One of the longer walks in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, not far from the centre of Canberra, Gibraltar Peak is the perfect early morning walk before a day of meetings. The start is well sign-posted about 5min drive from the Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre, starting from the Dalsetta carpark. The Gibraltar Peak trail crosses a grassy plain on the opposite side of the road to the carpark, with regular track markers.
Given the acres of green grass, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised to see a mob of kangaroos, including one that bounded down the track in front of me. I haven’t seen this many ‘roos in the bush for a long time!
The trail rises very gently at first, on a broad, sandy path through low heath. There’s some intepretative signage, explaining that the track is traversing the land of the Ngunnawal Aboriginal people. While the women and children stayed on the plain teaching, dancing and holding ceremonies, the men and older boys went higher into the mountains for initiation rituals into manhood.
The Gibraltar Peak trail gradually gets steeper with a few switchbacks, before reaching Eliza Saddle, Eucalypt trees including the Broad-leaved Peppermint at the lower levels are replaced by grass trees and granite boulders as the path gains altitude.
After 3.5km there’s a very solid viewing platform, with a broad vista out to the east towards Canberra.
Soon after the viewing platform is reached, the narrow bush track reaches the Gibraltar Fire Trail, which provides an alternate route back.
Gibraltar Peak is only about 300m further, on a rocky trail that rises steeply up the last of the peak. There are soon views to the east as the trail follows the edge of the mountains…
…and crosses some huge granite slabs, with the top of Gibraltar Peak more like a giant boulder field than a mountain summit!
The views are impressive, combining sweeping views to the east with odd-shaped boulders in the foreground. The Telstra Tower on Black Mountain is visible in the distance
The trail ends at the base of large boulders forming the summit of Gibraltar Peak. There’s a narrow cleft between two of the largest boulders, with some smaller boulders wedged in the gap that allow you to clamber to the very top. Which I don’t manage to do… I get half-way up, but don’t feel confident scrambling up the second boulder that requires some gymnastic-like moves. I suspect the view from the very top would be even more impressive.
The return part of the loop is easy – and rather boring. After a short uphill section, the Gibraltar Fire Trail gently descends back towards the starting point.
Near the bottom of the fire trail is the Xanthorrhoea Loop, which passes a stand of grass overlooking the valley. Don’t bother! There were just as many grass trees along the Gilbraltar Peak track.
Just after the Xanthorrhoea Loop, the trail leaves the fire trail and crosses the grassy plain, with the Tidbinbilla Range in the background.
Looking back, you can see the rocky Gibraltar Peak, which really doesn’t really look like a peak from here.
From here it’s a pleasant stroll across the grassy meadow, eventually re-joining the same track that I took to go up the mountain. And the kangaroos are still out in force, farewelling me as I return to the car park.
More information on Gibraltar Peak
- Pick up a map and pay entrance fee at the Tibinbilla Visitor Centre
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve – Walking Trails
2 Comments
TheRamblingWombat · November 23, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Excellent review .. one of many (actually one of the better)good walks in the park.
learningtolovewinterblog · December 16, 2018 at 12:48 am
Looks like a great walk….similar landscape to out this way in the Mt Lofty ranges. Love those granite boulders!