Walks in Canberra neck of the woods

Wallaroo circuit.

2010-03-29T11:19:00.001+11:00

Walk name & number:Wallaroo Circuit 9km
Brief description:
Geology & landscape:
Date,day & time: Sunday 28 March 2010 @ 0730
Weather: Mild, overcast
Walk map: NSW 25K topo map
Start location:
Start location: km of Canberra City.
Map Grid ref:
GPS: UTM Zone 55H E, N

Locality map:
Walklog:
Regular Sunday walk. Really focused on pacemaking and made the 6km mark [Southwell x Wallaroo]in under 1 hour. Very pleased because I was only out of hospital on Wednesday. Leisurely stroll to complete the circuit.

Wallaroo circuit #16

2010-03-07T19:00:00.001+11:00

Walk name & number:Wallaroo #16
Brief description: A 9km circuit along Gooromon Ponds Road, Southwell Road and then Wallaroo Road.
Geology & landscape:Deakin volcanics & Laidlaw volcanics 420MY
Date,day & time: Sunday 07 MAR 10 07:00
Weather: Fine
Walk map: NSW 25K topo map Hall
Start location:Corner Gooromon Ponds Road & Wallaroo Road.
Start location: 16 km NW of Canberra City.
Map Grid ref: 849069
GPS: UTM Zone 55H E, N

Locality map:
Walklog:This walk is included in the blog even though it is of a quite different nature to all other walks. It is a walk I try to do EVERY Sunday morning. I must have done it 30 times now, and never get bored with it. I usually walk alone. Just a short drive from home in the rural setting of Wallaroo, across the border in NSW. The circuit, roughly triangular in shape, splits very easily into three legs. First the sealed Gooromon Ponds Road, then the mostly unsealed Southwell Road and finally back along the sealed Wallaroo Road. Vehicular traffic is at a low level. There are panoramic vistas across north Canberra to the Brindabellas. The sky and light are always changing. I have walked in heatwaves and in hail storms. The properties along the way are mainly the classic 16ha block, long & narrow and with access to the road. There are sheep, goats, cattle & horses. A riding school & restaurant are along Gooromon Ponds Road. There are a few vinyards & olive groves and the Hall district wineries are nearby. The towers and guilded domes of the St Sava Free Serbian Orthodox Monastery on Wallaroo Road are visible from nearly every part of the circuit. The sound of its bells ringing to call the faithful are divine. I reflect in reverence at the small graveyard in the monastery grounds.
This walk is both a relaxation and a workout; I regularly pace myself by the uniform time method. From the fixed start I see how far I get in the course of exactly one hour. Timing and progress is aided by numerous reference points; especially useful are the yellow roadside markers every 1000m.
So, my average roll-along all day pace is 5km/h,but today for example I turned up the gear one notch and turned out 6km/h pace.
There is a big big difference between walking at 5km/h [pedestrian] and 6km/h [strident]!!
5km gets me to the gates of the property Arcturus, 6km gets me to the T-junction at Wallaroo x Southwell.
So depending on my mood these walks can vary a lot. I just love the changing landscape of the seasons. I invariably carry a litter bag and so make my contribution to cleaning up trash.

Walk 15 Nanima Road

2010-02-17T15:35:00.004+11:00

Walk name & number: Walk 15_Nanima Road, Hall
Brief description: 27km out & back along Nanima Road.
Geology & landscape: Varied, mainly open farming country. Mt Painter volcanics, Mt Ainslie volcanics, Canberra Formation and Pittman formation. 420-460MY. All included in the Nanima Goldfield proclaimed in 1872.
Day & date: Wednesday 17 FEB 2010
Start time: 0700
Weather: Fine sunny warm 25C
Walk map: NSW 25K topo map Bedulluck 8727-4N
Start: Cnr Barton Highway & Nanima Road [NR].
Start location: 19km NNW of Canberra City.
Map Grid ref: 864114
GPS: UTM Zone 55H 686400E, 6111430N 600m
Locality map:

Nanima Road -
Walklog: Regular walk companion Reg Sewrey out of circulation at the moment. A pleasant walk on a beautiful day after good rain. Green tinge to paddocks. Nanima Road used to be Bedulluck Road. It runs right through the civil parish of Bedulluck. It connects the Barton Highway to the Murrumbateman Road. It is sealed and carries some fast traffic in the peak hour. Best to walk after 0930. Roadside verges are narrow in places. Litter bad. Landscape dominated by Mount Spring [890m].
Interestingly named "Luxor" property at 364NR at the foot of the hill. Also a name of interest is the nearby Ahchow Hill [775m]GR873143. A Chinese name from the goldfield days perhaps!!??
Poachers Pantry restaurant & Wily Trout Winery at 431NR. Hang gliding site at 520NR.Redbrow Garden Bed & Breakfast at 1143NR. Unclear whether the B & B is still operating. Hewatt Earthmoving company have their base along this road; so there are some big vehicles on the move!! Coots Creek bridge on Murrumbateman Road is under repair [total rebuild!!].
Nanima Road ends at T-junction with Murrumbateman Road. From T-junction: Goto start = 13.2km; odo=12.7km; est 13.5km.
Sweeping views to Mt Stromlo & Brindabellas on return leg.
I am finding that two 'heavy duty' AA batteries are drained over the course of just 6 hours using the Magellan GPS.

