Back to Cuumbeun Bushwalking site

Time: 1 hr

Distance: 2km

Map: Namadgi National Park, available from ACT Parks and Conservation Service

Take with you: Water, hat, raincoat and a snack.

Access: Drive to Tharwa. Continue South on the Naas Rd. for 11 km past Cuppacumbalong and the Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre, turning right at the Honeysuckle Rd. If you reach the Gudgenby River you have gone 500m too far.

Drive 9.2km turning right at 'Booroomba Rocks' sign. Follow this gravel road 3km to the end, where there is a car park and fire places.

There is a steep section on this gravel road which sometimes is not suitable for front wheel drive cars.

Don't be deterred by the extra 1.5 km walk - the walk along the road is a good opportunity for bird observing in the forest.

Booroomba Rocks can be seen from parts of south Canberra, and is one of Australia's premier rock climbing venues. For the more timid, it offers spectacular views and scenery.

Starting at the small wooden post with 'Booroomba Rocks walking track' on it, walk north along a small easy to follow track. It soon starts climbing through peppermint and mountain gum forest, past two large boulders. After about half hour and a climb of less than 200m you reach a large bare area showing signs of camp fires.

Continue about 20m in the same direction up onto some rocks and you suddenly find yourself on the edge of a sheer drop. You are looking over what the rock climbers call Middle Rocks.

To the right is North Buttress. There may be climbers below so do not throw anything over the edge. Across Blue Gum creek about 300m below you can see Mt Lincoln and to its left the tops of the Tidbinbilla Range are just visible.

This completes the description of the first part of the walk. For those wanting to see more, there are several tracks on the rocks, of which I will describe one which should take about 10 minutes one way.

It also requires somewhat more care in navigation. Walk back to the bare area, then 30 paces further. On your right you will see a stretcher in a hollow tree. Walk south west past this up a faint track onto the middle of a rocky outcrop, then find a track through thick scrub descending in the same direction.

Ascending through open forest a short distance, cross a cleft and find your way up smooth bare slabs onto the large Uluru-like summit of Booroomba. There is usually water here in rock pools. From here you have a grandstand view - with the help of binoculars you should be able to distinguish most of the peaks of Namadgi.

From here I have watched Wedge-tailed Eagles and Kestrels soar, and just below this rock I disturbed a Boobook owl, found an unusual orchid and watched a spinebill feed in the Grevillea Victoriae that abounds. A wonderful peaceful place. Return the same way. Take care and keep to the left on the narrow gravel road when driving home.