Walk 1:Woodstock Nature Reserve v1

Extracted map from gaConnect


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EXERCISE CAUTION. PARTS OF THIS TRACK ARE STEEP, SLIPPERY, ROUGH, OVERGROWN, POORLY SIGNPOSTED AND MUCH DECAYED. IN THE AREA OF THE MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A POSSIBILITY OF ENCOUNTERING SNAKES. THERE IS NO MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE ONCE IN THE RIVER VALLEY.

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WALKS NEAR URIARRA [extract from the Murrumbidgee River Corridor brochure]
Uriarra Loop (3.5 km, 2.5 hrs return, easy)
From Uriarra East picnic area, follow the Murrumbidgee River downstream towards its junction with the Molonglo River. The trail then follows the Molonglo upstream, returning through open grazing country.
Woodstock Nature Reserve (4.6 km, 2 hrs return,moderate)
This reserve is popular with birdwatchers. Look out for the colourful Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus which breeds here in summer, hovering birds of prey,and waterbirds attracted by the river’s deep pools. The trail starts about 800 m from Uriarra Crossing on the Fairlight Road and fi nishes at the remains of Giorgio’s Sandwash, a sand mining operation that continued till the early 1980s.
Stockdill Drive to Shepherd’s Lookout
(600 m, 45 mins return, easy)Start at the parking area 3 km from the last traffic island on Stockdill Drive. Walk through Woodstock Nature Reserve to Shepherd’s Lookout for an impressive view along the Murrumbidgee. The ACT border, 3 km downstream, is marked by power lines over the river. Dogs are allowed on a lead.
Shepherd’s Lookout to Molonglo River (3 km,2 hrs return, moderate)
This trail goes from Shepherd’s Lookout to the footbridge over the Molonglo River. Passing stands of Black Cypress Pine and the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre, it provides excellent views of the river. The track connects with the Uriarra Loop walk.

This walk was undertaken solo on Wednesdy 31 DEC 2008. Conditions fine and sunny. Reference map is Umburra 8627-1S 1:25000.
SHEPHERDS LOOKOUT TO URIARRA CROSSING.
The walk commences off Stockdill Drive, Holt, about 3km SW from intersection with Spofforth St. There is an off street parking area on the right side of the road. [not signposted]. Grid reference 802980.
From the carpark walk about 500m to Shepherd's Lookout [799985]. The cantilevered viewing platform is perched high above the Murrumbidgee River and surrounding cliffs. The river makes a near 90 degree bend as it turns from flowing E to NW and runs towards the NSW border. On day of the walk the river was running vigorously after recent rain.
At the lookout loop track there is a sign pointing W and marked 'Uriarra Picnic Area 3.5km'. Uriarra Crossing is hidden from view by a low hill [The Rivers]. This part of the walk to Uriarra Crossing [776983] can conveniently be split into two halves, the first, which I shall refer to as the Molonglo leg, runs from Shepherds Lookout to the Molonglo River crossing [784980]. The second, the Murrumbidgee leg, runs from the Molonglo River crossing along the banks of the Murrumbidgee to Uriarra Crossing. The track is clearly marked on the map; the second half is labelled 'Murrumbidgee River Walking Track'.
From the very outset this track is rather tenuous. It is the northernmost part of the Murrumbidgee Walking Trail, but years of neglect have resulted in a dreadful state of affairs. It becomes progressively steeper, rougher, more slippery, decayed, weed infested,overgrown and blocked by fallen trees...but it can be followed!!
The track heads downhill past the Lower Molonglo Water Control Centre [sewerage works]; at times it hugs the high wire fence around the works. Wooden stair risers in the steeper sections have split, decayed and sometimes completely disappeared. Fallen trees force detours at times and a combination of rough rocks and slippery gravel require a careful slow approach to this section. The track crosses a minor creek which is the overflow outlet from the sewerage works.
Sand, large boulders and thick growth of casuarina herald the Molonglo River; you need to force through thick stands of casuarina to reach the low level footbridge whch crosses the river.
At this point you are faced with a steep rocky hillock which must be negotiated before reaching Sturt Island. From here the track follows the sandy banks of the Murrumbidgee River; grass grows up to chest high. The track markers [white reflective chevrons on 1m posts] are sometimes not visible from a distance of 2m because of the thick grass. Before reaching Uriarra Crossing the track seems to completely disappear
No snakes were seen; most interesting wildlife was an adult wombat who crossed my path.