Walk 14: The Forest Road, Bywong

2010-02-04T16:57:00.004+11:00

Walk name The Forest Road & number 14:
Brief description:Out & back along The Forest Road
Geology: Pittman Formation shales. [460MY]
Day & date: Wednesday 03 FEB 10
Start time: 0800
Walking time:
Weather:Warm, windy 27C
Sun: Rise ,transit , set .
Walk map: NSW 25K topo Sutton 8727-1S
Start:Corner of The Forest Road & Bede Road, Bywong
Start location: 25km ENE of Canberra City.
Grid ref:{181997}
GPS UTM Zone 55H: 718086E,6099739N
Locality map:
The Forest Road -
Walklog: An easy walk along The Forest Road,which becomes gravel as it passes under the 330kV power transmission lines. At {173017} the public road ends at a turning circle. With the permission of one of the local landholders I continued through an open gate and along the private gravel road up and over a steep hill, property name 'Wombat Hill'. Extensive views of Lake George at this high point. Contiued north to the gates of property 414 The Forest Road {175029}. Gate open but marked 'Private Property' and a Wildlife Refuge. Turned at this point,3.2km straight line and 3.8km odometer from the start. The road would appear to continue north past Smalley Hill and towards Purrorumba Hill.

Walk 13: Lake Road, Bywong, Bungendore

2010-01-21T17:53:00.017+11:00

Walk name & number:Lake Road, Bungendore #13
Brief description: Out & back walk along Lake Road.
Day & date: Wednesday 21 JAN 10
Start time: 0800
Walking time: 4h+
Walk distance: 21km return
Weather: Sunny, warm 30C
Sun: Rise 0610,transit 1315,set 2020.
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 Sutton 8727-1S
Start: Corner of Lake Road & Bungendore Road.

Mail boxes at the start of Lake Road.

Start location: 26 km ENE of Canberra City.
Start Grid ref: 194983
Start GPS: UTM Zone 55 719360E, 6098329N
Locality map from Geoscience Australia MapConnect 250K topo base:

Lake Road Bungendore -
Geology: Ordovician rocks of the Pittman Formation [450MY] make up the Lake George Range & escarpment. Recent sands, gravels & soil make up the flat bed of Lake George and the surrounding plain. This is a mini version of Africa's Rift Valley!
Walklog1:Walked with Reg Sewrey. Parked in the Bungendore Showground, north of the township on Mathews Lane, then walked up to the start of Lake Road. [40 minute drive from Evatt].
An easy flat walk along Lake Road which follows the Lake George escarpment north along the edge of the dried lake bed. Area to the north of Bungendore near the road was proposed as a site for the national capital.

Typical view along Lake Road.

Plenty of shade in the morning. The wooded escarpment towers 100m high on the west, contrasting with the flat lake bed on the east. A ribbon of properties extends along the west side of the road. The gravel road is in excellent condition and perfect for walking. It is a no through road [though not marked as such at the start of the road!!!] and so carries local traffic only. The public road ends at the gates of Silver Wattle [55 717837E, 6108025N]. Apparently Gearys Gap, about 5km further north, can be reached by walking along the shoreline of the lake.
Country looked dry; small numbers of sheep, cattle, horses & alpacas. Kangaroos evident. Large eagle soaring along hills. Wind turbines busy on the eastern shore of the lake.

Alpacas with old & new wind power behind.

Typical landscape, flat soils & gravels in foreground. Smiths Gap in the Lake George Range in the background.

I wore new Hi Tec Natal boots. Very comfortable. Some red soreness around ankles and lower leg next day. No blisters.
Historic aspects:
Lake George and its environs have a fascinating history. I have been living in Canberra over 40 years and can remember when the waters of the lake were lapping at the Federal Highway. Area to the north of Bungendore near the road was proposed as a site for the national capital in 1903.

Extract from NSW parish map 1963. Parish of Lake George, County of Murray. [Credit to NSW Lands Spatial Information eXchange. PIXel]

The map shows the northern part of Lake Road running north south. A string of small blocks line the western side of the road adjacent to the escarpment while larger blocks subdivide the dry bed of the lake to the east. The heavy blue line at the top [north] of the map is the boundary of Yarrowlumla shire. This is where, and perhaps why, Lake Road ends. To the north of Yarrolumla shire is Gundaroo shire.
The line of a drainage and reclamation channel notified in 1931 can be seen running across the lake bed. Smalley trig station [870m] indicates the top of the range. The Silver Wattle Trig Station does not seem to exist any more.

Walk 12: Gundaroo to McLeods Creek along Dairy Creek Road

2009-12-03T13:13:00.004+11:00

Walk name & number:Walk #12. From Gundaroo along Dairy Creek Road.
Brief description: An easy out and back walk along unsealed road through undulating country.
Day & date: Wednesday 02 DEC 09
Start time:1000
Walking distance & time:10km [4h]
Weather:Fine, sunny, light winds. 24C
Sun: Rise 0540,transit 1252, set 2005. UV 13 [extreme].
Geology: Pittman Formation 480 MY. Area of gold prospecting late 19th century.
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 Lake George 8727-1N
Start: Gundaroo School, Lot Street.
Start location: 31km NE of Canberra City.
Grid ref:067213
Locality map from Geoscience Australia MapConnect 250K topo base:

