Swinging bridges, secret gardens, and hidden sculptures: five unique walks to spice up your active agenda
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From the Bridge-to-Bridge to Mount Ainslie, it’s no secret that Canberrans love a good walk. But what if you’re sick of the same old trails?
From swinging bridges to a secret garden, hidden sculptures, and natural wonders, here are five unique walks in Canberra that will spice up your active agenda.
The Ginninderry Conservation Corridor
Newly unveiling 10km of new walking tracks, The Ginninderry Conservation Corridor has plenty to discover – including Canberra’s first swing bridges (which are 15m and 37m in length respectively).
Offering a range of distances to suit various fitness (and enthusiasm) levels, the new trials offer some fresh excitement for those with an adventurous spirit. Building upon the popular Strathnairn to Shepherds Lookout walk – taking the total distance of walking trails to over 13km – it’ll be a while before you get bored.
Fetherston Gardens
Did you know that Canberra has its very own secret garden? Nestled away on Heysen Street in Weston Creek, an urban parkland oasis awaits.
Within the 3.5 hectares of the Fetherston Gardens, along with a small arboretum and the woodland gardens, you’ll find plenty of perfect spots for picnics as well as a network of pathways and trails that are ideal for a serene stroll.
Kingston Foreshore to the NGA Sculpture Garden
Bored with the Bridge-to-Bridge? Turn your daily walk into an art tour. Start at the Kingston Foreshore, then head along the lake, past grassy Bowen Park to head towards the National Gallery of Australia (NGA)’s iconic Sculpture Garden.
Here, wander around the 26 sculptures made by International and Australian artists, set in amongst hardy native plants – a beautiful contrast to the usual sights of Lake Burley Griffin.
Pialligo Redwood Forest
This is one of the coolest ‘forest’ explorations you can do in Canberra – and it’s well worth a visit. Home to 3,000 majestic trees, it holds Australia’s largest stand of mature Redwood species and is a beautiful location to explore.
Pialligo Redwood Forest offers a short and easy 1 km loop trail that’s great for escaping back to nature – but it’s worth noting that neither bicycles nor vehicles are allowed in the forest, however, dogs on leads are permitted. Simply drive as if you were heading to Queanbeyan on Pialligo Avenue and follow the signs to the Pialligo Redwood Forest to get there.
Red Rock Gorge
Ideal for those who want to get their heart racing with a hike, Red Rock Gorge is a stunning location that will transport you out of Canberra.
Park at the Kambah Pool Beach car park and hit the Centenary trail – the 2km track will reveal stunning views of the red rocks. Stay a while to watch the sun hits the red volcanic hue of the rocks and let it take your breath away.
