Best wildflower walks near Canberra

[ForestRain]

Hi Folks
I'm travelling to Canberra late October and was wondering what you think are the best locations/bushwalks to see and photograph wildflowers near Canberra.
Would be grateful for any advice/thoughts.
Cheers
Paul (ForestRain)

[WarrenH]

ForestRain, G'day.

This winter in the ACT, the cold has set all-time records for frosts and their frequency. It is only in the last week that heavy overnight frosts have (kind of) abated this entire winter past (but I'm not putting tomato seedlings in yet, no way Hose). I wouldn't say Spring has come to the mountains yet. The extreme cold has set back many plants and trees from flowering or blooming in the city. Normally plants (apart from the Acacias) bloom a bit later here than down on the coast or in the Blue Mountains.

The three best places within the city precincts, could be Farrer Ridge Woodland Reserve, Mulligans Flat Woodland Reserve (on the eastern side of the road) and of course the National Botanic Gardens and the warmer slopes on Black Mountain. Farrer Ridge and Mulligans Flat are traditionally good. If you like native grasses, the recently opened Karma Nature Reserve on William Hovell Drive is really cool. With Roo Grass and Red Leg ... not much else there except for Happy Wanderer.

At Queanbeyan, Googong Dam's Southern and Eastern Foreshores can have interesting stuff on the Queanbeyan River Fire Trail ... like the Wooly Pomaderris and Yellow Buttons.

The Nature Reserves at Wee Jasper including the Travelling Stock Reserves of the Yass Region could be good ... there are particularly rare plants on Mount Wee Jasper and on Mount Goodradigbee and in Sugarloaf Nature Reserve and Sugarloaf Travelling Stock Reserve ... keep an eye out for the critically endangered Wee Jasper Spiderflower and the Tumut Grevillia. Both of these plants bloom early particularly the Tumut Grevillia.

In the Brindies, well that is a hard one, although Naas Valley Fire Trail from the Southern end on the warmer slopes might be good(ish) for stuff like Bitter Pea ... Ham and Eggs, Cut Daisys, Hoary Sunrays and Rusty Nails. Ring the Namadgi Visitors Centre when you arrive. The Rangers will have their finger on the pulse.

I'd probably go to the Botanic Gardens firstly. It certainly needs to warm up a bit. The gardens will be a good yardstick. In the Visitor's Centre they have a list of what's flowering and the locations within the gardens. Today is warm ... but this is long overdue. I think that is a bit early for the Murrumbidgee River Corridor to come to life for plants like the Black Anther Lilly.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, it is like Royal National Park sadly. The counter staff just hand out maps while taking hefty entry fees from tourists ... and they offer no help or if they do know, they don't volunteer anything.

From mid summer, during last summer, you should have been here. It was an extraordinary season for the Royal Bluebells here in the ACT, on the Yass Plains and on the SW Slopes. The Bluebells grew everywhere even in cracks on concrete traffic islands and in cracks in road gutters, all around town.

Warren.

[ForestRain]

Hey Warren

Many thanks for the detailed reply! Much appreciated!
I hope to be in Canberra right at the end of the month and maybe early Nov, so hopefully there will be some decent flowering by then.
Did you have any thoughts on Namadgi?
One of the reasons I posed this question was the amazing photos of Nursery Swamp posted by another member; at 1000m above sea level, maybe will have to wait longer than late October?
Cheers
ForestRain

[WarrenH]

Paul, you're most welcome.

Did you have any thoughts on Namadgi?
One of the reasons I posed this question was the amazing photos of Nursery Swamp posted by another member ...

Someone has been to Nursery Swamp? The place is becoming far too popular nowadays. This guy has been known to lower the tone of the place ... viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10115

'Johnny Boys Walkabout Blog', would be worth studying. His images and route maps, particularly from past walks, done during late October and early November, could be your best bet.

Even a walk up to the saddle between Mount Ainslie and Mount Majura would be good then. Taking in the infamous Mineshaft Track done to improve your cardio health. You could enter the reserve from the gate in McKenzie Street in Hacket and continue to the radar station on Majura then back on a different track to the summit of Ainslie's and come down through the bush. The Mineshaft Track is the hardest MTB climb in the city ... and well worth walking. See MAP.