Walk 12: Gundaroo_Waskada -
Walklog1:Walked with Reg Sewrey. Gundaroo Village full of interest. No pillar of salt at the end of Lot Street!! Checked out the survey marker Styles 591m at corner of Faithfull and Lute Street. Marker 85939 under cover plate on roadside; original trig in field adjacent [rock cairn]. said to be part of original survey for layout of Gundaroo Village.
Walked along Lute Street, then into Rosamel Street and leaving the village. Turned into Dairy Creek Road. Past the rubbish depot. Short climb to top of range at 093212 with sweeping views across to the Brindabellas. Good spot for stargazing!! Continued along road through public gate at Mandidoune property. Road appears to become private at the entrance to Waskada property [115205]. Side road turning right [south] at 114206 marked Valleyview.
Took lunch at abandoned cottage [112208] complete with derelict Fordson tractor. Shingleback lizard resident under the floorboards.
Crossed over Gundaroo Common on return to car. No pub operating in Gundaroo. Drinks at Murrumbateman Country Inn.

Gearys Gap to St George Hill

2009-11-26T15:36:00.002+11:00

Walk name:Gearys Gap to St George Hill, Lake George
Description: Easy walk up and along Lake George escarpment.
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 Lake George 8727-1N
Start & finish: Anderson VC Rest Area, Federal Highway, Gearys Gap.
Toilets & water: Toilets at start. No drinking water!![Except if you are dying of thirst!!]
Beer: Eagle Hawk Hotel, Federal Highway.
Location: 30km NE of Canberra
Start grid ref: 167132
GPS: UTM Zone 55H 716641E,6113185N
Locality map from Geoscience Australia MapConnect 250K topo base:

Walk 11_Gearys Gap to St George Hill -
Google earth search = Bungendore. Pan north.
Waypoints and route:
Walklog1: Walk with Reg Sewrey. Note: No drinking water available at the rest area. Starting from the rest area on the edge of dried up Lake George, the route climbs steeply up the escarpment along the link road to the start of Hadlow Drive [old federal Highway]. The gap must have been a favorite spot for bushrangers; the thought of a horse & coach struggling up the hill is daunting. Who was Geary!!??
Almost immediately turn right into Ridge Road, a secondary unpaved road in good condition. The 'Private Road' on the new roadsign has been painted out. I assume it is currently a public right of way, but may well have been a private road in the recent past. The roadsign is also marked 'Lake George FT Y48' [?Lake George fire trail #48].
All gates along the road were old, open and out of commission. The first gate, at the junction of Nerrin Lane [164137], carried an old sign 'Lake Haven' Private Road, No shooting'.
The road then follows the ridge line of the Lake George escarpment, heading north through dry & empty scrubland and dry forest. No sheep, no cattle, no people, no snakes and only one or two kangaroos. There were sweeping views across the dry bed of Lake George to the eastern shore and the wind farm at Governors Hill. Dry woodland became more dense as we progressed northwards past the junction with Snows Lane [156167]. Fork right at the junction with FT47 [161187]. Near the high point of St George Hill is the trig survey control station, [888m] a cairn of rocks surmounted by a marker. It is overgrown by surrounding bushland and is hardly visible from 100m. This hill is presumably named after the saint while the lake below was named after the king. The hill is the high point of the western shoreline escarpment of Lake George.
Took lunch at the trig, then retraced out steps.
Day & date: Wednesday 25 November 2009
Start time:10:00
Walking time:4 hours
Distance (approx) 13km out & back
Vertical rise 200m
Weather:Sunny, hazy, light winds. 34C
Sun: Rise 05:43,transit 12:50, set 19:56.

Walk 10 Googong Western Foreshores Trail [WFT]

2009-10-07T17:30:00.013+11:00

Walk name: Googong Western Foreshores Trail
Description: Exploratory trip to Googong North.
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 Hoskinstown 8727-2S and also Tuggeranong 8727-3S
Start [Red star]: Foreshores carpark Googong north.
Grid ref: 049769
GPS: UTM Zone 55H 704974E, 6076859N
Elevation: 660m
Start location: 20km SE of Canberra City
Locality map from Geoscience Australia MapConnect 250K topo base:

Googong Foreshores WFT -
Satellite image from ACTMAPi:[ACTMAPi does not extend across the ACT border. No images of Googong area available on ACTMAPi, but of course are viewable in Google Earth.]
Waypoints and route:
Walklog1: This was a very satisfactory visit to the Googong Foreshores reserve south of Queanbeyan off the Old Cooma Road. 45 km & 45 minute drive from Evatt.
Googong Resevoir is the main water storage for the Canberra region [121GL capacity]. The resevoir and surrounding reserve is Commonwealth land entirely within New South Wales and managed by ACT. The Rangers Office on the access road has excellent brochures and maps detailing the full extent of the reserve and the various walking trails. Different activities [particularly angling] are described. For all practical purposes the reserve can be split into the northern sector near the dam and the southern sector around London Bridge homestead. The Western Foreshore Trail [WFT] (10km) connects the two sectors; this is a walking/biking trail only. No vehicular access. Vehicle access to the southern sector is via the London Bridge Road.
The Western Foreshore Trail runs through undulating country, open and exposed, but accordingly with magnificent vistas of the eastern shore and down the Queanbeyan River valley. The eastern shoreline is heavily timbered and only accesible as far as Bradleys Creek.
The magnificently named Hells Hole awaits discovery somewhere on or near that creek.Hells Hole is designated as a historic site on the NSW Geographic Names Board register [ref 23502]without any further information. There are about 10 places with the same name throughout NSW, none of which are designated as a cave. The ACT Rangers had no idea about where it was or why it was so named.
The day was bitterly cold with snow on the higher hilltops. Many kangaroos. Major construction is underway to rebuild the main spillway at the dam. There are several picnic and bbq sites in the northern sector with toilets, some overlooking the resevoir, others downstream from the dam. Electric bbqs were working.
This was only a slow and short walk. I felt particularly tired.
The value of the NSW SIX mapping website is amply demonstrated on this walk as the Western Foreshore Trail meanders from the Hoskinstown map into the Tuggeranong map and back again. Out and back along the WFT [20km] must be seen as a very good walk!!!
Day & date: Wednesday 07 OCT 09
Start time: 1030
Walking time: 2 hours
Weather: Cold, windy showers 10C
Sun: Rise 0530,transit 1151 , set 1811 .

