The Fishing Gap walk which, insofar as I can ascertain, has nothing whatever to do with fishing or fisherfolk is a moderate eight kms (return) walk within the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, just to the south of Canberra. Continue reading “Fishing Gap Walk (and part of Mount Domain)”
Corin Forest Mountain Retreat – Cafe: “Go for the Pizza”
My plan for the day had been to do a short walk in the Cotter/Tidbinbilla area and a slightly longer one (9kms) in the northern part of the Namadgi National Park stopping for an early lunch in the Café at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Visitor Centre.
Two problems were encountered. Firstly, the weather closed in and a mist/drizzle descended in the northern Namadgi area which meant that, while we could have walked to Square Rock there was no point as we would have seen nothing. Easily fixed Square Rock was taken of the plan and a couple of short walk were added in Tidbinbilla. Secondly, we found the Cafe Tidbinbilla, the Visitor Centre, to be no more – and replaced by a coffee/drinks kiosk. Continue reading “Corin Forest Mountain Retreat – Cafe: “Go for the Pizza””
Rock Valley Homestead – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
There are only two significant remaining examples of European tenancy of the Reserve – the Nil Desperandum and Rock Valley homesteads, both pise ( rammed earth ) buildings built in the 1890s by George Green and George Hatcliff. Green and Hatcliff had learned this building technique from a couple of Chileans working in the area. Continue reading “Rock Valley Homestead – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve”
Camel’s Hump Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
The Camel’s Hump walk is the longest and overall the hardest (though the Nils Desperandum walk , for instance, has harder sections) of the marked walks within Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. There are two suggested ways of getting there with one departing from the Visitors Centre (19kms return) and the other leaving from the Mountain Creek car park (11.6kms return). Both walks are classified as hard with a recommended duration of 8hrs and 6hrs respectively. Continue reading “Camel’s Hump Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve”
Nil Desperandum Homestead and the Irish Connection
Archaeological excavations at Birrigai Rock Shelter have confirmed the existence of Aboriginal habitation in the Tidbinbilla Valley going back some 21,000 years.
The first European to settle in the valley was George Webb who squatted here in1832, prior to obtaining formal government approval, in the 1860s. Continue reading “Nil Desperandum Homestead and the Irish Connection”
Nil Desperandum Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Nil Desperandum or in its longer form, Nil Desperandum Auspice Deo roughly means “Don’t Despair, Trust in God”. Please remember this motto as you tackle the gravel path up to the ridge at about the half way mark heading in towards the 1890s homestead call Nil Desperandum. Continue reading “Nil Desperandum Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve”
Gibraltar Peak Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
A highly recommended walk in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
Some distance before you reach Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve you will notice a bunch of rocks on the horizon. This is Gibraltar Peak which, once you have reached Tidbinbilla, can be reached in three ways, all by foot. Continue reading “Gibraltar Peak Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve”
Lyrebird Trail – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Spot a Lyrebird
The Lyrebird Trail a short 2 kilometre walk from the Mountain Creek car park.
I did this walk in late October (mid spring) and did not sight a lyrebird. They are more likely to be seen in the winter months and if you are especially fortunate you might find a male lyrebird on one of his many dancing mounds as he throws his tail over his head like a shimmering silver veil and puts on a dancing display as part of his courtship performance while all the time mimicking the sounds of numerous other birds. Continue reading “Lyrebird Trail – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve”
Cascades Trail – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
This is an absolute gem of a walk and quite a contract to other walks in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
It starts from the Mountain Creek car-park (as do the Camel’s Hump and Lyrebird walks) and very quickly you are under a cool canopy of trees and bush as you make you way upwards along a bubbling stream towards the cascades though you don’t get to see much of the stream on the way up. Continue reading “Cascades Trail – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve”
Sore Neck Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve – Spot a Koala
As you may have guessed there is, in fact, no walk in the Reserve with the name Sore Neck though for a country with places like Mount Buggery, Titwobble Lane and many more in a similar vain (see my Australia introduction review for many more) it would not be a surprise if there was. What I refer to as Sore Neck walk is in fact two walks – Koala Path, a very easy 700m loop walk which can easily be done in 15-20 minutes and Peppermint Trail an equally easy 1.8 kms loop walk which can be done in 30-45 mins. Koala Path is actually wheelchair accessible.
I have included both these walks in the same review as they are of similar scenery and intent and are indeed within the same fence enclosed area. Essentially Koala Path is a sealed surface sub-part of the gravel Peppermint Trail. Continue reading “Sore Neck Walk – Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve – Spot a Koala”
The Rambling Wombat 