Ginninderry Conservation Corridor: New Track to the Murrumbidgee

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   8.9 kilometers

Total climb:   264 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 15 minutes

Maps:   Umburra 8627-1S 1:25 000

Ginninderry walking tracks 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

23 November 2021, 22 May 2024, 28 May 2024, 16 June 2024

Route

Description

A new section of the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor walking track has recently been opened northwest of the swing bridges and down to the Murrumbidgee River. We decided to check this out.

Starting at The Link on McClymont Way we followed the pink trail up to Woodland Lookout and then down to the other side of the swing bridges where the new section of track begins (shown in dark blue on the Ginninderry walking trail map). We followed this up to Jahli's Lookout and then down to the river, where a nice swimming area has been designated.

We followed the blue track back to the pink track and then back to The Link by the usual route.

Ginninderry Conservation Corridor: Uriarra Crossing, Shepherds Lookout and the Swing Bridges

General Information

Grading:  medium

Distance:   19.1 kilometers

Total climb:   565 meters

Time taken:   3 hours 30 minutes (walking very fast)

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, 22 May 2024, 28 May 2024
Uriarra Crossing: 11 October 2014, 9 August 2015, 18 June 2020

Route

Description

After a few weeks of very ordinary weather I took advantage of a perfect Winter's Sunday to hike all of the walking tracks from The Link at Strathnairn: the Uriarra Loop, the Shepherd's Lookout loop and the Woodland/Nguurung Bila loop.

Starting at The Link in McClymont Way Strathnairn I walked the (relatively) old track towards Shepherds Lookout, but deviated to the Uriarra Loop and then back up to Shepherds Lookout itself. Leaving the Lookout I made my way to Wallaroo Spur and followed the new track back to where the Woodland/Nguurung Bila track (pink and blue arrows) starts. I followed the Woodland track (pink arrows) first and then returned via the Nguurung Bila track. Nice views towards Pig Hill...

...and back up at Shepherds Lookout.

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.

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.

Ginninderry Conservation Corridor: Strathnairn to Shepherd's Lookout

General Information

Grading : easy

Distance:  7.1 kilometers 

Total climb:  114 meters

Time taken:  1 hour 20 minutes

Map:  Hall 8727-4S 1:25 000 and Umburra 8727-1S 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  15 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 81451 99526

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 79900 98440

End point:  same as start

Route

 

 

Description

This walk began at The Link Community and Information Centre in McClymont Way, Ginninderry Village. It is along a newly constructed walking trail which is signposted, easy to follow and quite scenic. There are even a few artworks along the way. The best description of the walk is in the pictures:

The track is fairly flat and there are a few stiles to climb over. Parts of the track can also be muddy, I found. You may encounter livestock along the trail too, as the land it passes through is used for grazing: I had to make my way through a large herd of cattle near the start of the walk.