Biyaligee Boardwalk

Thursday 20 January 2022 – S/E
I am proposing a coffee club gentleman’s walk at 8am this Thursday 20 January. The meet point is the main Jerrabomberra Wetlands car park on Dairy Road, 8am. We’d do an amble round the Kellys, Billabong and Woodland Loops and a foray over towards Kingston. Then drive north along Dairy Road to the Trench Trail parking and try to do the NW, S track through the wet Wetlands. Total distance 10km, pretty flat.

Summary

Distance: 11.1km | Climb: 102m | Time: Starting 8.00am 2hrs 45mins moving time, plus 7mins of breaks | Grading: M/E; E(6-).

Photographs

Photographs are available here.

gpx File

Download the gpx file recorded via AllTrails here (in AllTrails activate …, Download Route, Select a file format, OK).

Track Notes

AllTrails trip report.

I must say that I’ve hankered to visit the large open area of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands, bounded on the east by Dairy Road, north by the Molonglo River, west by Lake Burley Griffin and the south by Jerrabomberra Creek for some time. Especially after being so close to it on the Kingston Foreshore. So instead of coffee with a group of mates, we had a little walk.

We met at the Dairy Road car park for Jerrabomberra Wetlands. Nearly full of cars – not only early morning runners and bikers, but perhaps workers parking there and enjoying a lovely stroll to Kingston for work. Our track started at nearby signage:

Signage near the car park

We did the Kellys Loop and the Billabong Loop. Part of the latter uses the old railway alignment.

Walking the old rail alignment on the Billabong Track

This then feeds into the lovely Biyaligee Boardwalk with its excellent signage as it passes through the reeds.

Biyaligee Boardwalk signage

Edge of the reeds

Joining the main E-W shared path, we crossed Jerrabomberra Creek.

Bridge over Jerrabomberra Creek on main Jerrabomberra Wetlands cyclepath

We headed west towards Kingston, as I also wanted to have a look at a new series of ponds. There’s a seat there made from original Tharwa bridge timbers, designed and made by a Tharwa resident.

Kingston ponds area

There’s a nearby short track which goes to the bank of the Molonglo River, with views across the northern Wetlands to Mt Pleasant.

Molonglo River views

We returned via the Woodlands Track, taking a peek in the Tadorna bird hide, one of quite a few in the Jerrabomberra Wetlands.

View from Tadorna bird hide

On returning to the car park, we walked north along Dairy Road (my planned drive thwarted by a new to me locked gate) to the Trench Trail area. An interesting layout of World War 1 training trenches (now filled in).

Trench Trail signage

Walking the side, sign posts indicate the trenches.

Trench signage

Not far on from the end of the trenches, the track was gated off with “No Entry” signs. Most likely a rural lease of the area for cattle grazing. I took a punt and trespassed, walking to the end of the track as it curved NW then S down to the N bank of Jerrabomberra Creek. I’d not recommend this trespass to anyone. Called in at the PCS Depot on Dairy Road on the way home to try to get permission to walk the area – no result yet as I write. On the way back, stopped to look at the area where Brian had been working to clear White Poplar suckers.

Brian and the poplar clearing he’s been doing

Back on the legal track, we walked the other side of the trenches and through the trench mock-up.

View from a lookout in the ‘trench’

Finally, out through the gate back onto Dairy Road and strolled back to the cars.

Please shut the gate

A visit completed, but I’d not do it again without seeking permission for the northern part.

Party

5 walkers.