Rob Roy Nature Reserve: Mt Rob Roy

General Information

Distance:   14.1 kilometers

Total climb:   775 meters

Time taken:   3 hours  40 minutes

Maps:   Tuggeranong 8727-3S 1:25 000

Guide:  n/a

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   26 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 92172 74091

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 93088 69956

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

The hike started from a carpark across the road from 18 Callister Crescent, Theodore. Initially I was part of a large walking group headed for the hill overlooking the Royalla solar farm, but I intended to go further and climb Mt Rob Roy after the group turned back. Unfortunately it was a dark and dreary day with light rainfall threatening most of the time.

We started from the carpark and followed the track east until we came to an intersection with a gate which could be climbed through. We then followed the track south around Callaghan Hill until we came to another gate at map reference 55H FA 93408 72472. We followed the fence line south and eventually arrived at a hill (map reference 55H FA 93608 71823) which gave us our view of the solar farm. Here I left the group and made for the long ridge heading up to the Rob Roy Range. This was through lightly forested ground, mostly clear of annoying undergrowth although a bit rocky in parts. There were some early wildflowers in bloom in the more sheltered spots. There were some views to the east on the way up the ridge.



At the top of the ridge I struck the vehicular track heading towards Mt Rob Roy until I found the walking track to the summit, marked by a small stone cairn on the side of the vehicular track. 



The summit was only a few hundred meters from that point. While the summit is clear and rocky, tree growth all around the crown meant that views were limited, particularly in the gloomy conditions.




After a light lunch on the summit I headed back towards the carpark via the vehicular track. This was very steep in a number of places and with a sandy surface could be quite treacherous. Luckily I managed to keep my footing. When I got back to the gate at map reference 55H FA 93408 72472 I left the vehicular track and walked down a dry gully to eventually find the vehicular track again further down. From here I retraced my steps back to the carpark.

Namadgi National Park: Yankee Hat Climb

General Information

Distance:   9.5 kilometers

Total climb:   510 meters

Time taken:   6 hours  20 minutes

Maps:   Yaouk 8626-2N 1:25 000

Guide:  n/a

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   67 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 78464 41158

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 75628 42419

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

We arrived at the Yankee Hat Carpark just after 8am with the external thermometer in my car reading -7 degrees. The sun was shining and there was no wind, however, so it did not feel all that cold even with the heavy frost. We started walking at 8:18am and followed the Yankee Hat Walking Trail to its end at the Yankee Hat rock art site. From here we headed bush to climb Yankee Hat which loomed 380 meters above us.

We initially headed southwest through fairly light scrub and gradually veered to the northwest in order to reach the spur running up to the summit from the southeast. Before long we started to encounter a dusting of fresh snow (probably from two days before) which became thicker and a tiny bit slippery as we continued to climb.



The going was quite easy all the way up with relatively light scrub, few fallen trees and rocks which were easy to get around or climb over. There were occasional views to the north and south as we passed through the scrub, becoming more open as we neared the summit.




Having reached 1400 meters elevation the terrain flattened out and we continued heading northwest through a tangle of scrub and rocks, making for the summit of Yankee Hat.



The summit is a large rock outcrop that was relatively easy to climb up from the southwest. Here we paused for lunch taking in the views to the east and west.




Not wishing to backtrack, we had planned to get down the mountain via the spur on the northwestern side. We found the scrub and terrain a bit more challenging on this side of the mountain, however, so our route down became northeasterly as we tried to avoid patches dense scrub, large rock outcrops and very steep descents. Eventually we reached the Middle Creek Fire Trail and followed it east to just before the ford over Middle Creek. From there we headed overland to the bridge over Bogong Creek and thence back to the carpark.

Namadgi National Park: Yankee Hat and Rendezvous Creek Rock Art

General Information

Distance:   17.4 kilometers

Total climb:   482 meters

Time taken:   3 hours  56 minutes

Maps:   Yaouk 8626-2N 1:25 000; Rendezvous Creek 8626-1S 1:25 000

Guide:  n/a

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   67 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 78464 41158

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 76643 41956 (Yankee Hat Rock Art)

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk started at the Yankee Hat Carpark at the locked gate on Old Boboyan Road. I started walking at 9:10am with a freezing southerly wind making me smug that I had brought along my woollen beanie and gloves. I followed the Yankee Hat Walking Trail to its end at the Yankee Hat rock art site.

After a warming cup of coffee I headed north to link up with the Middle Creek Link fire trail. For some reason most of the fire trails in this area are not marked on the printed maps, but can be found on the SIX Maps versions (http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/). This trail led me to Middle Creek where I was lucky enough to find a pig trail leading to a place where I could cross the Creek with a bit of a leap. On the northern side of Middle Creek I kept to grassy terrain skirting the tree line with good views back to Yankee Hat.



Passing over the ridge I found protection from the freezing southerly wind, although I started to find patches of snow in shady areas. Elevated views of the Rendezvous Creek valley started to open up.