Walk 9: Mulligans Flat to Oak Hill

2009-09-02T18:20:00.020+10:00

Description: A ramble around the boundary of the Nature Reserve along the ACT/NSW border and up to Oak Hill trig [798m]. Back down through the reserve to Mulligans Flat Road.
Walk distance: 6km
Walk rise: 690m_800m
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 8727-4S Hall
Start place: Mulligans Flat Road [Gundaroo Road] x Duke Road at locked border gate.
Start grid ref: 971080
Start GPS: UTM Zone 55H 697085E, 6108027N elevation 690m
Start location: 15km N Canberra City
Location map:

Walk 9 -

2009 aerial photography from ACTMAPi:

ActmapiPDF_Mulligans_OakHill -
Walklog: This was a easy stroll uphill following the border fence on the ACT side along a rough track. On the other side of the fence Duke Road reaches a locked private gate at 972084. Looked for the old border survey marker posts without much success until near the top of Oak Hill [800m]. Crossed the fence at a convenient gap [fallen tree] at 961088. Skirted around the side of Oak Hill to reach the summit with panoramic views of Canberra and Woden [24km] and the country out to the windfarm at Bungendore [25km]. Just trying out text & background highlighting for effect here.

Relics of border survey in 1911
Just down the hill from the summit trig we found a fine example of an original survey peg still embedded in the ground with 'CT ' [Commonwealth Territory] marked on one side and the upright arrow on the other.
The original survey field book [1911] for this section of the border is online at http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/4514/A0151.pdf and in book A151 at p18 there is a detailed sketch map of the Oak Hill trig area. This has been scanned and copied below; the extent of the surveyed area in this sketch from Oak Hill trig to corner 64 is about 1km. The surveyed border is essentially a series of connected straight lines listed in this sketch in columns 'Line, Bearing &'Distance'. Distances [length of lines] used in the survey are links [about 0.2m]; the bearings are I believe relative to true north. The list headed 'Corners' refers to blazed trees in the proximity of the corners, with bearings & distances from the corners to the trees given accurately. Any such trees still standing would be well over 100 years old!!
The 'Permanent Marks' are either gas pipes or concrete blocks. On our walk we could see no evidence of any blazed trees, though there were some trees that might have been blazed at the time of the survey. Lockspits made of lines of rocks could be seen at several corner posts marking the direction of the boundary line.

Old fence line predating border survey
At the point on the border fence corresponding to point F between corners 60 and 61[GPS 696555E, 6108924N, 755m] a solid corner post from an original fence predating the survey is still visible. This marked the NE corner of block 224; marked on the survey as a 6-wire fence, and still visible running up the side of Oak Hill. Block 224 was cut in half by the survey of the ACT/NSW boundary in 1911. The northern edge of block 224 can still be seen as a cadastral boundary in current NSW topographical maps.

Day & date: Wednesday 02 SEP 2009
Start time: 0930
Walking time: 3h
Weather: Fine, sunny, light winds 16C
Sun: Rise ,transit , set .

GeoPDF maps from MapConnect

2009-08-20T09:38:00.002+10:00

Once again the method of 'try it and see what happens ' has delivered another interesting revelation about the free downloads on offer from Geoscience Australia through their MapConnect webpage.
From the MapConnect home page entire sheets of the 250K maps of Australia can be downloaded in a variety of formats. The GeoPDF format allows entire mapsheet files of about 10MB size to be downloaded. These large files can be zoomed in to the finest detail. Even at 800% zoom every detail is clearly visible. The GeoPDF toolbar needs to be installed.
The path for downloading the GeoPDF map file is as follows. From the MapConnect home page> order mapsheet [tool]> select mapsheet> select format [=GeoPDF]>add to order> clear order> confirm licence>proposed use [= in house]. An email is sent from GA notifying download> download map> open> saved in folder GEODATA_TOPO250K_TILE_DATA.
The Canberra mapsheet file I5516_GeoPDF is an Adobe pdf file of 10.5MB.

