There are probably a couple of hundred recognised and easily accessible walks within the Australian Capital Territory and just across the border into New South Wales. I have walked a large proportion of these and over time will add a review on each.

To make finding reviews a bit easier and to provide a simple summary of each walk in terms of length, time, grade and surface type (attributes) I have added this page.

Attributes listed have the following meaning:

Length – Unless specified as ‘one-way’, Length is return distance.

Time – This is always a difficult one and is a rough guide only. It is based my abilities – a 50 something year old of average fitness and includes time for short stops only – more details the main walk review. Should you want to take a picnic, etc you will need to adjust the time accordingly.

Grade – I have decided to adopt the ‘Australia Walking Track Grading System’ system.

In summary:

  • Grade 1 is suitable for the disabled with assistance
  • Grade 2 is suitable for families with young children
  • Grade 3 is recommended for people with some bushwalking experience
  • Grade 4 is recommended for experienced bushwalkers, and
  • Grade 5 is recommended for very experienced bushwalkers

More detail as to what you might expect at each grade is available HERE

NOTE that while I attempted to be accurate in my assessments, I take no responsibility for the accuracy of any details related to any walk included here. You should make your own assessment of your ability to complete any walk based on your personal circumstances.

North Canberra

Walk / LocationLengthTimeGrade
Mount Painter2kms40mins2
The Straight Line Border Walk3kms1.25hr1
Palmerville Heritage Park2kms40mins1
Lake Ginninderra7kms2hr2
Yerrabi Pond – Gungahlin4kms1.25hr1
Mount Ainslie Summit4kms1.5hrs2
The Australian National University Sculpture Walk2kms
one-way
3-4hrs1
Black Mountain Summit Walk3.8kms1.5hrs2
Dixon Wetlands0.5kms20mins1
Mt Majura – Summit – Casaurina Trail5kms1.5hrs2
The Pinnacle Nature Reserve
The Pinnacle Peak and Lake2.5kms1hr2
The Pinnacle Nature Trail2.6kms1hr2
Umbagong District Park
Creek and Catchment Trail2kms40min1
Murrumbidgee River Corridor
Shepherd’s Lookout1.2kms30mins1
Molonglo River Track – via Shepherd’s Lookout4.2kms2hr3
Uriarra Loop Walk3.5kms1.25hr2
Giorgio’s Sandwash – Woodstock Nature Reserve4.6kms1.5hr2

South Canberra

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

Walk / LocationLengthTimeGrade
Air Disaster Memorial3.2kms1.5hr2
Lake Tuggeranong6.7kms2hrs2
Cotter Reserve
Cotter Dam Discovery Trail And Dam1km30min1
The Cotter Catchment Lookout Track2.8km1hr2
Mt McDonald and the Cotter Catchment Lookout4.4kms1.5hrs2
The Honyong-Cotter Track2.6kms1.5hrs2
Blue Range/ Sherwood Forest Area
Sherwood Homestead from Blue Range Hut7.2kms3hrs2
Sherwood Homestead from East West Road6.8kms2.5hs2
Sherwood Homestead via Mountain Creek Road
……..(incl via Two Sticks Hill and Mt Dowling)
11kms3.5hrs3/4
Walk/ LocationLengthTimeGrade
Birrigai Time Trail3kms1hr2
Church Rock Walk2.5kms1hr2
The Sanctuary Loop2.1kms1.5hr1
Hanging Rock Walk0.5kms25mins1
Koala Path0.7kms20mins1
Peppermint Path1.8kms45mins2
Cascades Trail1.8kms1hr2
Lyrebird Trail2kms1hr2
Fishing Gap Walk (and part of Mount Domain)7.7 or
10.1kms
2.5hr or
4.25hrs
3
4
Gibraltar Peak Walk8.2kms3hrs2/3
Nil Desperandum Walk13.3kms3.5hrs3
Camel’s Hump Walk (ex Mountain Ck Carpark)11.6kms4.5hrs3/4

Namadgi National Park

Walk / LocationLengthTimeGrade
The Settlers Track9kms4hrs2
Blazes on the Border (detour from Settlers Track)5kms2hrs3
Yankee Hat Walk (Paintings)6kms2hrs2
Gibraltar Falls0.4kms20mins1/2
Square Rock Walk10.5kms3.5hrs2/3

NSW-Queanbeyan/ Jerrabomberra/ Googong

Walk/ LocationLengthTimeGrade
Jerrabomberra Mountain Reserve – Summit Walk3.9kms1.5hrs2/3
Googong Foreshores
London Bridge – Retn via Drawdown Crossing2kms 1hr2
London Bridge Homestead – Retn via London Bridge3.4kms1.5hrs2
Tin Hut Dam Walk (incl short diversion to Queanbeyan River)2kms1hr1
Queanbeyan River Walk18kms6.5hrs3/4
Cascades Walk – Googong Foreshores0.2kms15mins1
The Black Wallaby Loop Track and Googong Lookout 4.4kms1.5hrs2
Bradleys Creek Walk – Googong Foreshores14.2kms4hrs3/4
Shoreline Walk – Return via Western Foreshores Walk (part)5kms1.25hrs2