18 July 2012

Canberra viewed from Gibraltar Rocks

| LSWCHP
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gibraltar rocks view

it’s school holiday time, so I decided to lever the boys away from the X-Box and take them out for a little communing with nature.

We went out to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and did the walk up to Gibralter Rocks. We went from the car park to the peak in about 50 minutes, which is a climb of around 350m over a distance of around 4 km. The visitors guide rates the walk as “moderate-hard”. Most of it was moderate, but there were a few very steep sections that required an occasional breather. The walk is on a nicely maintained 4 wheel drive trail with good footing all the way. I’d say that a reasonable level of fitness is required to make it to the top.

It’s a fantastic walk, with truly beautiful views available all the way up, and especially at the peak. The attached image shows the view from the peak towards Canberra, with the tracking station dishes at left, Black Mountain as a little bump in the middle and Woden Town Centre on the right. The elevation at the peak is around 1080m.

Also present along the way were many very mellow looking kangaroos, some with Joeys in their pouches. We passed within a couple of metres of some of them, and received nothing more than a quizzical glance as we went by.

I’d highly recommend this walk to anyone with an afternoon to spare on the weekend.

[Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

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Sandman said :

poetix said :

So refreshing to read something that’s not having a whinge about Canberra! (Though the weather is hideous.) Thanks for this.

Give it time. Any minute now someone will grace this thread with a photo of a car illegally parked on top of that rock.

Awesome looking spot LSWCHP. I think my kids might be a bit young still for a walk that length but shouldn’t be too long now till I can get them out and about a bit more.

If you have a car that will handle a forest road of varying quality, you can access Gibralter Peak from the other side, and the walk is only about 20min?

Drive up the fire trail as far as the locked gate and walk.

poetix said :

So refreshing to read something that’s not having a whinge about Canberra! (Though the weather is hideous.) Thanks for this.

poetix said :

So refreshing to read something that’s not having a whinge about Canberra! (Though the weather is hideous.) Thanks for this.

Give it time. Any minute now someone will grace this thread with a photo of a car illegally parked on top of that rock.

Awesome looking spot LSWCHP. I think my kids might be a bit young still for a walk that length but shouldn’t be too long now till I can get them out and about a bit more.

Last time I was at Gibraltar Falls (near Corin Forest) there was a large TV smashed at the bottom of the cascade. They needed the car to get away I guess.

poetix said :

So refreshing to read something that’s not having a whinge about Canberra! (Though the weather is hideous.) Thanks for this.

Give it time. Any minute now someone will grace this thread with a photo of a car illegally parked on top of that rock.

Awesome looking spot LSWCHP. I think my kids might be a bit young still for a walk that length but shouldn’t be too long now till I can get them out and about a bit more.

I walked down Smokers Trail on Sunday and there was a bit of snow on the ground. It was fantastic weather for a walk.

poetix is spot on. well done.

Thanks for the kind words folks. Much appreciated. 🙂

So refreshing to read something that’s not having a whinge about Canberra! (Though the weather is hideous.) Thanks for this.

🙂 Noice! Very noice indeed!

LSWCHP said :

Actually, I was thinking of doing the Camel’s Hump walk next. Has anybody been along there?

Yep – did it years ago. My recollection was that it was mostly graded firetrail from the Mountain Ck (?) carpark, with a pad to the top of the hump. There were some good views over Gibraltar Peak from a few points. From Camels Hump there were good views of the scraggy cliffs on John’s Peak. Now is probably a good time, I think it was pretty hot when I did it & there wasn’t much shade in spots.

Doesn’t even look cold from there

Kim F said :

There is a new walking trail up to Gibraltar Peak, leaves from the same place (ish) but is much more pleasant than the fire trail. You will need to do it again 🙂

Heartbreaking news indeed. 🙂

Actually, I was thinking of doing the Camel’s Hump walk next. Has anybody been along there?

There is a new walking trail up to Gibraltar Peak, leaves from the same place (ish) but is much more pleasant than the fire trail. You will need to do it again 🙂

AAMC said :

Great walk, I recomend it to every one………on the top of that rock is where i proposed to my wife.

Nice spot for it.

Great walk, I recomend it to every one………on the top of that rock is where i proposed to my wife.

Holden Caulfield11:40 am 18 Jul 12

Awesome, you have me inspired!

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