Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog

Saturday 11 July 2026: Geodetic Observatory via a b-line from the Tracking station – Trigs (and NRs) #11 * – S/R. Climb to the Geodetic Observatory from the Orroral tracking station site through the bush. It’s around a 400vm ascent over 2.5km. Bag NMC...

Saturday 4 July 2026: Walking the predator-proof fence of the Woodland Sanctuary in Goorooyarroo NR– Trigs and Nature Reserves #10 * – L/M. From Wildbark, a counter-clockwise circuit of the fence in Goorooyarroo NR. We’ll leave at the Buru (Kangaroo) Gate 14...

2026 06 26 A Search for Maloneys Hut site. A collaborative effort by Terrylea, Mark and moi to find this elusive site. Summary From Garmin Connect (recorded on Garmin H1i+ handheld) – Distance: 15.47km | Climb: 385vm | Time: 4:02 moving...

Thursday 25 June 2026: A Thursday ramble to Hill 1356 on the Tidbinbilla Rim. We park on Corin Dam Road just north of the Billy Billy Rocks climbers track. Heading up hill on a disused logging track we come to...

Wednesday 24 June 2026: Joint Clubs Easy-Medium Wednesday Walk – Nil Desperandum and nearby POI * – M/E. We did this hike this time last year. 3 attended as it was wet and snowing 😂. Let’s try again. Starting from...

Saturday 6 June 2026: Trigs and Nature Reserves #6 – Hardy and Cotter trigs * – M/R. This hike begins at the gate on Pipeline Rd in the Pierces Creek Pine Forest area. We walk up an old fire trail to bag...

Getting older, but no wiser...

Tuesday 12 May 2026: Short ‘n’ Brutal at TNR, Trigs and Nature Reserves #2 * – M/M. The middle section of the Mindjagarri Track Network. Very steep climb up to Snowy Corner. A bag of Tidbinbilla Mountain. Visit Tidbinbilla Peak. Return via the...

Saturday 25 April 2026: Glendale Drystone Walls * – M/R. Mystery surrounds these manmade walls, not even Tim the Yowie Man or the late Val Jeffries knowing who built them or what they were for. Come along and make your best guess. Using...

Monday 20 April 2026: Mt Tennent … yet again * – L/M. Last week one geocache eluded me, but I now have a hint from the cache owner. It’s GC9NRQ8, down off the side of the new(-ish) track that parallels the Mt Tennent FT....

Saturday 28 March 2026: Northern Section of the Mindjagari Track Network * – L/M. Enjoy the views from the crest of the Tidbinbilla Range. Use the Camelback FT to climb to the crest, turn south to scale Johns Peak, then to Tidbinbilla Peak...

Tuesday 17 March 2026: Fishing Gap and Mt Domain * – L/M. Fishing Gap was so named because old timers used to head over and down to the Cotter River to fish. Marmaduke Rothschild has a 10 metre fishing pole, but not for...

Saturday 14 March 2026: The Bobeyan Divide * – L/M. The Bobeyan (Boboyan) Divide forms the southern border of the ACT. We’ll walk in via the Settlers Track to Waterhole Hut, then SW to the Divide to discover border markers and blaze...

Saturday 7 March 2026: RAMSAR Wetlands and Upper Ginini Falls, Mt Franklin and the westernmost point of the ACT * – M/R. Drive to the Mt Ginini car park above the RAMSAR listed wetlands. Visit Upper Ginini Falls (for a geocache). Walk...

Saturday 17 January 2026: Weetangera Methodist Cemetery ! – S/E. I happened to be in the area. Summary Distance: ~500m | Climb: very little | Time: a few minutes | Grading: S/E; VE(3). Photographs View photographs here. gpx file Download the...

Sunday 4 January 2026: Snowies Alpine Walk Stage 5 – Perisher Valley to Bullocks Flat * – M/E. A joint NPA/CBC cross-over walk with up to 8 walkers walking each direction on the newest section of the Snowy Alpine Walk....

Tuesday 16 December 2025: Belconnen Mine ! – S/R. A mate and local boy, Damian S, took me there. Summary From Garmin Connect (recorded on Epix Gen 2 watch) – Distance: 3.98km | Climb: 165vm | Time: 0:59 moving + 0:26...

Thursday morning 27 November 2025: Wildlife Photography Workshop and Walk – S/E. Learn how to get more out of your digital camera in this interactive workshop for beginner and intermediate level photographers interested in wildlife with local ecologist and wildlife...

Sunday 23 November 2025 ! – S/R,X. A look-see at the start of a planned trip from near the Cotter along the Murrumbidgee to Uriarra Crossing West. Summary From Garmin Connect (recorded on Epix Gen 2 watch) – Distance: 4.05km |...

Monday 17 November 2025: Short ‘n’ Brutal + The Pimple * – L/R. Walk the Mindjagari Track Network’s middle section, named Short ‘n’ Brutal. Include a side trip to The Pimple. Around 12km and 930vm. 8-9 hours. SLOW! Early start, late finish. Looking...