climb:   222 meters

Time taken:   1 hour 55 minutes
Moving time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   5.6 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 96596 96439

Destination map grid reference:  none

Dates walked: 27 February 2026

 

Route

 

Description

The walk started at the Kellaway Street car park in Hackett. From there we followed tracks and trails in a counter-clockwise direction around the base of Mt Ainslie. A nice enough walk, but not much noteworthy around the route. Hence no pictures.

 

Namadgi National Park: Honeysuckle Creek Campground to Booroomba Rocks

General Information

Grading : medium

Distance:  11.5 kilometers 

Total climb:  375 meters

Time taken:  3 hours 30 minutes

Moving Time:  2 hours 35 minutes

Map:  Corin Dam 8626-1N, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  53 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 79143 60486

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 81967 62279

End point:  same as start

Dates walked: 21 April 2022, 13 February 2026 

Route

 

Description

This walk was almost identical to one I completed back in 2022. Details can be viewed through the link here.

Castle Hill

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9.1 kilometers

Total climb:   407 meters

Time taken:   3 hours 11 minutes
Moving time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Maps:   Tuggeranong 8727-3S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   33.5 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 55H FA 83721 73853

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 84416 71684

Dates walked: 23 January 2026

 

Note: This walk was through private land and was done with the permission of the landowner. 

 

Route

 

Description

The walk started from Tidbinbilla Road about 5.7 kilometers from Point Hut Crossing and near some overhead power lines. We followed these power lines for the first part of the walk before deviating up the spur that leads to Castle Hill. Almost immediately there were views to the north, and Castle Hill itself became prominent to the south east. 

 

We continued along the ridge and up a rather barren-looking Castle Hill itself, where there were great views all around.

After some discussion at the top of Castle Hill we decided to continue down the south east spur and return via Booroomba Road. There is an (apparently) disused vehicular track down this spur; very steep and treacherous, but much better than walking through the thick scrub on that side of the Hill. We found Booroomba Road and followed it until we passed a cattle grid, at which point we left the road and found Paddy's River. 

From there we returned to the power lines and back to our starting point. 

Blue Mountains: Leura Cascades to Echo Point

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   6.4 kilometers

Total climb:   225 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 5 minutes
Moving time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Maps:   Katoomba 8930-1S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   328 kilometers

Start point map grid reference: 56H KH 52005 65718

Destination map grid reference:  56H KH 51020 64250

Dates walked: 3 January 2026

 

Route

 

Description

This was more of a tourist stroll than a bushwalk, but worth reporting nonetheless.

The walk started at the Leura Cascades car park off Cliff Drive, from which point we followed the well-maintained walking track towards Echo Point.

  There were occasional views back towards Leura and Sublime Point.

Eventually we made it to The Three Sisters and Echo Point, where the crowds were crazy but did not prevent us from taking a few pictures of the sights.

 We returned the same way to our starting point.