The Murrumbidgee Corridor

The Murrumbidgee Corridor runs along the western side of southern and provides walks of various lengths. It is possible to combine two or more of the walks mentioned here or to venture further up or down the river. The corridor allows for walks along high cliffs as well as along the riverside. Wildflowers and bird songs accompany you as you walk. All walks in this chapter follow a part of the Murrumbidgee Discovery Trail and are marked with distance posts. There are swimming and picnic areas with facilities at Point Hut Crossing, Kambah Pool and Casuarina Sands.

Swimming area at Pine Island Red Rocks Cliffs

129 26 Pine Island North 26 Pine Island North to Point Hut Crossing Walk directions to Point Hut Crossing The path starts near a signpost to the left of the first parking area at Pine Island 1 North and follows a ridge above the river down to a playground and picnic area. The gravel path winds past the toilet block’s colourful exterior and over a small metal A return trip or as a single journey bridge crossing one of the creeks flowing into the river. in either direction with a car shuffle, At a glance Continue along the path, close to the river the direction taken for this walk Grade: Easy 2 and its sandy beaches, to Pine Island South might depend on the time of day Time: 1.5 hrs where you’ll travel around the edge of a as it is much more pleasant to walk Distance: 4.2 km (one way) mown-grass picnic area before reaching with the sun behind than in front. Conditions: Fairly exposed with a second picnic area. This area is The path follows the Murrumbidgee some shade at either end popular in summer, with plenty of shade under the casuarinas River from Pine Island to Point Opening times: Pine Island car parks open 0800–2100 daily and eucalypts. Go up the Hut, so that the sound of the Getting there: steps towards the end of water is a constant feature of the Car: Enter via the grassed area and walk. The path is well-signposted Athllon Dr and Don Dunstan Dr, along the parking with distances to and from clearly continuing around to the right to area to the gate. marked. Keep an eye out for wildlife the Pine Island North car park as snakes and lizards tend to sun Bus: Routes 18 and 318 (weekdays) depart from all interchanges, themselves on the warm path, bus 63 departs Woden and especially in summer. There are (weekdays) and 967 picnic areas and places to swim and 968 depart Tuggeranong on at both ends of the walk. This area weekends – all stop on Scollay St, Greenway, leaving a 15 – 20 minute has been revegetated since the walk to Pine Island bushfires of 2003, which destroyed Dogs: Permitted at Point Hut only, a significant part of the plant life on leash, with an area designated along the corridor. for ‘off the leash’

View to the south

130 131 26 Pine Island North to Point Hut Crossing 26 Pine Island North to Point Hut Crossing

Walk variation

For a shorter walk (approximately 2.5 kilometres one way), start or finish at the picnic area near the gate at Pine Island South.

Once through the and there is more shade. damage during flooding. 3 gate the path rises, There is an off-leash dog There is a shady picnic area meandering along above exercise area to the left. as you reach Point Hut. the river before crossing Pass through a gate and Take a look at the Crossing another small bridge. cross over a stone bridge, itself. In times of heavy rain This part of the path is where rock reinforcing it can be dangerous as it through open bush with has been constructed as a may be under water with a the Brindabella Mountains protection against erosion very strong current flowing. dark blue on the western horizon. In spring and summer, flowering native plants add extra colour to the walk. As with most of the walks along the river, small and large burrows – sometimes under the path itself – are a regular feature, housing rabbits and wombats. As the path nears 4 Point Hut Crossing it draws closer to the river Colourful Toilet Block

Murrumbidgee River

Canberra environment – Eastern Brown Snake The Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis), while highly venomous, rarely bites humans as the snake will usually move away if it is not harassed. Adults range from light brown to almost black with cream to yellow bellies, while young snakes can have dark grey or black bands across their bodies, particularly across their heads. They are active in warmer weather and will often lie on rocks or pathways. They attack from a raised position and are very fast. The Eastern Brown Snake can be found in most, if not all, nature reserves Point Hut Crossing in the ACT. They feed mainly on small rodents, lizards, frogs and birds.

