This walk was organised and led by Max S as an irregular FBI Tuesday walk:

(Blue Gum Creek Area From Smokers Trail Carpark cross country to Bluegum Hill, then to White Horse Flat, returning via Punch Bowl Creek to car. Walk about 12 km, and climb to say 600 m.  Some rough and off track. Map – Corin Dam 7.30 Start from Kambah carpark.  Estimated finish 3.00 pm at cars.).

3 of us drove to the Smokers Trail car park. Cloud all the way until just before we turned off the Corin Dam Road, where we broke up into a magnificent blue sky day.

Walk 

Away by 8.10am, heading straight into the bush on a b-line for Blue Gum Hill. Many people do this as a day walk - Max set a pace to get us there for morning tea. Lovely down across the open flats of Blue Gum Creek. A pause at about the 1300m contour for a quick breath and pics back over the route we'd come in. On up to the SE to the bare and rocky top of Blue Gum Hill for morning tea.

What a magnificent, 360° view! From W to N over Blue Gum Creek far below us was the Tidbinbilla skyline, with fingers of cloud covering the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (see pic 1). From N to E further out than the close hills was a white sea of cloud. Back to the W, in the distance, were the snow covered Brindabella peaks (see pic 2). The telephoto lens picked up the fingers of cloud prodding towards Mt Tennent (see pic 3).

We headed NNW off the top, skirting the edge of the cliff line to find a steep route down to Blue Gum Creek. A 300m drop in around 1km. A lovely creek with steep sides at this point. Plenty of water flowing. Thoughts of another walk in the area, following the creek from flats down to the Booroomba property. A step climb back up to the 1300m contour on the other side, with tiny touches of snow where the sun had not yet reached. At around 1200m, great views down the creek cut to Booroomba Rocks and up to the cliff line on the NE side of Blue Gum Hill.

A bit of a left turn at a fence line took us across a saddle. Drainage lines went SW down to Blue Gum Creek and NE down towards Blythburn Cottage. N again to find lunch.

Away at 12.50pm for another steep descent NE then a final switch back to hit the E end of White Horse Flat. An enjoyable wander along the track, then up the footpad beside Punch Bowl Creek. Lyrebirds calling down by the creek which was tinkling away. A final wander up and along the fire trails back to the car.

This was an excellent little round with heaps of ups and downs and huge views on a magnificent day. Thanks Max and Mary.

Distance: 13.5km  Climb: 800m.  Time: 8.10am - 3.20pm (call it 7.25hrs) with 55 mins of breaks.
Grading: L/R; H(12).

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Blue Gum Creek area