Geoscience Australia MapConnect geoMap theme

2009-08-18T10:41:00.005+10:00

Well folks, this map is a fine example of what is on offer for free from Geoscience Australia at the MapConnect home page. This example map has been created using the geoMap theme, which seems to offer high quality pdf maps for download which are fully featured extracts from the 250K database. Various other databases such as geological maps are on offer.
In a reasonably simple process the area of interest and extent of coverage for the geoMap can be defined. Page sizes range from A4 to A0, bigger the page, the wider the area of coverage. Then in a two step process the map is downloaded as a pdf file attached to email from GA. The map generated is of the highest quality, which is an exact replica of the printed 250K map. File sizes are big; this map which covers only part of the ACT is about 1.3MB; a map to cover the entire ACT requires A1 page size and the file size is 10MB.
Again, to get the map into the blog you need to upload to docstoc, get an embedding code and compose or edit the post in html!!!
As expected from pdf docs, the map as embedded in the blog can be zoomed and panned to great detail.
Unlike the maps created in the 250K theme, maps created in the geoMap theme cannot be marked up or have layers turned on or off, nor can they be given a title. They do have an index map inset to show the area of the map and a scale bar. The coordinates of the centre of the map [marked with a cross] are given.
The geoMap theme offers another tool to show maps in the blog; one which you need to use to develop its full potential. The output looks much more professional than the extracts from the NatMap DVD set that I have used previously.

geoMap_250K_A4_Canberra -

Walk 8: Cotter to Uriarra Settlement via Mt McDonald

2009-08-14T17:34:00.010+10:00

Walk name:Cotter to Uriarra Settlement & return via Mt McDonald
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 Cotter Dam 8627-2N
Start place: Cotter Reserve
Start Grid ref:763893
Start GPS: UTM Zone 55H 676467E,6089279N
Start location: 18km W of Canberra
Locality map:

Walk 8_locality map -

Waypoints and route:Cross the Cotter River from the Reserve carpark downstream of the dam at the pedestrian footbridge. Follow the Stoney Creek Skyline Track north along the left bank of the river to the ruins of the trout farm [676613E, 6089548N 500m]. Follow the Skyline track northwards uphill to the gate on the Brindabella Road [677000E, 6090400N]. Follow Lookout Road SW to intersection with Mt McDonald Road [766899]. Head north to summit of Mt McDonald [765912 800m]. Trig point & ruined fire tower. Follow track gerally NW towards the Uriarra Settlement. Return via the Brindabella Road. Detour onto the Skyline track on E side of Brindabella Road. Admire view from seat at Grasstree Hill [677212E, 6089931N].Return to start.

Walk 7: Cotter Resevoir circuit

2009-07-31T10:38:00.016+10:00

Walk name: Cotter Resevoir circuit
Start location: 18km W of Canberra
Description: A circuit from the Cotter Reserve anticlockwise around the full extent of the Cotter Resevoir, following forestry tracks, existing, lapsed and destroyed. Rugged terrain & walking surfaces; forded the Cotter River at Brack's Hole. Distance >15km
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 : Cotter Dam 8627-2N 2nd edition 2003
Start Grid ref: Footbridge at Cotter Reserve FA 764893
Start GPS: UTM Zone 55H E676467, N6089279
Locality map from Geoscience Australia MapConnect 250K topo base:

Walk 7: Cotter Resevoir circuit -
2008 satellite image from ACTMAPi:

Cotter Resevoir -
Waypoints and route:Starting at Cotter Reserve picnic area footbridge [A], head NE along track and up to the Brindabella Road. Follow road to Mt McDonald gate [B]. Head SW towards Cotter Dam north lookout [C]. Head generally NW along Crusher Road, contouring above the resevoir [D]. Continue past northern extemity of the resevoir to north point of walk [E]. Head SW skirting edge of new pine forest[F]. Head S to Brack's Hole Road [G]. Follow road SE to banks of the Cotter River and the ford at [H]. Climb up right bank of river towards Pierce's Creek settlement.[I]. Follow Padovan's Road NE along ridge towards Cotter Dam south lookout [J]. Follow zigzag path back down to the Cotter Reserve.
Walklog1: This walk was challenging and provided some surpises. From the footbridge the track headed along the small stream that constitutes the Cotter River. This track is the very first part of a 'Skyline walk' into the Stoney Creek Nature Reserve. Walk uphill along the Brindabella Road towards Mt McDonald which has been extensively revegetated. I can remember planting seedlings there quite a few years ago with Greening Australia.
Leaving the road at the Mt McDonald gate, follow well made forestry trails towards the north lookout. Turn W at the large catchment zone sign and follow Crusher Road for several km. After Prior's Road junction Crusher Road has been ripped up and planted with seedling trees, walking is slow & difficult. A small island can be seen in the middle of the resevoir, which looks full. New water levels will drown this island. Towards the northern part of the walk trails were variously decommissioned. All around the landscape was barren & empty, with relics of the 2003 fires. New and lush pine regrowth in small clumps was a green oasis. Stopped for lunch on a wobbly burnt log.
Brack's Hole Road rapidly became impassable as we approached the banks of the Cotter River. Spiky burnt pine trees obstucted progress. At the ford we realized that we would have to get our feet wet & cold!! Then came the biggest challenge of walking uphill along a stretch of trail blocked with massive tree trunks and rock/earth revetments. Once at the top we chose to walk along the crest [Padovan's road] then down the steep track to the Reserve. This track was officially closed, but seemed to be in use. Then across to the Cotter Campsite to boil the billy for a cup of tea.
Day & date: Wednesday 29 July 2009
Start time: 0930
Walking time: 5h
Weather: Cold, windy, fine
Sun: Rise 0700 ,transit 1210 , set 1720 .