132 133 27 Kambah Pool 27 Kambah Pool to Pine Island North Walk directions to Pine Island North Start from the left Steeper sections are visible below. There are a 1 side of the parking 2 aided by log steps that number of rapids in this area above Kambah Pool have been set at intervals to section of the river, enjoyed One of the best walks along the river, and enter the Bullen aid ascent/descent and to by canoeists and rafters this can be done as a return trip or as At a glance Range Nature Reserve. prevent erosion. Some parts who have given them a single trip in either direction, with Grade: Medium This section winds along of the walk pass through unusual nicknames such the hillside high above open grassland, as the path as Junkyard and Shredder. a car shuffle. Much of the walk takes Time: 2.5 – 3.5 hrs the river, which can be turns away from the river, This lookout gives views of place high above the Murrumbidgee, Distance: 9.4 km one way glimpsed below. The effects some closely hemmed with the , with glimpses of the river below, Opening times: Pine Island car of fire and drought can be wattles. After crossing a particularly after heavy through a variety of landscapes. As parks open 0800–2100 daily seen in the sparseness of longer wooden footbridge rain when the water rushes you near Pine Island the path draws Conditions: Path is sometimes the vegetation on many over a creek, the path through the rapids. close to the river. It is hard to believe rocky and can be fairly steep of the hillsides. The track climbs to a point where a parts with some stepped sections The sound of the winds up and down the detour leads to a lookout that a large town centre and major –little shade rapids can be heard hill, crossing footbridges over Red Rocks Gorge. 3 government offices exist only a Getting there: for quite a while after over creeks and gullies. The cliffs along the river short distance across the fields. The returning to the marked Car: Enter Kambah Pool Reserve have high columns, many track is well-marked with arrows and from Kambah Pool Rd. Take the track, which offers good of which have collapsed Kambah Pool Rd and park in first views of the river before posts every 200 metres giving the into the river, forming parking area on the right – to turning back to the distance remaining in both directions. rapids such start at Pine Island, enter Pine grasslands again. As the The first section has some shade Island Reserve via Athllon Dr as those path turns again towards but most of the walk is in the open. and Don Dunstan Dr, continuing around to the right to the Pine the river, the Red Rocks While rewarding at all times of the Island North car park Cliffs can be seen (just year, the walk is particularly lovely in Bus: No buses to Kambah after the 3 kilometre spring when the different varieties Pool (for Pine Island North see marker) with large of wattle are in bloom. instructions for previous walk) numbers of collapsed boulders at their base.

Walk variations

For those who wish to walk to Red Rocks Gorge and then return to Kambah Pool (4.4 km in total, a 2 hour trip), walk to the lookout (see waypoints 1 and 2 above) then retrace your steps to Kambah Pool. Pine Island North to Tuggeranong Dry Stone Wall is an easy 5 km return walk (2.5 km each way), Wattle lines the path in Spring taking 1.5 hrs in total.

134 135 27 Kambah Pool to Pine Island North 27 Kambah Pool to Pine Island North

Again the path turns, (no track but marked with At one point, as Continue around to the river and into more Take the sharp left turn passing down a gully and arrows at relevant points). 6 the path nears the 7 the right past more open country through on the Pine Island loop up to a gate. Climb through Follow the fences around junction of creek and river, wombat holes. The path grasses (waist high in track to Pine Island North, the gate into paddocks of to the left (Tuggeranong the ‘Hobbiton’ of Canberra is now fairly close to the spring and summer) and following the river at first leased farmland (sometimes Creek runs along the other can be seen on the opposite river, quite sandy and wattles. There is an access and then rising in a fairly complete with cows), side of the fence, shaded by bank, where the earth is obviously a track that point to the river in this steep, sharply winding eventually crossing a Casuarinas) to a gate which dotted with large circular wombats use. Part of the section, if you wish to go path away from the river. narrow two-plank sleeper leads down to the creek. wombat holes. There are path winds first through swimming. (The alternative path is bridge. As the path climbs large numbers of these casuarinas and blackberries slightly shorter and leads The rock steps lead After passing the sign and turns, you can see holes in the Murrumbidgee before reaching a shady uphill before following a to a natural ‘bridge’ for river access, you the grass-covered Urambi 5 Corridor, often dug into spot next to the river. The 8 management road to the of boulders across the have a choice of paths. Hills on your left. The the ground alongside the path continues alongside right.) creek which is reasonably path turns back towards path. A dry stone wall, easy to cross, but it does the river before looping to opposite this junction, runs involve stepping from rock the left. The roofs of the up the slope away from the to rock. After crossing river. Go round the end of turn right and follow can be seen in the distance the wall, through a gate, the path alongside the with the river winding and walk 50 metres or so creek, through a gate and below. back along the other side of towards the junction of the wall before turning to The path curves and the the right. 4 towards the Urambi Murrumbidgee River. Hills. Follow this through a gate and down a track heading straight for the Urambi Hills (ignore the inviting mown grass strip near the fence). Continue until you meet a fence. Turn right, keeping the fence on your left for about 50 metres and through a gateway. (If there has been a lot of rain or if a bridge is preferred, follow signs to the bridge.) Immediately after the gate, turn to the right and follow the grassed area alongside the fence Wombat Holes

