We met at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Visitors Centre at 9am.  Northern walkers drove via Cotter on the Paddys River Road to the meeting point.  Central/south Canberra walkers drove via Point Hut Crossing on the Tidbinbilla Road to the meeting point.  We waited for 15 minutes for stragglers, then drove on a little further to the parking area at the old Education Centre.

Walk

This walk is ⅔ of number 2 in Graeme Barrow's Exploring Namadgi & Tidbinbilla: Day walks in Canberra's high country.  The area provides maximum flexibility for all stages, ages and abilities of walking.  We ranged in age from 10 to mature, represented both genders and a variety of walking capabilities.  But we were all set to enjoy ourselves.  We set off at 9.20am after signing in at the walk register and headed up the grassed track, well sign posted.  Over the brow of a rise and the magnificent stand of grass trees came into sight (along with its bright blue new signage).  We stopped at them and had a good look around, then turned around to take in the huge sight of the Tidbinbilla Ridge.  It looked beautiful on the sunny morning.

Then on and up the fire trail towards Gibraltar Rocks.  They came into view at 10.35am as we walked down into the little saddle, then up to the rocks.  A lovely rock pathway took us up through the huge boulders and we settled for 30 minutes near the top on a shelf which gave us incredible views.  We spotted a couple of rock climbers' bolts.

Back down at the base of the rocks two of our party turned back down the trail, whilst the rest of us went bush.  Down a bit of a spur just west of north, a bit steeper and slippery under foot than I imagined.  Plenty of regrowth, too.  Down in the saddle between the two features at midday we had the opportunity to turn west back to the cars, but we all decided to go on.

The scrub was a little more open going up the southern flank of Mt Eliza and there were animal tracks conveniently taking us up through belts of bracken.  12.15pm saw us on the top of Mt Eliza where we propped for 15 minutes.

Then it was just a matter of returning to the cars, but that took another 50 minutes, first down off the hill, then around the top of a gully and finally down a steepish area.  Plenty of regrowth and some prickly blackberries just before we got out onto the open valley floor.

Two big tables in the Spring sun seated the 9 of us for a shared lunch.

A beaut day - perfect weather, lovely views, some gentle bush bashing and great friends.  Thanks everyone!

Time:  9.20am - 1.20pm, with 50 minutes of stops.