Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog
... bushwalking in the ACT and nearby NSW
Johnny Boy
... bushwalking in the ACT and nearby NSW. I began my love affair with the ACT bush in 2004 after completing the Canberra Bushwalking Club's annual Navigation Refresher. Seven sessions of navigation and bushcraft shared by living legends had me hooked. It's grown from a passion to an obsession. With other responsibilities it's hard to get away overnight, so I usually only day walk. I like gadgets and technobabble. Information on this blog is shared in the hope that it might encourage others to get out and breathe a bit of fresh air.
Tuesday 7 November 2023: Tidbinbilla Skyline south – Fishing Gap to Snowy Corner (for all but me). By invitation, representatives of Canberra’s bushwalking clubs joined TNR Rangers. Summary From Garmin Connect (Epix Gen 2) – Distance: 15.55km | Climb: 645vm...
Saturday 4 November 2023: Rediscover the Red Hill Track … looking for star pickets and burnt old logs * – M/R,X. No, not Red Hill in Canberra – the one in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.Perhaps not a walk to everyone’s interest, but an...
Thursday evening 2 November 2023: Frost Hollow to Forest Walk – S/E. On this circular walk you will be looking for remnants of ten different types of gum tree (eucalypts). We will start by walking along a low ridge from...
Sunday 29 October 2023: NPA/* – L/E-M. Many would have visited ‘new’ Fishlock Yards in the upper Orroral Valley. Historical documents place the original Fishlock Yards possibly further up the valley, but more likely somewhere beside the Cotter Hut Road. Walk...
Saturday 15 October 2023: Mt Ramsay Trig – S/M. Rare opportunity to explore bushland on private property east of Murrumbateman. The walk is approximately 8Km with 450m of ascent. It is mostly off track through shady (unburnt for 35 years)...
Saturday 14 October 2023 * – M/E,R,ptX. Nursery Swamp is one of the outstanding fens of its type on the Australian mainland. The open plain bordering it is treeless due to cold air drainage from the surrounding heights. There is...
Wednesday 11 October 2023: E-M Wednesday Walk – Nursery Creek – NS3 and NS1. Was supposed to be: Help re-establish the route from Nursery Creek towards Rendezvous Creek – many feet make light work. Walk to the end of the Nursery...
Monday morning 9 October 2023: Lunar Laser Dome off track. From the Orroral space station carpark we ascend the escarpment directly, through recovering bush and some tall unburnt trees, to join the popular track that winds through boulders to the...
Saturday 7 October 2023: Settlers Track and beyond. Starting at Brayshaws Hut we’ll walk the first section of the Settlers Track to Waterhole Hut, then leave the track and make our way up Grassy Creek. We will get onto the...
Thursday evening 5 October 2023: Black Mountain Scorpions. This short ramble will see us wander around the lower slopes of Black Mountain, searching for two species of scorpions living in Canberra. The best part? When you shine a UV/black light...
Monday morning 2 October 2023: Red Rocks Gorge and ‘The Chasm’ – 2A/B/C/E. Starting from Tuggeranong Pool, walk along the Murrumbidgee from Tuggeranong Creek confluence to Red Rocks Gorge. We will be off-track, close to river for about 2 km...
Saturday 30 September 2023: New/Emerging Leaders Training Walk to Tidbinbilla Peak * – M/E. This training trip is designed for new and emerging leaders who would like to experience planning and executing a day walk. If you’ve just completed Rob...
Friday evening 29 September 2023: Moonlit wander (on Mt Majura) – M/E. Weather permitting – enjoy a moonlit walk in Majura and Ainslie Reserves. Starting from Antill Street, before sunset we’ll admire the afternoon light on trees as we follow...
Wednesday 27 September 2023: E-M Wednesday Walk – Enchanted Hill. See walk description. Summary From Garmin Connect (MAP66i) – Distance: 12.40km | Climb: 440vm (Elevation correction enabled)/530vm (Elevation correction disabled) | Time: 3:25 moving + 1:17 of stops = 4:42...
Saturday 23 September 2023: Cotter Hut loop * – L/E. Who cares if the days are short or long, we can walk at night. A ‘day’ walk. Visit sites (and sights) such as Cotter Gap with views to Split Rock,...
Saturday-Sunday 16-17 September 2023: Navigation #4 – M/R. Tag along on Navigation #4 – A weekend pack walk navigating off track in the Namadgi NP in the region around Sentry Box Mtn. Summary From Garmin Connect (MAP66i) – Distance: 13.28...
Wednesday 13 September 2023: Nursery Swamp Axe Quarry search ! – M/E-M,ptX. Using a vague location provided Greg H, have a look for and indigenous axe quarry site down to end of Nursery Swamp. Summary From Garmin Connect (Epix Gen2)...
Saturday 9 September 2023: A search for Nursery Swamp rock art 1 * – M/M,ptX. There are three indigenous rock art sites near Nursery Creek/Swamp. Let’s have a search for one down south of Nursery Swamp. Around 16km and 400vm. Summary From...
Tuesday 5 September 2023: Molonglo Gorge Nature Reserve – M/M. As a warm up, this walk starts with a scenic walk along the Blue Tiles Walking Trail enjoying the sights and sounds of the Molonglo Gorge. After a short break...
Saturday 3 September 2023: Cuumbeun Nature Reserve – M/E. Cuumbeun Nature reserve offers a lovely opportunity to explore the rather beautiful bush on the hilly ridge we usually just drive through on the way to the coast. The walk follows...