Continuing to follow the tree line I started to head northwest towards the Rendezvous Creek rock art site. About 400 meters from the site I started ploughing through the trees and scrub to reach my destination by about 11:30am.



Pausing again for another cup of coffee, I headed back down the hill to link up with the Rendezvous Creek Trail which I followed down to the Rendezvous Link Trail. At the crest of the Rendezvous Link Trail I paused for lunch in a picturesque spot which was unfortunately also exposed to that wicked southerly.



I crossed back over Middle Creek via the ford on the Rendezvous Link Trail and cut across to the Yankee Hat trail near the bridge over Bogong Creek. From there it was a short walk back to the car.

Namadgi National Park: Blue Gum Hill

General Information

Distance:   13.7 kilometers

Total climb:   536 meters

Time taken:   6 hours  50 minutes

Map:   Corin Dam 8626-1N 1:25 000

Guide:  n/a

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   52 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 73676 67772

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 78527 64994 (not reached)

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

We started this walk at the Square Rock Carpark just off Corin Road. We walked up Smokers Trail South to Smokers Trail which we followed until it turned west at map reference 55H FA 75124 65892. At this point we headed bush.

Initially walking up towards the hill at map reference 55H FA 75153 64874 we then started down the steep slope through thick scrub to Blue Gum Creek.

This provided some clear terrain to move through for a while, though the tussocky grass, well dug up by wild pigs, presented its own challenges. We then headed for the hill marked 1412 meters on the map (reference 55H FA 77362 64572), again crashing through dense scrub and occasionally having to dodge large rock formations and fallen trees. Towards the top we found the large rock shelf shown as a clear area on the map. This was pretty easy to traverse, and we decided to have lunch there with a clear view back to the west.

Still 1.5 kilometers short of Blue Gum Hill, we decided we'd had enough and decided to make our way back. We headed straight down the hill through some very dense scrub and back to Blue Gum Creek, where we had an excellent view back towards the hill we had just descended.

We then set a course to bisect the two peaks at 55H FA 75542 65913 and 55H FA 75734 66588 respectively. This part of the walk wasn't too difficult as we were approaching the climb laterally rather than going straight up. We also found some pig trails which we could follow, and there were other occasional clear patches which made moving easier. Eventually reaching the crest we found our way back to Smokers Trail and returned to the car.

Hume and Hovell Walking Track: Micalong Swamp Flora Reserve

General Information

Distance:   14.2 kilometers

Total climb:   110 meters

Time taken:   2 hours 15 minutes

Map:  Bobbys Plains 8627-3N 1:25 000

Guide:  Graeme Barrow, 30 Family Bushwalks in and around Canberra (2002), pp.35-37.

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   90 kilometers (via Brindabella)

Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 39676 937606

Destination map grid reference:  55H FA 37790 88299

End point:  same as start

Note: Much of this walk follows a section of the Hume & Hovell Walking Track.

Route

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

Description

I began this walk on Micalong Road near where it intersects with Brindabella Road, about 28 kilometers west of Brindabella. I followed Micalong Road south along the east side of the Swamp to an intersection at map reference 55H FA 39482 92757 (it's possible to shorten the walk by about 2 kilometers by driving to this point instead of walking). I then followed the side track to the right which led me to a boardwalk crossing to the other side of the Swamp.

 

On the other side of the Swamp I continued south along management trails which were muddy and sometimes covered by large puddles.

The views across the Swamp were very pleasant though. At one point there was even some residual snow from falls the week before.

The trail eventually led to another boardwalk crossing, this time of Chinamans Creek, a tributary of Micalong Creek.

Continuing on to the southern end of the Swamp I turned north to make my way back to the car.

Morton National Park: Fitzroy Falls East Rim Walking Track

General Information

Distance:   6.2 kilometers

Total climb:  unknown

Time taken:   1 hour 30 minutes

Map:  Bundanoon 8928-1S 1:25 000

Guide:  n/a

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   177 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  56H KG 69323 63238

Destination map grid reference:  56H KG 69272 61148

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk starts at the Fitzroy Falls Visitor Centre and follows a well maintained walking track along the eastern escarpment of the Yurrunga Creek valley. There are numerous lookouts along the track with views across the valley and sometimes back towards Fitzroy Falls.

Bungonia State Conservation Area: Tolwong Chimneys

General Information

Distance:   11 kilometers

Total climb:   450 meters

Time taken:   4 hours  40 minutes

Map:  Caoura 8928-3N 1:25 000

Guide:  Graeme Barrow, 30 Family Bushwalks in and around Canberra (2002), pp. 45-48.

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  125 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  56HKG 27183 41382

Destination map grid reference:  56HKG 29556 41373

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

The start of the walk is not easy to find. From Bungonia village, head roughly northeast along Lookdown Road for about 6.2 kilometers and there is a rough track off to the side known as Carne Road (map reference 56HKG 24971 42119). Turn into Carne Road and follow it for about 1.7 kilometers where it becomes the Trestles Track - the map shows a locked gate here, but this must have been removed. About 1.1 kilometers past this point there is a locked gate and a parking area. This is the start of the walk.

