Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

15 September 2024: Mt Eliza, Gibraltar Peak, Mushroom Rock – M/R. Mt Eliza is often forgotten when one visits Gibraltar Peak, today we’ll visit it first. We start our walk at Dalsetta car park walking up to Eliza saddle. From here we bush bash the 300m to up the south side of Mt Eliza for morning tea. Dropping off the north side we track round to a large rocky formation mostly hidden from view in the valley. This is well worth exploring. We then return to the saddle and head up to Gibraltar Peak and on to Mushroom Rock, lunching at a suitable time. We return to the cars via the stand of Xanthorreas.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (recorded on Epix Gen 2) – Distance: 12.94km | Climb: 665vm | Time: 3:06 moving + 3:13 of stops = 6:19 | Grading: M/R; M(11).

Photographs

View photographs here. Heaps more pics in this album than are embedded in this post.

gpx file

Download the gpx file here.

Track Map

Here’s where we went.

Trip Report

I was last on Mt Eliza on 13 Sep 14 and before that on 15 Oct 05, Gibraltar Peak on 16 Jun 24 and Mushroom Rock on 3 Apr 24.

But not like today! This was a terrific walk, with excellent leading from Dick to explore the granite around these sites.

Walking from Dalsetta car park at 7.31am. The early Ranger must have been a few minutes early to open the gates. Both vehicles had current TNR passes – that’s the least that should be done to support this wonderful Reserve.

Frickin’ feezin’ in the wind. Light snow on parts of the Tidbinbilla Range.

Dick had a rocket up his tail as we walked the track to Eliza saddle. I was puffing.

We headed off-track, at first through all the toilet paper. Disgusting. I was most happy for the bush bash. It slowed out leader and I was strategically positioned towards the rear to the party, so enjoyed the work of those in front.

It’s tight scrub and rock. Sooo good to be back here after nearly 19 years.

I can’t remember the top from so long ago.

Heading NW from the top, Dick had a spectacular tor he wanted to visit.

The view from the nearby granite was great.

So we began our exploration of the area.

Swathes of Dogwood (Pomederris) in flower around Mt Eliza and Gibraltar Peak.

We got within about 20m of the tor to be visited.

Heading back down from the top area, a view to the next location.

And the reverse.

On Gibraltar Peak, a stop at the usual area.

Up to the top for views to the NE over Corin Rd and the ‘leap of faith’ we didn’t take!

We backed off a little, then began a clockwise explore and circumnavigation of Gibraltar Peak.

We ended up around 2m from the other end of the ‘leap of faith’.

Fire trail took us East and down to Mushroom Rock.

A great place for lunch.

Never one to take the simple way (as I did on my previous visit), Dick led us on a delightful scramble to the wave rock from the top.

I dragged the chain on the climb back up to the base of Gibraltar Peak.

Here’s a pic of our first two objectives.

I’m a lot happier walking downhill and can even talk.

A wander around the newly named Wandarawari Loop to check out the ancient Grass trees (Xanthorrea).

I love this view.

A trot down to our vehicles.

A wonderful granite explore and scramble. Huge thanks Dick and all. 

Party

8 walkers -Ceilidh A, Michael C, Brig K, Tarn L, Dick M (leader),  Jenny S, Michael Z, me.

AllTrails

The AllTrails map is here, where you can pan and zoom.

Johnny Boy’s Walkabout Blog FaceBook Page

I’ve started up a FaceBook page. Each trip report posts to it. It’s another way to get some info to get out and breathe a bit of fresh air. Why not pop over and Follow the page, or give a post a Like.

Additional Trip Reports

As I age, I’m doing a few more simple hikes. I don’t always produce a full trip report. If you’re interested, you can find details of them on the Completed Walks tab. There you can access the trip’s map segment, download a gpx file, see the distance, climb and grading, and link through to the photo album. Additional metrics are available by looking at the start waypoint on the map segment – moving time, stopped time, total time.