Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Gibraltar Peak (4)

General Information

Grading: easy

Distance: 8.6  kilometers 

Total climb: 347 meters 

Time taken: 2 hours 55 minutes 

Map: Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  44 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74969 75487

Destination:  55H FA 76750 74318

End Point:  Same as start

 

Route

 

Description

An ascent of Gibraltar Peak from the Dalsetta Carpark, all along the walking track and returning the same way.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Gibraltar Peak (3)

General Information

Distance: 6.4 kilometers
Total climb: 354 meters
Time taken: 2 hours
Map: Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000
Guide:  link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  45 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74987 75469
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 76766 74314
End Point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

I last hiked to Gibraltar Peak on 8 June 2016, but the route taken this time was different. Instead of following the walking track to the peak I walked through the scrub up a ridge. This proved to be quite difficult as the terrain was steep and the scrub in places was quite thick. On the way back I followed the walking trail.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Gibraltar Peak (2)

General Information

Distance: 7 kilometers
Total climb: 354 meters
Time taken: 2 hours
Map: Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000
Guide:  link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  45 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74987 75469
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 76766 74314
End Point:  Same as start

Route

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

Description

The starting point for climbing Gibraltar Peak is the Dalsetta carpark off the Tidbinbilla Reserve Road about 1.8 kilometers past the Tidbinbilla Visitors Centre. The walking trail starts across the road and initially heads east through grassland before starting to climb through forest to Eliza Saddle. The track then veers south towards Gibraltar Peak, reaching an intermediate viewing platform at around map grid reference FA 76595 74474. There are some excellent views of the valley from here.







Continuing along the trail we reached the rocky summit of Gibraltar Peak. It is worth doing some careful exploring around the rocks, and there are some more excellent views there.





Rather than retrace our steps, we walked down the Gibraltar Fire Trail to get back to Dalsetta. This fire trail is very steep in places and the sandy surface can be quite slippery.

This is a very good walk that can be completed in just a couple of hours (although the indicative time suggested by the Nature Reserve is 3-4 hours). The views are excellent and the track is clear and well maintained.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Gibraltar Peak (1)

General Information

Distance: 7 kilometers
Total climb: 354 meters
Time taken: 2 hours
Map: Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000
Guide:  link
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  45 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74987 75469
Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 76766 74314
End Point:  Same as start

See blog for later identical walk on 8 June 2015.