We first followed the Trestles Track east for about 2 kilometers until the wide track ends at a walking trail down to the Shoalhaven River. At this point we saw the first relics of the flying fox that was used to transport materials over the Shoalhaven to the Tolwong Mine.

After pausing here for a break, we started down the walking track which is named on the map as "Blue Walking Track" in true Bungonia fashion. This is a very steep track, descending over 340 meters in 1.4 kilometers. Along the track we got our first glimpse of the distant chimneys across the river.



At the base of the walking track there is a marker post, and walkers are advised to take notice of its location as it can be hard to find for the return journey. Having reached the Shoalhaven we looked in vain for a suitable crossing place to the Mine site. Recent rain made it too deep to safely and comfortably cross. We were satisfied with the view of the Mine across the river, and enjoyed just sitting by the river.



Making our way back to the marker at the bottom of the walking track we started the long and exhausting climb back up to the Trestles Track. From there the going became easier again, even though it was mostly uphill back to the carpark.

Namadgi National Park: Potter's Chimney, Sam Aboud's Dunny and Chalker's Hut

General Information

Distance:   11 kilometers

Total climb:   unknown

Time taken:   about 4 hours 30 minutes

Maps:  Colinton 8726-3N 1:25 000
            Bredbo 8726-3S 1:25 000

Guide:  Graeme Barrow, Exploring Namadgi & Tidbinbilla: Day Walks in Canberra's High
                                        Country (1995), pp. 65-67.

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   80 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  Colinton 55H FA 81469 28908

Destination map grid reference:  Bredbo 55H FA 84000 26300

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This walk started at the parking area near the Mt Clear Campground, just off Boboyan Road 50 kilometers south of Tharwa. We followed the Naas Valley Fire Trail for just a short distance until there is a trail off to the right leading to Webbs Dam. We passed to the east of the Dam and followed the western side of Grassy Creek until we reached Potter's Chimney, the last remnant of a nineteenth century settler's hut.

From there we continued up and across Grassy Creek and on to the Long Flat Fire Trail. We followed the trail up a fairly steep incline and then along a flatter straight section heading roughly southeast. There is a bend in the track at 55H FA 83654 25870 and we left it here to the right to find Sam Aboud's Dunny, an outdoor flushing toilet built here by Sam Aboud in the 1960s.

Sadly a large chunk of the pan has been broken away, but it's still one of the more interesting sights in Namadgi National Park.

From here we went back to the track and crossed the unnamed creek at 55H FA 83791 25966 and headed bush. Graeme Barrow gives the location of Chalker's Hut as 55H FA 84000 26300, and using my GPS we were able to find it quite easily in a quite pretty spot underneath Mt Clear.



There is little left of the hut - just a chimney and some stone foundations - but it is well worth the effort to get there.

Rather than return the way we came, we decided to head for map reference 55H FA 83146 27183 and follow the creek down a gully to the Naas Valley Fire Trail. The gully was initially easy going, but as the sides became steeper it became more difficult. Plenty of dense shrubs and rocks to navigate through. Following the creek itself was impossible, so we had to weave around up one side or the other, wherever the terrain looked easiest. Eventually we came to the Fire Trail which we followed back to the carpark.

Namadgi National Park: Mt Aggie and Mt Franklin

General Information

Distance:   Mt Aggie - 2.2 kilometers
                  Mt Franklin - 3.1 kilometers

Total climb:   Mt Aggie - 77 meters
                     Mt Franklin - 84 meters

Time taken:  Mt Aggie - 45 minutes
                     Mt Franklin - 1 hour 30 minutes

Map:  Tidbinbilla 8627-2S 1:25 000

Guide:  n/a

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:   68 kilometers (to Aggie Gap)

Start point map grid reference:  Mt Aggie - 55H FA 60523 72919
                                                   Mt Franklin - 55H FA 59981 70795

Destination map grid reference:  Mt Aggie - 55H FA 60347 73916
                                                    Mt Franklin - 55H FA 61158 71706

End point:  same as start for each peak

Route

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

Description

This was really two short walks from car parks on the Mt Franklin Road, with a subsequent drive up to the summit of Mt Ginini.

From the carpark at Aggie Gap we walked up the trail to the peak of Mt Aggie. On the western side of the mountain is a cliff which gives perfect 180 degree views.

There is also a view down to the Brindabella Valley...



...and to the north it is possible to see Burrinjuck Reservoir (almost 50 kilometers away, according to the information board) and beyond.



On the way back down we took some time to appreciate the wildflowers that were still in bloom.



From Aggie Gap we drove the 2.5 kilometers to the Mt Franklin car park and walked up the track to the ruins of the Mt Franklin Chalet and the new hut built next to it. 



Remains of the old ski runs can be seen off to the side along the track. There are also great views to the south, including distant waterfalls on Ginini Creek below Ginini Flats.



Eventually we reached the summit of Mt Franklin...



...before returning to the carpark the same way. To finish off our day we drove another 5.5 kilometers south to the take in the views from the summit of Mt Ginini.