Walk 6: IVV 30km walk

2009-04-05T09:25:00.011+10:00

Walk name: IVV 30km walk
Start & finish: Australian Centre for Christianity & Culture, Blackall Street, Barton.
Start location: 2km SW of Canberra.
Description: Day 1, Canberra Two Day Walk 2009
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 Canberra
MGA Grid ref: FA 943892
Start GPS: UTM Zone 55H 6943000E, 60892000N
Locality map:

IVV 30km day walk - Get more Business Documents
Satellite image from ACTMAPi:
Waypoints and route: See scanned documents below.
Day & date:Saturday 04 APR 2009
Start time:0800
Walking time:6 hours
Weather:Cool-mild, overcast after rain the night before.

This walk was part of the Canberra Two Day Walk 2009. The circuit started and finished at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture [ACCC], Blackall Street, Barton. There were six intermediate checkpoints around the course. The actual distance was 31.1km.
I arrived about 0700 in time to see the walkers for the 41.2km [marathon distance] checking in and getting away first. About 40 in that group, including a sizable overseas contingent, mostly from, Belgium, Germany & the Netherlands. I estimate about 50 walkers started out for the 30km walk, and my impression was that most of them were very proficient walkers for whom the prospect of walking 30km was not so much a challenge as a pleasure. I count myself among those.

The 30km walk was colour coded red. The route map was a 1:40000 map on an A4 sheet matched with a written description of the course on the reverse side. The map, description and on course marking meant that the route was easy enough to follow, especially for a local. The local scouts provided a full range of breakfast offerings for those walkers who wanted it...I enjoyed a bacon and egg roll.
Last 10km of walk made especially enjoyable by walking in the company of Ross Money Walker [what a name!!!].
Scan of 30km route map & description

Walk 5: Molonglo meanderings

2009-03-04T15:32:00.012+11:00

Walk name: Molonglo Meanderings
Location: 10km southwest of Canberra.
Walk distance: 12km
Description: An easy walk, beginning at Deeks Forest Park carpark off Uriarra Road, close to the Cotter Road junction. The route heads NE on fire access trails and the National Bicentennial Trail. Loop around Janson Road. Cross over the Molonglo River at Southwells Crossing. Head N and then up to the top of Misery Hill; W down to Misery Point, cross back over the river into private land. Detour via site of Mrs Blundells House, then S cross country to Coppins Crossing Road x Uriarra Road [Copiarra gate]. Through the bottom of Stromlo Forest Park and via the Canberra Bushfire Memorial and E back to the car.
Walk map: NSW topographic map 1:25000 Canberra 8727-3N 2nd edition.
Start Grid ref:FA847892
Start GPS: [UTM Zone 55H] E684767,N6089180
Locality map from Geoscience Australia MapConnect 250K topo base:
Satellite image from ACTMAPi:
Google Earth: KMZ file
Day & date: Wednesday 2009 March 04
0900
Start time: 0900
Walking time: 4h
Weather: Sunny, mild, windy 23C
Sun: Rise 0645,transit 13:15,set 1930.
Set out with neighbour Reg Sewrey for company. Easily followed map and GPS to lookout over the river at Murrays Turnaround. Survey marker along Janson Drive. Shortcut to Southwells Crossing. Barely a trickle of water in the river. Climb to top of Misery Hill for panoramic view. Blackberries ripe & sweet to eat. Down to Misery Point, passing survey control mark ST 232. Lunch beside the river in company of a herd of feral goats! Easy to cross river, scramble up hill to see site of Mrs Blundells House [E685042, N6090912] marked by a prominent clump of trees. Only a brick fireplace and bread oven left. Private property, but closed all gates behind us and went undisturbed through paddocks. Over the Coppiarra Gate, across the Uriarra Road and into an empty Stromlo Forest Park. Called in to the Canberra Bushfire Memorial [E684247, N6089135]...all the more poignant after the recent fire disaster in Victoria. Back to car. Bonus side trip up to top of Mt Stromlo where I got a GPS fix on MC Stromlo Trig [E682765, N6090037]. Absolutely spot on. Stromlo ECCE 1 just a few meters away. Visitors centre closed and derelict but the garden sundial survived. A great day out!

Walk 4: Stromlo Pine Forest: Block 45 and Block13 Stromlo

2009-02-24T11:08:00.008+11:00

Description: This walk is an easy 10km circuit around the perimeter of two adjoining blocks of regrowth pine forest SW of Coppins Crossing. The walk follows well defined fire access trails. The area was totally devastated in the 2003 bushfires. The undulating country rises in elevation by about 100m from the Molonglo River to the high ground close to the Uriarra Road.
Location: 8km west of Canberra.
Locality map:

Stromlo block 45 + block 13 - Get more Business Documents

Distance: 10km circuit
Start/finish: Coppins Crossing carpark
Map:8727-3N Canberra 1:25000 [Grid ref 855933]
GPS: UTM zone 55H 685099E 6093312N

