Brunch view to Canberra from One Tree Hill

Map: Hall 1:25000

Walk Description

This walk was organised and led by me as a CBC walk:

Saturday 21 December: Forde to Hall on the Canberra Centenary Trail - L/E. This northern section of the CCT is the pick of it. Climb gently to the northern ACT border and walk on the newly made earth walking/bike track. Undulating along the ridges and wiggling around contours (an easier gradient for riders), we visit Oak trig, the new northern camp site, One Tree Hill trig and CCT signage and finish at Hall. Around 20km and 300m climb, taking about 6 hours - very pleasant walking. Map: Hall. Leader: John Evans - john@johnevans.id.au, 0417 436 877. Transport: ~$5 per person, car shuttle required.

4 of us met at 6.45am in Hall, then drove in one car to Forde.

Further Information

Promised a start time of 7am at Forde. We'll need to organise a car shuttle prior to that. Last did this section of the CCT on 27 Oct 13.

Photographs

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Track Maps

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Track overview

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

Google Earth

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Track Notes

Our party was half sized, with 4 pulling out. Away at 7am from the Amy Ackman St Forde parking area for the Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve. I immediately felt the pressure of having the CBC Walks Secretary in the party - did I do the trip briefing well; was I correctly dressed (grin).

We walked up the Old Gundaroo Rd alignment, now a broad concrete walking/bike track. Past a very fancy stile which would give access to the Antechinus Gate in the animal-proof fence. The CCT feeds out to the Mulligans Flat Rd which is crossed. We entered the north Mulligans Flat NR portion via a horse step-through near some signage and followed the CCT with occasional marker poles as it parallels Mulligans Flat Rd to the next intersection. Note that my map segments come from TopoView 2006, so new northern suburbs and roads do not show.

At this location, the CCT bends up away to the left, following the dirt road (Duke Rd) over the other side of the fence which is the ACT border. A gentle climb, then the CCT turns West. No trouble in following it.

The day was going to be warm with a forecast 30°C, but the breeze was pleasant and it was only from One Tree Hill to Hall at the end of the walk that it felt hot.

SW of Oak Hill, we thought we saw a CCT guidepost heading towards the top, so 2 of us made a quick foray up to the trig. On returning we realised our mistake - it was actually a sign saying keep on the track (gulp). On gently down to the Northern Campsite.

From our start point to the Northern Campsite was 6.5km in 1hr 20mins (subtracting our 0.5km 10min round trip to Oak trig).

Then a pleasant ramble along the CCT through the Gungahlin Eucalypt Plantation (from the signage near Oak Hill "... eucalypt plantation established by the ACT Government in the early 1990s to provide timber for domestic heating in the ACT - a policy now abandoned.") and a bit of open country paralleling the 132kV power lines. Spotted a couple of lizards.

Came off the CCT too early in tracking to One Tree Hill. Eventually picked up the walking-only track and followed it up the fence line. Enjoyed the view from the top, then retreated to the trees for shade for brunch. Northern Campsite to One Tree Hill was 8.4km in 2hrs.

A better exit from the hill from our brunch spot. Last time I came straight down from the lookout through the long grass; today much better with no long grass. Just got onto the walking track before meeting the main CCT. I now have the waypoint!

From here we wandered 4km in 50mins to the cars in Hall. A few bikes, including 2*2 who were doing Forde to Hall and return, passed us.

A pleasant morning, getting back home early arvo.

Summary

Distance: 19.8km Climb: 480m. Time: 7.00am - 12.15pm (5hrs 15 mins), with 35mins of breaks.

Grading: L/E; M(8)

Walk Participants

4 walkers - Helen B, Lorraine T, Deddo W, me.