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Mount Arrawang (Australian CapitalTerritory)

by Murray Dow

Time: 2 hours Distance: 5km

Maps: Cooleman Ridge Canberra Nature Park leaflet available from ACT Parks and Conservation service. The more recent editions of Gregory's and UBD street directories show Mt Arrawang but are rather confusing with regard to the walking tracks.

Access: Lincoln Place Chapman, or any access point in Chapman. Mt Arrawang is at the eastern end of Cooleman ridge, which is 3km long. The ridge is also much appreciated by the local residents exercising themselves or their dogs. I also noticed a tree house and I suspect there are more secret cubbies hidden in the park.

By walking the full length and back again you would cover about 10km. Navigation is easy provided you take careful note of your starting point; consequently I will just describe briefly the walk up the 'mountain' and leave you to choose the extent of your walk.

Immediately upon entering the park, cross the wooden bridge and go over the stile uphill, passing a large old yellow box with a hive of feral bees in the trunk. When you reach the saddle at the sign 'Canberra Nature Park Mt Arrawang', turn left through a grove of Acacia parramattensis.

After an easy climb at the top you get an excellent view of the Bullen range, and can see the full extent of the walk I have earlier described from Kambah pool to the Cotter river, though it not possible to see the Murrumbidgee river as it nestles too deep in its gorge.

Immediately to the south are Neighbour, McQuoid and Forster hills. Return to the saddle then go through the gate, under the low telephone line and along the ridge as far as you please (I suggest to Cooleman trig) then take the lower track behind the houses back to the start.

There is a row of several species of eucalypt planted for much of the length of the ridge - I identified yellow gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon)?, brittle gum, blue gum and another ironbark, which provide a home and food supply for many species of birds. I also observed a pair of black shouldered kites attacking a brown goshawk, a red fox and a solitary blue heeler stalking the roos.