Walk log 1:
Date: 25 February 2009
Start time 0700
Walk time 6h 30m
Sun: rise 0645, transit 1315, set 1945.
Weather: Sunny hot 30C
At the west end of the carpark step through a gate and walk about 200m W following track to a style (set of wooden stairs) that take you over the fence and into the forest area. From this point KM0 [851933] the complete circuit can be counted as 10km. Today I walked it three times (30km). For the first 3km the trail contours generally NW above the Molonglo River. KM1 [846926], KM2 [843933], KM3 [843941]. KM3 is about the lowest point on the circuit at 520m. From here the next 2km rises up generally S past KM4 [838933] to a high point at KM5 [837923] at 605m. Shade is scarce, but this makes a good spot to stop half way to admire the views across Canberra and out westward to Mt Stromlo. Most of the 10km circuit can be seen from this vantage point.
At KM5 the trail turns sharp left (E) and heads downhill 0.4km, then right (SW) to KM6 [835918] and on in a sweeping curve eastwards to KM7 [838912]. This is the highest point of the circuit at 530m and close to the Uriarra Road. From here the trail heads generally NE, through KM8 [845916], then runs alongside Coppins Crossing Road. KM9 [850924] is close to Sectional Control survey mark ST134 [yellow concrete marker posts].
Saw rabbits, kangaroos, a fox and an echidna. Blackberries in profusion.
Satellite image
Well, here it is, my first attempt at embedding a satellite image as pdf file from ACTMAPi via docstoc. The results as seen below are impressive. This 2008 satellite imagery of the walk area
Stromlo Forest Block 45_ Block 13 - Get more Business Documents

Walk 3: Misery Hill

2009-02-18T21:13:00.005+11:00

The embedded pdf map is fully functional. The blue track shows key points on this walk. The map was generated through Geoscience Australia MapConnect, saved to pdf file, uploaded to http://www.docstoc.com/ and embedded in this post via html editing.

Coppins2_map21254 -

Location: 8km west of Canberra.
Description:
Staring from the Coppins Crossing carpark (elevation 526m)[CoppXing] there is a 400m walk N along Coppins Crossing Road. Climbing a locked gate [Gate1] gives access to dirt road heading generally S contouring the Molonglo River. At 2.5km a locked gate [Gate2]accesses the Green Hills Pine Forest and Dairy Farmers Hill. Continue generally SE along the dirt road to ventilation shaft Ryan 1 VS [Ryan1] at 3.9km. Turn right and head generally W, climbing locked gate 3 [Gate3]. Continue along dirt road. At the next junction turn left, skirting around the north side of Misery Hill. A rough vehicular track leads to the summit [MisHill](610m) as a detour. Descend back down by same track then head generally S to Southwells Crossing causeway [SwellXing]. Carry on up Old Deeks Drive to the intersection with the National Bicentennial Equestrian Trail. Turn right and head generally W to reach the locked toilet block at Deek's Forest Park. Cross Uriarra Road and stop for lunch at the Canberra Bushfire Memorial [FireMem]. Walk through Stromlo Forest Park [SFP] mountain bike trails and exit at the main gate. Continue N along Coppins Crossing Road. Detour through locked gate and follow dirt road NW to find style [Style] over fence. Double back to the carpark [CoppXing].
Total distance abour 15km
GPS coordinates given to nearest 1m.
UTM zone 55H.
Map Canberra 1:25000 8727-3N
[Waypoints] are as follows:
CoppXing: 85381E,93324N.
Gate1: 85560E,93562N
Gate2: 86165E,92379N
Ryan1: 86844E,91384N
Gate3: 86660E,91389N
MisHill: 86231E, 90955N
SwellXing: 86098E,89707N
FireMem: 84247E, 89135N
SFP: 84282E, 90280N
Style: 85099E, 93312N

Walk 2: Green Hills Pine Forest.

2009-02-14T12:02:00.002+11:00

Location: 8km west of Canberra.
Description: Fire trail walking in Green Hills Pine Forest bounded by Coppins Crossing Road, the Molonglo River, Tuggeranong Parkway and William Hovell Drive. Estimated distance 12km out. 6km back using shortcut.
Start & finish: Molonglo River at Coppins Crossing carpark
Route: Coppins Crossing>Misery Point>Tuggeranong Parkway>Dairy Farmers Hill>Coppins Crossing
Map: Canberra 1:25000 8727-3N 2nd edition
GPS: UTM zone55H
Grid references [MGA]: Six digits from map to nearest 100m [EEENNN]
Terrain: Easy gradients with climb from Coppins Crossing (~500m)to Dairy Farmers Hill (~680m).
Obstacles: Some gates, easily negotiated.

