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.

Tinderry Nature Reserve: Tinderry Peak (2)

General Information

Distance:  13.5 kilometers

Total climb:  671 meters

Time taken:  7 hours

Map:  Tinderry 8726-1S, 1:25 000

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  72 kilometers

Starting point map grid reference:  55H GA 06863 43178

Destination map grid reference:  55H GA 05525 47202

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

Having previously tried and failed to reach the summit of Tinderry Peak (see blog entry for 28 July 2016), I decided to try a different route this time. Although we were successful in reaching the summit, this is not a route that I would recommend.

We started at the small carpark off Tinderry Road where it meets the Round Flat Fire Trail,15 kilometers east of Michelago. We followed the Round Flat Fire Trail until the point where it turns sharply right. Here we headed through the bush on a northerly bearing headed across Roberts Creek and up a ridge to map reference 55H GA 07428 46813. From here we headed west towards map reference 55H GA 005639 46899. All of this was through dense scrub and the occasional outcrop of large boulders, making progress very difficult and time consuming. When we reached map reference 55H GA 005639 46899, however, it was a relatively easy scramble up the rocks to the summit of Tinderry Peak.



Making our way back down to map reference 55H GA 005639 46899 we decided to head back by following Roberts Creek. This was not a wise move. The Creek itself is choked with undergrowth and rocks so we had to proceed to the south of the Creek through some pretty thick undergrowth and steep slopes falling away to our left. This was treacherous and hard work. It took us three hours to climb up the Peak from the point where we left the track, but it took us two-and-a-half hours to get back to the track, despite it being shorter in distance by a bit under 2 kilometers. Eventually we made it back to the track and followed it to our parked car.

Uriarra Forest: Mt Blundell and Uriarra Hill

General Information

Distance:  12.5 kilometers
Total climb:  597 meters
Time taken:  3 hours 20 minutes
Map:  Cotter Dam 8627-2N 1:25 000
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  38 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 70480 92980
Destination map grid reference:  Mt Blundell - 55H FA 68318 92812
                                                    Uriarra Hill - 55H FA 69575 91848
End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

I commenced this walk at the locked gate on Blue Range Road, just before Blue Range Hut. I initially followed Blue Range Road until I reached the trail which intersects with Blue Range Road on the right at 55H FA 69726 93561. Some nice views looking backwards.

I turned off onto this track and after a short time it started to climb steeply.

There were glimpses of good views back towards Canberra.

Eventually I reached the summit of Mt Blundell, but it offered only limited views towards the south, although these opened up a bit as I started to descend, again very steeply, down the other side of the mountain.

I kept following the trail down to Uriarra Hill. Recent forestry operations meant that the views from Uriarra Hill (at least if you mentally blocked out the devastated pine forest in the foreground) were excellent, especially towards the Cotter Reservoir.

Continuing south I then followed the track back north under Uriarra Hill before cutting through a section of the felled pine forest to get back to Blue Range Road, which I followed back to my car.

Mount Alexandra Reserve: Forty Foot Falls and Box Vale Mine Walking Track (2)

General Information

Distance:  11.2 kilometers

Total climb:  235 meters

Time taken:  3 hours 05 minutes

Map:  Mittagong 8929-2S 1:25 000

Guide:  link

Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  171 kilometers

Start point map grid reference:  56H KG 62381 86348

Destination map grid reference:  Forty Foot Falls - 56H KG 64236 87304

                                                    Box Vale Track Tunnel - 56H KG 63867 88724

End point:  same as start

Route

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

Description

This was the same as the walk completed on 31 August 2017, except that we turned back at the railway tunnel and did not proceed to the lookout.

Canberra Nature Park: Hackett to Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie

General Information

Distance:  8.3 kilometers
Total climb:  472 meters
Time taken:  2 hours 10 minutes
Map:  Canberra 8727-3N 1:25 000
Start point distance by road from Canberra GPO:  6 kilometers
Start point map grid reference:  55H FA 97256 96974
Destination map grid reference:  Mt Majura - 55H FA 98570 98432
End point:  Mt Ainslie - 55H FA 96327 94919

Route

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

Description

Having placed a second car on the top of Mt Ainslie, we made our way to the carpark off Mackenzie Street in Hackett where the walk began. We first made our way up to the summit of Mt Majura via formed trails. Retracing our steps almost to where the walk began, we went bush for a while to take a shortcut through to the nearest formed trail which we followed for a while before heading bush again to climb Mt Ainslie. While this was steep, it was relatively easy going. We reacquired the formed trail near the summit of Mt Ainslie where our walk ended.