Five Canberra walks you need to try
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We all know that Canberrans love a good walk. But have you tried these five trails?
From a spectacular new Snowies Alpine Walk to Canberra’s first swinging bridges and a track leading straight to the Murrumbidgee River, spice up your day with these five walks.
Snowies Alpine Walk
Breathtaking views of high-country plains and mountain ranges – this is an incredible 56km, four-day walk on Monero Ngarigo Country in Kosciuszko National Park.
Newly opened just in time for summer, the Snowies Alpine Walk links Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Bullocks Flat, offering you the chance to pass the iconic Blue Lake and wander through ancient snow gum forests and wildflower meadows.
You can choose to do any section of the track as a single-day walk or combine sections for a multi-day walking experience – and you even have the option to be guided by an expert. Who said there’s nothing to do in the Snowies during summer?
The River Descent Track
There’s no denying the views across the Ginninderry Corridor are breathtaking, and with the addition of a new track, walkers now have another excuse to head to Ginninderry: the River Descent Track.
The first access point down to the Murrumbidgee River on the northside of Canberra in over 20 years, the new track will also see the addition of Jahli’s Lookout. Accessed from other existing tracks including the Woodland Loop, or the Nguurung Bila Loop, the serene rocky banks of the river are a perfect spot for a relaxing picnic, and it’s just a 3.5 kilometre hike from The Link.
The Ginninderry Conservation Corridor
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, these 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.
Canberra Nature Park
With 39 nature reserves in the Canberra Nature Park, there’s plenty to explore.
With most locals living close by to at least one reserve, whether you live northside (e.g. Mulligans Flat), central (e.g. Jerrabomberra Wetlands), or southside (e.g. Rob Roy), you can easily pop out and enjoy.
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.
Feature image: Snowies Alpine Walk, Perisher To Bullocks Flat. Credit: D Parsons.
