Stony Creek Nature Reserve: Stony Creek to Murrumbidgee River

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   8.5 kilometers

Total climb:   297 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 35 minutes

Maps:   Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000; Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   16.5 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 82107 92200

Destination map grid reference:     55H FA 79070 91611

End point:  Same as start

 

Route

 

Description

This walk started in Stromlo Forest just off Uriarra Road about 2.5km from the Coaldrake Avenue roundabout (see map reference above). We followed Coopers Fire Trail for about 2km until we reached some power lines. There is a fence here that divides Stromlo Forest from Stony Creek Nature Reserve, and a convenient wooden stile to cross over.

Entering Stony Creek Nature Reserve we made our way through open grassland towards Stony Creek itself.

 

Following the southern side of the Creek its sides became steeper until it ran through a rather nice rocky gorge.

 

We had vague ideas about following the Creek through the gorge, but the steep descent and obvious blackberry infestations turned us off the idea. We later found that there was also a waterfall (at that time dry) which we would have had to climb down.

 

 

Eventually we came to a fence which we were able to cross under where it passes over the Creek, and it was a short distance from there to a very peaceful stretch of the Murrumbidgee.

 

Making our way back to the fence, we climbed out of the Creek bed and headed towards the southern border of this part of the Reserve. We then followed the border fence, with some more views towards the Murrumbidgee, Stony Creek and beyond.

 

Making our way back to the stile we went back up Coopers Fire Trail, but took a detour up TSR Fire Trail (just for a bit of variety) and back to our starting point.

Canberrra Nature Park: Barrer Hill from Coombs

General Information

Grading:  very easy

Distance:   6.5 kilometers

Total climb:   147 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:55H FA 86253 90981

End point:  same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description

We started this walk on Harold White Avenue across from Bedbrook Street in the suburb of Coombs. We walked west along Harold White Avenue  and then down to the Molonglo River, which we crossed via a causeway at map reference 55H FA 86093 89684. We then followed the trrail along the other side of the river until we came to the Life Support Sculpture (map reference 55H FA 85442 90855) and took in the river views from there. We then backtracked and looped around to the top of Barrer Hill, and returned via the trail through the pine forest.

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.

Uriarra: Sherwood in Autumn

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   8.2 kilometers

Total climb:   245 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 20 minutes

Maps:   Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   32 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74137 95543

Destination map grid reference:   55H FA 72104 95061

End point:  Same as start

Route

Description

I had visited the Sherwood daffodils in October several times in the past, but had always thought it might be nice to visit while the trees were still leafy, and perhaps starting to turn to their autumn colours.

We started the walk at the small parking area off Mountain Creek Road, and having walked up the first hill, we followed the loop in a clockwise direction to the Sherwood Homestead site. There were some autumn colours in the trees along the way, but not much.

 The homestead site looks very different in autumn, and is best described in photos:

We were surprised to find that there were still some irises(?) in bloom under the tree canopy.

We had two young children (aged 5 and 2) on the walk, both of whom are big fans of The Gruffalo. They had a great time strolling through "the deep dark wood" and looking for the fox's underground house, the owl's treetop house and the snake's log pile house. Not only did they find all of these, they even found a nut for the mouse.

We walked back through the pine forest to the carpark.

Namadgi National Park: Rendezvous Creek, Middle Creek and Yankee Hat

General Information

Grading : hard

Distance:  14.7 kilometers 

Total climb:  359 meters

Time taken:  5 hours 23 minutes

Map:  Rendezvous Creek 8626-1S, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  63 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 80599 44237

Destination map grid reference:  no particular destination

End point:  same as start

Route

Description

This walk began at the Rendezvous Creek car park off Boboyan Road. We initially thought we might head towards Middle Creek and see how far up the creek we could penetrate, but really we wanted the walk to be flexible.

We started out by following the walking trail over the bridge to the other side of Rendezvous Creek and up to the rest area. From here we took a pretty much straight line towards the mountain gap where we wanted to join Middle Creek. Some good views along the way of the Rendezvous Creek valley to the north and Yankee Hat to the south west.

After walking through grassland for a while we entered some forest, which was moderately difficult to get through, eventually making our way to the northern side of Middle Creek.

