This walk was organised and led by Chris L as a CBC walk:

(Saturday 13 October- Tidbinbilla Western Slopes - Cow Flat Creek Cliffs- S/R. From Bendora Dam we climb to an area with many interesting ancient sandstone cliffs overlooking Cow Flat Creek. There used to be a beautiful tree fernery and cascade between these cliffs. Map: Tidbinbilla 1:25000 Leader: Chris L. Transport: ~$15.).

5 of us drove via Piccadilly Circus and the newly reopened Bendora Dam Road to the Bendora Dam picnic area. It took a bit over an hour. The dirt roads are in good nick at the moment.

Walk 

We were away along the track down to the top of the dam (pardon the French) wall just before 9am. A great drive in along the Bendora Dam Road with spectacular views up to the W side of the Tidbinbilla Range. A quick inspection of the dam with its exposed banks due to critical water shortage. Then down the zig (only one turn, so no zag) track and over the bridge below the base of the dam. Interesting to see the Cotter River squeezed into two outflow pipes.

We followed the fire trail on the E bank of the Cotter for 1.12km. Chris was looking for where the trail crossed Cow Flat Creek, knew the spot, but was puzzled by the lack of flow under the culvert (explained later). We wandered on a few tens of metres to the next ridge which would take us up towards the magnificent cliffs which could already be glimpsed.

We began the 300m climb which covered only 800m across the ground in a reasonably severe leg of up, regrowth and unstable scree. 1hr 5mins for this short leg. We finally caught sight of an open area (across the other side of a particularly dense patch of regrowth) and began to contour. The open sandstone area was finally obtained, along with huge views to the cliffs at our 1000m level and, 200m above us, the 110m high cliffs between us and Tidbinbilla Mountain. A few tens of metres further on we paused for morning tea, only believing Chris and the map about the huge drop just beneath us.

Absolutely astounding views! To the W we could see Bendora Dam; to the NW glimpses of our route in; to the NE the tremendous 110m cliffs protecting the flank of Tidbinbilla Mountain; to the E we could get an idea of the drop down to the arm of Cow Fat Creek we were next to explore; to the E savage looking 75m cliffs where we were to eventually enjoy lunch (see pic 1). To the S and SW lay the deep valley of the main arm of Cow Flat Creek (talk about mad cows) and over it SH1266 and SH1117. The view took our collective breaths away.

We left at 11.25am to head back N off the face of the top of the cliff and steeply down through dense vegetation to the cascades and tree ferns that Chris had promised. 15mins for 140m across the ground but, of course, a significant and scrubby drop. They were there (see pic 2), but obviously less glorious than pre-fire.

Another slow leg through more regrowth and up unstable scree took 45mins to cover a mere 270m across the ground. Great views to a near-vertical cliff face below our objective. But we finally gained our luncheon vantage point and could at last see what was beneath us at morning tea (see pic 3). Astounding!

... more to come

This was a most interesting, varied and quite challenging little walk in spectacular sandstone cliff country quite atypical of the usual granite of Namadgi. The scenery was striking and it must have been superb prior to the fires.

Thanks Chris for showing us around and to Doug, Jacqui and Quentin for your company.

Distance: 7.4km  Climb: 500m.  Time: 9.00am - 4.25pm (call it 7.5hrs), with 1hr 50mins of breaks.
Grading: S/R; M(11).

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Cow Flat Creek Cliffs