Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Saturday 5 April 2025: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Ramble * – M/M. Enjoy a relaxed ramble around the TNR valley, visiting some sights and sites of interest. We’ll begin by walking the Birrigai Time Trail, taking a short detour to some aboriginal sites. Next we’ll walk to the Mt Eliza saddle, visiting a little cliff-ette off the track if I can find it again. On the way down to the Tidbinbilla Ring Road we’ll pass through the fabulous Grass Trees. A short road bash and we’ll visit Rock Valley homestead, followed by crossing the Tidbinbilla River into the Jedbinbilla area. Here we see the Man on a Horse granite tors. A couple of km further north-east you can find a geocache for me. It’s then down to cross the Tidbinbilla River again, walk through the picnic area, stroll through the kid’s play area and follow the Congwarra Trail back to the cars. Around 14km and 450vm of ascent.

Summary

From Garmin Connect (recorded on Epix Gen 2) – Distance: 14.58km | Climb: 490vm | Time: 3:28 moving + 1:51 of stops = 5:19 | Grading: M/M; M(9).

Photographs

View photographs here.

gpx file

Download the gpx file here.

Track Map

Here’s where we went:

Trip Report

This trip was designed as a relaxed ramble. A beautiful blue sky Autumn day.

We met at the late hour of 8am and motored to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. After a short pre-trip briefing we set off at 8.35am along the Birrigai Time Trail.

After passing the SODAR installation we came to the fruit trees of the Maxwell’s/Green’s sites.

Including this site, all the sites on the Birrigai Time Trail had beautifully designed signage stands, but no signage yet. Similar at the tennis court and Gibraltar School sites where, on the last visit to these areas on 11 Jun 24, we’d seen clearing work.

We arrived at the Birrigai Rock Shelter.

Associated signage.

A little further on we had a look at the well tree.

The next POI was a small cliff beside the track, just over a drainage line. A most inelegant entry (chosen by me) and a nicer exit (chosen by party members).

There’s a geocache located here which I’ve previously failed to find. Same result today with 11 sets of muggle eyes.

Back on track we climbed to the Eliza saddle and stopped for morning tea at the bush table.

Heading down towards the valley, we passed a group of young ladies which included a walking friend. She explained that it was a hen’s party for a friend. What a great idea – not grog, just a wonderful walk out in the fresh air for great companionship and celebration!

We did a u-turn onto the Wandarawari Loop. Beautiful views to the Tidbinbilla Range.

A loop of the Grass Trees. New signage.

Stunning Grass Trees.

Next, down to cross the main road and, instead of the advertised road bash, a b-line to ‘Rock Valley’.

A great historical place.

Plenty of signage to tell the story.

The gardens are immaculate. This place is well worth a visit and you can drive to it. We lazed about on the lawn for lunch.

Refreshed, we followed fire trails across the back of the Depot area to cross the Tidbinbilla River via a concrete ford.

We knew we were heading in the correct direction because of the fire trail signage.

New since I was last here, which was yonks ago. The area is the old Block 60 Pine Forest which was obliterated in the 2003 fires. Since replanted with native forest and renamed Jedbinbilla, it’s good to see it recovering nicely. The fire trails are to be suffered.

A signed entry to the site, again new to me.

Hard to get the perspective on arrival.

But head round to the lower side to get the picture.

From here, more fire trail took us up to the edge of the rock wallaby enclosure, again new to me.

So we headed down the fence line towards the river. Around 200m from the bridge and in a particularly scrubby area. a small mutiny resulted in us crossing the Tidbinbilla River with dry feet.

A little more road bash and we hit the picnic areas.

Up through the kids’ play area we joined the Congwarra Track, swung right onto the Sheedy’s Link Track and so, via an emu, back to the start.

I hope everyone enjoyed the sites and sights of the day.

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

Party

12 walkers – Cathie B, Rochelle C, Andrea C, Kirsty G, Carla H, John K, Ming L, Jaime P, Kiko P, Lam S, Damian S, me.