The banks of the creek were quite high, nearly vertical, and too wide to jump. We therefore continued upstream until we found a convenient fallen tree trunk across the creek. Having crossed over we continued walking upstream. It became increasingly difficult to get through the thick undergrowth, so we didn't get too far before deciding to stop for morning tea. At this point we took the courageous decision to leave Middle Creek and see how far we could ascend Yankee Hat North up its northern spur. This proved to be very difficult, with a very steep slope, rock outcrops and thick undergrowth to navigate. Just shy of the 1200 meter contour we found a rock outcrop where we could take in both lunch and the view, which included Mt Kelly, Mt Burbidge and Mt Namadgi.

Although the peak of Yankee Hat North appeared tantalisingly close, we decided against going any further up - it was too steep, too rocky, too overgrown, and we were too tired - and started to go down again by much the same route.

We stayed on the southern side of Middle Creek, intending to cross at the concrete ford on Middle Creek Track at map reference 55H FA 77939 42941. While we could cross the ford easily enough, we were unable to get across the swampy ground on the other side. We therefore had to continue along Middle Creek until we found a spot we could jump across. On the northern side of Middle Creek we made our way to the Rendezvous Creek Trail, which we followed for a while before going back to the start point via the walking track we had followed before.

Canberra Nature Park: The Pinnacle and Mt Painter

General Information

Grading:  easy

Distance:   9.2 kilometers

Total climb:   341 meters

Time taken:   3 hours

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:  Mt Painter - 55H FA 87754 95142

                                                     The Pinnacle - 55H FA 85674 96486

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 left and down to Coulter Drive. I walked down  Coulter Drive and then turned off onto the trail up to the summit of Mt Painter. Returning back to The Pinnacle Reserve the same way, I did a clockwise loop around the Reserve, stopping at The Pinnacle itself before heading back to the starting point.

Gibbergunyah Reserve

General Information

Grading: easy

Distance: 6.9 kilometers 

Total climb: 307 meters 

Time taken: 2 hours 30 minutes

Map: Mittagong 8929-2S 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  175 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  56H KG 62016 85533

Destination:  none

End Point:  Same as start

 

Route

 

 

Description 

Gibbergunyah is a small reserve that sits between Mittagong and Bowral. It can be accessed from either town, but we started our walk from the Mittagong side. The access point is a locked gate on Howards Way, about 4 kilometers west of the centre of Mittagong. There is a sign here with a map of the walking tracks in the Reserve, and it's a good idea to take a picture of it before setting out. It should be noted that there is traffic noise from the nearby Hume Motorway on the Mittagong side of the Reserve, so this really isn't a walk for people who like the quiet sounds of the bush.

We started up the walking track to the right of the locked gate (shown in yellow on the guide map) and gradually climbed through forest until it met the Gang Gang Track. There were still plenty of wildflowers about, even though it was (notionally) Summer.

 

We followed the Gang Gang track to the right until we came to a walking trail on the right leading up to Ninety Acre Hill lookout, which has limited views to the northwest.

Returning to  Gang Gang Track, we followed it to the end and turned left onto Goanna Track, which we followed around until it turned sharply left. Here we left  Goanna Track and followed a walking trail down into a rainforest gully.

Unfortunately we found the trail a bit difficult to follow and soon lost it altogether. We were able to bush bash our way out of the gully and back to the Gang Gang Track, which we followed back to our starting point.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve: Gibraltar Peak via Devils Gap

General Information

Grading: medium

Distance: 12 kilometers 

Total climb: 575 meters 

Time taken: 3 hours

Map: Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  46 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 74405 73675

Destination:  55H FA 76675 74314

End Point:  Same as start

 

Route 

 

Note: Forget about the straight line shown below at the end of the walk. It appears that my GPS watch had a slight glitch.

 

Description 

This walk started at the Devils Gap carpark on the Tidbinbilla Reserve ring road. I  followed the Devils Gap fire trail past the gate at the border of the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and down to the intersection of numerous management trails at map reference 55H FA 75791 72572.

I took the first trail on the left, which headed back in the general direction I had come from.

This trail is quite rough and a bit overgrown, so I started my habitual snake scanning as I progressed up the hill. At map reference 55H FA 75730 73058 there was another trail heading off to the left.

I followed this trail around to the top of the hill just north of Devils Gap. At map reference 55H FA 75630 73273 I left the track and went bush, following the ridge line down the first hill and up and down a second. The bush was not easy, but not particularly difficult either. Initially it was a bit like this:

Toward the top of the second hill, however, it became a bit rocky and scrubby and my progress was a lot slower. I was also looking out for snakes behind every rock and fallen branch.