Canberra history – Tuggeranong Dry Stone Wall Canberra environment – Common wombat Running up the slope away from the river and then turning at right angles One of ’s many marsupials, the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) towards the Tuggeranong Town Centre is the Tuggeranong Dry Stone Wall, can be found in Canberra, particularly along the Murrumbidgee Corridor. ending just before Anketell St and Athllon Drive. The wall was built by convicts Smaller than its cousin the Hairy Nosed Wombat, this bare-nosed variety feeds between 1867 and 1875 to mark the boundaries of two large rural properties in mainly on grasses, supplemented with roots and bark. The common wombat the area, Yarralumla (owned by the Campbell family) and Lanyon/Tuggeranong is a stocky animal that grows to about one metre in length. They are nocturnal (owned by the Cunningham family). The part of the wall nearest the river has creatures and so, on daytime walks, the large burrows and cube-ish faeces been rebuilt, while nearer to Athllon Drive more of the original wall remains. (often neatly placed on bare rocks, to the edge of a wooden step or on the Small sections of the wall have been rebuilt on either side of Athllon Drive, on path itself) are the only evidence of their presence in the area. the northern side of the Anketell Street traffic lights.

136 137 28 Kambah Pool to 28 Kambah Pool to Casuarina Sands Walk directions Casuarina Sands Start from the marked open grasslands with a Continue up some 1 entrance across the few trees. The track curves 2 stone steps through road from the Kambah away from the river and thick vegetation (mainly This walk follows the river along Pool parking area. The then returns down a gentle wattle) for extensive views the Murrumbidgee Discovery Track, At a glance single track is narrow slope, skirting the nude below. Ants are busy along through a variety of landscapes Grade: Medium to Hard and winds high above the bathing beach far below. all high sections of the Murrumbidgee, through Turn right following a log- track and it is unwise to with the Murrumbidgee in sight Time: 5.5 - 7 hrs stepped path through grass linger on ant nests, even to and/or hearing for most of the way. Distance: 13.8 km one way straight ahead to cross a appreciate a great view. The The first part of the walk, around Conditions: Some sections less creek and continue up the track takes you downhill to ridges and deep gullies, stretches defined, with wombat holes on or steep logged path on the cross a wooden bridge over high above the river, offering long, near the path – a walking stick is of use in testing the ground ahead other side. The sound of McQuoid’s Creek, before sweeping views, with the mountains (arrow posts at regular intervals the water can be heard far climbing again. There are in the distance. The second part and posts marked with distances below and the mountains sweeping views of the river of the walk, while having some to/from destination in both on the western side of and rapids below at various directions) the river are a feature points as the path winds higher sections, passes mostly Getting there: of all views. in and out and up and through grassland and alongside By car: Enter Kambah Pool down, while away from the river, offering close views of Reserve from the Kambah Pool Rd the river to the east, some the water with the steep slopes and take the first left into a small of the hills of northern parking area – if starting from of the mountain range rising from Casuarina Sands, park at the end Tuggeranong can be seen. the western bank. Wildflowers and of the first turn to the left after On the southern horizon native plants bloom along the walk entering the area (close to the sit the blue mountains for most of the year. The walk can Cotter Pumping Station) of the Brindabella and Tidbinbilla Ranges. be done one way with a car shuffle or as a return walk from either Kambah Pool or Casuarina Sands. Please note the walk is through remote regions, offering no facilities.