Walk log: Thursday 12 February 2009. Start 1000. Conditions cool, overcast, fresh SE wind 16C.
Parked car at Coppins Crossing carpark [855934]. Walked across a dank and smelly Molonglo River at the causeway, then N up Coppins Crossing Road, under 132kV powerline, to locked gate on right [856936]. (Stock grazing advice). Climbed over gate then followed trail in generally SE direction approx 2km, contouring above the north bank of the river. Landscape bare, exposed, infested with rabbits, blackberries and rose briars. The blackberries were vigorous, rampant and in full fruit; small and sweet. Perhaps sprayed with Roundup, but no warning signs and no adverse effects, except for black, blue & red hands, from eating a few handfuls!!
The course of the river was easily seen with thick growth of casuarina; the river itself was not flowing, with numerous exposed black rocky ledges and stagnant pools. Cattle were grazing , but no problem. Saw many kangaroos, a fox & hare and several rabbits. A solitary nectarine tree was bearing ripe fruit, quite likely the relict of a forest worker from 10 years ago.
The reverse side of the Canberra 25K topographic map is an aerial photo collage of the area from 2001, before the devastating bushfires of 2003. It shows a green swathe of pine forest that was in large part reduced to ashes [Total Burn Zone],some of which has since been replanted. Those areas not replanted still look ruined, with the charcoal remains of treetrunks piled high like dry bones. When the earlier aerial photos are compared with more recent Google Earth satellite images the change is striking.
The 'poo pipe', the Canberra trunk sewer leading to the Lower Molonglo Water Control Centre, runs through this area, and the occasional whiff from the massive ventilation shafts reminds you of what is running through the pipe!! The two 132kV transmission lines converge near ventilation shaft Ryan VS [868914] and here you make a right turn to head generally SW, climbing a gate at [867914]. After about 1km at the top of a rise an opening in the fence [860912] leads to a track running down to Misery Point [853909] at a near 180 degree bend on the banks of the river. This place is not marked on the map, but Misery Hill Lookout is marked in Gregory's 2008 Canberra Street Directory at map 48 G13. It would make a nice enough spot for a break or even a swim if there was a bit more water in the river. But why the misery!!??
Back up to the main trail, then follow it in a generally S direction about 1km. A low causeway (Southwells Crossing) fords the Molonglo River at [861897]. On the S bank there is short rise up (Old Deeks Drive) until the track meets the National Bicentennial Horse Trail. From here the suburbs of Weston Creek & Curtin can be seen (and heard!!). The RSPCA animal refuge is close by. The communication tower on top of Oakey Hill at Curtin stands out, as does Mt Stromlo Observatory and Stromlo Forest Park on its slopes. Turning left, the horse trail leads back down to the river to cross by a larger causeway (Clos [Clohessy's] Crossing) at [866898] onto the north bank again. Turning right, you follow the trail 1km generally NW towards the Tuggeranong Parkway bridge at [874903] which noisily crosses the river. If you continue along the trail under the Parkway you will reach the Scrivener Dam about 2km distant.
Turning left here to follow the rising trail due north about 1km, crossing over Forest Drive. Stopped for lunch on a burnt log at fence and gates [872911]. Signs on the gates advised of grazing stock in the area for undergrowth reduction and a 'Community Grazing Project' inviting locals to bring along their food scraps and grass clippings to feed the friendly cattle! From here followed the rising track and fence line generally NNW to junction [875923] on the edge of regrowth pine forest. This is at the southern base of Dairy Farmers Hill (DFH). Bashing through the pines uphill in N direction would take you to the top of DFH, but I chose to follow trails and so detoured first NW then doubled back E. At this point new roadworks, landscaping and plantings for the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens are evident all around. From the top of DFH [877926] there are panoramic views of Canberra and surrounding hills...worth the walk!! From here it is probably best to retrace your steps to the start, with a shortcut from the lunch stop [872911] to Ryan VS [870914] cutting out the 6km Misery Hill pocket.

Geoscience Australia online maps [gaMapConnect]

2009-01-11T10:10:00.011+11:00

Overview
The map below is an example of a map generated using the free service at Geoscience Australia online maps [gaConnect]. It was created using the Topo 250K theme. A custom map is created by first selecting the desired area to be covered. The themes and labels displayed on the map can be manipulated, and various markup tools allow extra detail to be added. Some of these markup tools are demonstrated on the sample map embedded below. Created maps can be saved as a saved session [.ssn] file or saved as a pdf file. Saved session files can be reopened at a later date and further modified. Hard copies can be printed from the pdf files.
The pdf maps can be embedded into a blog as html code in the 'Edit html' mode. To get an embedment code the pdf maps must first be uploaded to a site such as docstoc.com and the embedding code copied and pasted into the blog edit mode.

map56146_samplemap -

My experience from using these maps is that they work well as locality maps at a scale of about 1:100000. By using the polygon markup tool the area of the walk can be marked.

Walk 1:Woodstock Nature Reserve v1

2009-01-05T13:19:00.000+11:00

Extracted map from gaConnect

map53091_woodstock - Get more Business Documents

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.

Uriarra walks - Get more Business Documents

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.

Introduction

2008-08-25T10:07:00.002+10:00

Canberra & district map 250K
Gridlines at 10000m intervals. UTM zone 55H

Map showing Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding New South Wales.
This is the area in which all the walks described in this blog are located.

This is an image of a cropped extract from 1:250000 Natmap mosaic map [CANBERRA ED3 - 1998 SI55-16] exported from NATMAP Raster Premium DVD using Raster Exporter. The image file is exported to a destination on your computer by the following path: Raster Exporter>250K mosaic>Canberra ED3_1998 [SI55-16]>Export>Save as: destination =destination; file name=filename;type=JPEG>Output resolution=100%. File size for entire map is 4.3MB and 4687 x 3125 pixels. The file was opened and manipulated using Microsoft Office Picture Manager. The cropped file is ~400KB. The exported file is then uploaded to the blog post using the 'add image' function. Click on the image and it will zoom to full extent.

So this is blog #2; my first blog dealing with my cancer treatment is now thankfully falling into disuse. This new one will explore the possibilities of blogging with its theme being my love of walking [and navigating] in the Canberra district.