By following the ridge I eventually came to the fire trail leading up to Gibraltar Peak, which I had to climb once again to take in the view.

Coming back down from the Peak to the management trail I turned left and went down a very steep slope and followed the signs towards Woods Reserve. This took me along the Gibraltar South fire trail and back to the Devils Gap trail. From there it was an easy walk back to the car park.

Cotter Area: Stony Creek Nature Reserve, Uriarra Forest and Mt McDonald

General Information

Grading:  medium

Distance:   13.8 kilometers

Total climb:   473 meters

Time taken:   3 hours 30 minutes

Maps:   Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   26 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 77061 90367

Destination map grid reference:   Cotter Campground 55H FA 77183 89391

                                                      Mt. McDonald 55H FA 76550 91170

End point:  Same as start

Route

Description

This walk began at the small car park just off Brindabella Road about 2 kilometers north of Cotter Road. From the car park I headed through the bush and across Brindabella Road to find the gate into Stony Creek Nature Reserve (map reference: 55H FA 77214 89929). Through the gate I followed a fairly indistinct track down to Grasstree Lookout, which has a bench from which to enjoy the view.

After the lookout the trail starts to zigzag down the side of the hill to the Murrumbidgee River. At first it passes through fairly open forest (with at one point a fantastic view of the Cotter Pumping Station and bridge over the Murrumbidgee) and then through fairly thick scrub at the bottom.

I followed the trail right to the bridge over the Murrumbidgee and then turned around and headed back. At map reference 55H FA 77192 89740, which is right at the first acute bend of the main trail, I followed a trail off to the side which I thought could be a trail along the bank of the river, but the trail was soon lost in a grassy opening and I returned to the main trail. I then climbed all the way back up to the car park the way I had come. This trail is quite steep in places, but is in excellent condition.

Getting back to my starting point at the car park I headed off again, this time through the locked gate at the car park down Lookout Road towards Cotter Dam. I then followed Priors Road as close as I could get to the Dam.

Continuing along Priors Road there were some nice views and reflections off the catchment.

I turned off Priors Road on to to Crusher Road and followed for some distance, taking a slight detour at one point to climb to a high point at map reference 55H FA 75733 91406, with views to the south.

Returning to Crusher Road I followed it through to the Uriarra Village Fire Trail which I then followed down to some power lines which cut through the pine forest. This is pictured below from the eastern side:

The track following the power lines was extremely wet, muddy and slippery, but it eventually comes out on Crusher Road again. From there I headed up the trail to the summit of Mt McDonald, which has a decent view towards Canberra.

From the summit I headed down Mt McDonald Road. I took a brief detour to the Cotter Dam Lookout, and then took the Lookout walking track back to the car park. The Lookout walking track was quite badly eroded along much of its length and I had to take care not to fall over stepping on loose rocks.

I'll finish with a couple of warnings about the Cotter Dam/Mt McDonald part of this walk. First, there is little shade to be found, so it may not be a pleasant walk in high summer. Second, blackberry bushes are all over the place, so cutting through the bush can be problematic.

Corin Forest: Smokers Trail to Orroral River

General Information

Grading : hard

Distance:  22 kilometers 

Total climb:  795 meters

Time taken:  5 hours 50 minutes

Map:  Corin Dam 8626-1N, 1:25 000 

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  51.5 kilometers 

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 73687 67792

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 72960 61299

End point:  same as start

Route

 

Description

This walk began at the Square Rock car park just off Corin Road. We initially followed the walking trail towards Square Rock. At map reference 55H FA 72421 66150 there is a link track off to the left that takes you down to the Smokers Trail, and we followed this. When we reached Smokers Trail we turned right and followed it alongside a creek with a number of small waterfalls. As we neared the ridge above Orroral Valley there was plenty of evidence of damage from the 2020 bushfire.

We descended along Smokers Trail down to the Orroral River at the head of Orroral Valley. While the crossing is rather nondescript, the river itself is quite pretty.

Pausing here for some lunch, we then made our way back up Smokers Trail. Instead of walking back up the link trail to the Square Rock track, we continued along Smokers Trail until we came to a marker directing us back to the car park. This turned out to be a rather interesting walking track, quite narrow and treacherous in some places, but through some very pretty bushland.

This took us back to our starting point.