Mountain range rises steeply on the western side of the river

138 139 28 Kambah Pool to Casuarina Sands 28 Kambah Pool to Casuarina Sands

casuarinas (alive) ahead Continue down a The forest of dead and cross the creek on 6 gravel slope, past a 7 trees gives some stepping stones/clumps large termite mound and shade, while new growth of grass to a sign for across a dry gully to the of casuarinas and wattles Lunchtime Creek; this is river. The path now runs abounds nearer the water. almost half way on the close to the river, with lush The river widens as you walk and a good place green grasses for much of approach a bend in the to stop and recharge (a the year, wattles, casuarinas river. Cross a large flat grassy slope by the path and many dead trees. rocky shelf to find the just around the next The track skirts wombat path on the other side. bend from the crossing holes and fallen trees and Take care here – especially is a comfortable place to branches and is often with children – as the path sit). After a rest, continue invisible – be reassured the has been undermined by on the track cut into the path is still there between wombats, and long grasses hillside until you reach the river and the rocky obscure both their holes a climb-through gate on cliffs and it is just a matter and the path. You will need the left. (For another view of finding a route past to chart your own route of the river, detour to the obstacles until you regain between obstacles. left to Lookout Knoll.) the trail. The river from Bulgar Creek is Continue walking between here to Casuarina Sands crossed here by means fence and river. The has often a large number 8 of an angled wooden mountain range beyond the of flat rocky shelves or Near Lunchtime Creek bridge and the path traces river dominates this section rocky islands visible, some a U-bend away from the of the walk and it is easy to with casuarinas hanging The track winds There is a wooden seat on and gate. After the gate, the river, followed by a sharp see the devastation caused on, unless the water level downhill to some which you can relax and path continues on a mown rise to a gate and a seat, 3 to the vegetation by the is high. dead trees and a stepping enjoy your surroundings. strip of green grass straight from where falling water fires of 2003. stone crossing of a creek, ahead, eventually curving Return to the path followed inevitably by a around to the right and from the lookout sharp rise with views of the 4 down a slope to a fence and continue, crossing a rocky western shore of the and gate. If in doubt, look gully by means of another river as it turns to the west. out for arrow markers or wooden bridge, once There is a stepped path distance posts. again followed by a steep up through grassland to climb. The path curves Turn left through a small group of boulders around, up and down past gate and walk with and trees, which the path 5 two more bridges. The the fence on your right. skirts. The best views are next section of the walk is Don’t be tempted to cross seen at the next rise where much easier going. Ignore the creek too early on this a rocky outcrop of large tracks to left and right and poorly marked section. boulders marks a lookout continue ahead to an arrow Continue to a group of providing views along the post, climb-though fence trees (dead) with a few river in both directions. Walk variation Kambah Pool to Lookout Rocks (Return) This shorter walk (7 km), high above the Murrumbidgee River, with extensive views, follows a single dirt track with steep stepped paths for the majority of the way. The path is well defined with distance and arrow markers at regular intervals. Refer to waypoints 1 through 3 above. Allow 2.5 – 3 hrs for the return trip.

140 141 28 Kambah Pool to Casuarina Sands 28 Kambah Pool to Casuarina Sands can sometimes be heard and/or seen. However, ants Canberra history – Cotter Pumping Station have nested beneath the The Cotter Pumping Station is a significant landmark in the early engineering seat, which makes lingering . The pumping station and related buildings are among the inadvisable. earliest permanent buildings of the new city of Canberra, having been completed in 1915. The pumping station was built to pump water from the Winding sharply uphill to a reservoir at Mt Stromlo, providing water for the people of Canberra. The 9 near a fence the path Cotter Bridge nearby was also built in 1915, giving access to the Cotter Dam. The now passes through another bridge was built high above the river to ensure access even during flooding. A gate. Once more you are new pumping station has since been built on adjacent ground and from 2007 high above the river with water has been drawn from the Murrumbidgee River through this station to the sound of the water quite supplement dam storage. The amount of water drawn depends on the flow loud. Continue through from the Murrumbidgee. The Cotter Dam is currently being enlarged. an area where blackened burnt stumps or trunks of trees contrast strongly with dense regeneration of plants on either side of the path. Cross a bridge and climb through a gate, back high above the river, after which the path joins a wide gravel management road. Turn left onto this road and follow it down and up a slope. Presently there is a track to the left down towards a fence and gate. Once through the gate, the path returns to the riverside, under some steep cliffs and Sands near the ‘1.4 km and rapids below. Here rocks where abseilers can to Casuarina’ marker (or the joins the sometimes be seen. if building works are still Murrumbidgee from the You are now occurring, follow the west. travelling into detour signs on the Camp 10 Continue past the the open space resulting Cottermouth road to the one lane bridge from the cutting or falling detour car park) and 11 leading to the Cotter Dam, of dead trees, although continue, again rising high past the Cotter Pumping some planting of new trees above the river. The Cotter Station to the car park at is occurring. Veer left at Reserve can be seen in Casuarina Sands. the sign for Casuarina the distance with the river

Canberra environment – Casuarinas The River Oak or Casuarina (Casuarina cunninghamiana) grows along the river banks in the Murrumbidgee Corridor and gives its name to Casuarina Sands. Casuarinas (also called ‘She-Oaks’) tolerate both wet and dry conditions and are of benefit to the river system, helping to prevent erosion. Often mistaken for pine trees because of their needle-like foliage, they attract a number of species of native birds, which feed on the casuarinas’ seeds. Murrumbidgee River

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