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

Sunday arvo 21 Jun - Parkway Ramble - Walk for Uganda Recce - Belconnen Way to Zoo - S/E,X. After church we'll have a ramble from the car park on Belconnen Way on the W bound side just shy of GDE/Caswell Drive to the National Zoo and Aquarium. Have to leave a car at the end point on the way there. The route will be through the Black Mountain Nature Reserve, under Caswell Drive into the Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve and down to the Aranda Snow Gums, through the Glenloch Cork Oak Plantation then the Canberra International Arboretum, under the Tuggeranong Parkway to the Zoo car park. Around 5-6km, a couple of hours. If time and inclination allow, check out the ford of the Molonglo River.

9 of us met to walk, after leaving a car or 3 at the National Zoo and Aquarium.

Be ready to leave from Parkway, appropriately attired, at 1.30pm after morning service. We will need to have eaten lunch by then (maybe bring some sambos and enjoy them after morning service with a good coffee). Will need to leave a car at the National Zoo and Aquarium.

Possible showers are forecast.

Walk track

It was a battle - the girls were praying for clear skies and I needed the car washed. Thank God the girls won!

Over the stile in style and up the trail to the half right. Some signage. We followed the Orchid Track to overlook Caswell Drive, then cut SE along an old concrete track to pick up the management track to the underpass. We didn't use the possum run, but walked under to enter the Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve. SW along the edge of the NR to the easement provided by the lessee of Glenloch. Down past the rustic seats and signage, out onto the grasslands with the kangaroos and so down to the Aranda Snow Gums (see pic 1). By this time the sun was shining.

Next across the two stiles visible and onto the bike path for a short distance, taking us to the underpass under William Hovell Drive and into the Cork Oak Plantation. A lovely place. We are truly blessed to have such areas so close by and accessible in Canberra.

Out the S end of the plantation, then up the fire trail to Lakeside Hill. Then via redeveloped Canberra International Arboretum roads through several of the 'over-the-back' plots not seen when driving by. Dairy Farmers Hill looked within reach in the time we had, so we headed there and enjoyed the great sculpture (see pic 2) - now, in my estimation, this piece of community sculpture is worthwhile. Nice views over our fabulous city (see pic 3).

With 5pm closing at the Zoo and needing to retrieve our cars, we headed downhill and cross country through the pines and blackberries. Another detour through a muddy/clayey area being prepared for planting to finally come to a sign (approaching it from the rear) saying 'construction site, authorised folk only'.

Along a fire trail beside the Tuggeranong Parkway for a bit, under it, down beside the zoo with giraffes and white lions watching us and so back to the cars. Drove back to retrieve the other vehicles.

Great fun! Hopefully that may inspire you to try some or all of the Walk for Uganda on 8 August. Thanks Greg, Lily, Neralie, Richard and Nicole, Stan and Isobel, and Tarja.

Distance: 9km  Climb: 100m.  Time: 2 - 4.30pm.
Grading: S/E,X; E(5)

KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Parkway Ramble - Walk for Uganda Recce - Belconnen Way to Zoo