There is also the Alpine Walking Track to the Summit of Mount Tennent and do a bit of rock hopping on the way. Once you reach the creek and start to climb, Mount Tennent is cool.




The walk to Franklin Falls is awesome. Starting from the summit of Mount Franklin, on Mount Franklin Road ... the plants you could find on this walk, may not have even been classified yet.

Mount Franklin and Aggie Peak from Coolamon Ridge.




If you want to guarantee wildflowers, the Northern Budawangs on the Redgrounds Track and Quiltey's Fire Trail or the Yalwal Plateau to Ettrema Canyon, perhaps entering Ettrema from upper Jones's Creek would be the go.

A foggy start with Daisy Yams, Quiltey's Fire Trail.




A Wooly Pamaderris on the Queanbeyan River Fire Trail on the Eastern Foreshores of Googong Dam.




Yellow Buttons on the Queanbeyan River Fire Trail at Hickory Hill.




Warren.

[ForestRain]

Thanks again for the rapid reply, advice and great photos Warren!
Can't promise I'll get to all of these, but I will get to some!

[WarrenH]

Paul, when I referred to Sugarloaf Nature Reserve at Wee Jasper, the reserve is actually called Oaky Creek Nature Reserve.



Warren.

[WarrenH]

Paul, on Johnny Boy's Walkabout Blog, on the 27th October 2011, a walk on Mount Majura was added to the blog ... http://www.johnevans.id.au/Pages/Walk%2 ... 10_27.html

Here's a list of Canberra's Nature Parks all are immediate to the city ... http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/parks_c ... parks_maps

Karma Nature Reserve hasn't been listed above, because it is a recent addition ... http://www.molonglocatchment.com.au/Doc ... eserve.pdf

A good day could be, linking Goorooyarroo Woodlands Reserve to Mulligans Flat Woodlands Reserve, they join each other. In Mulligan's Flat Woodlands Reserve, there is a wildlife enclosure that you enter. Goorooyarroo has excellent views.

Warren.









Warren.

[ForestRain]

Thanks again Warren!
Mind if I ask what camera you are using?
Paul

[WarrenH]

Paul, Hi again.

I've an DSLR that's about 4 years old, a Canon 40D. It's nothing flash. I don't have L lenses sadly, I'm too poor. I think that I can compensate using kit lenses by employing adequate camera handling techniques(?). If you are wondering why I use a square format at times, it is because I cut the the sides off my shots.

These next two shots were taken on Black Mountain.

A Darwinia and an orchid(?) of sorts.





From the Naas River Valley and the ranges (Booth and Clear) above the valley ... https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 87365&v=8W

From the Wee Jasper region ... https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pag ... 68047&v=D3

I live in the NW of the ACT. It takes me as long to get to Wee Jasper on my push bike, as it does to get to Namadgi. It is about the same distance.

Warren.

[WarrenH]

ForestRain, G'day.

If you haven't come to Canberra yet? Could I suggest visiting the Southern end of Googong Dam and the Burra Creek Nature Reserve. I've just spent a few days in the area and the wild flowers are beautiful and prolific.

Could I suggest? ... driving to Burra Road, then from the London Bridge Woolshed carpark walk to London Bridge Arch. Then to Gelegnite Crossing, on to Flynns Crossing and then loop back to London Bridge with a side trip into the Burra Creek Nature Reserve on the way to Gelegnite. I'm sure that you will find Gelegnite Crossing most interesting with spectacular features in the gorge. After Gelegnite Crossing the hills flatten out a bit.

There is a lot of water around. The rivers are healthy and they're up about 30cm above normal. This country is full of Apple Box, bizarre Brittle Gums and Inland Scribbly Barks with a bit of Red Stringy Bark. Relatively easy firetrail walking that is a bit lumpy. Unfortunately there's no camping in the catchment. At Googong on the Western Foreshore at the dam, the gates are locked at 8.00 pm (DST) and the Southern entrance at London Bridge Woolshed, locked at 7.00pm.

On Googong's Eastern Foreshore, I went from Hickory Hill Nature Reserve, along Bradleys and the Q'bne River Fire Trails, then to Gelignite Crossing and a loop to London Bridge and back to Hickory Hill.

Just a few shots. Tannin water, flood debris and a mad Brittle Gum.








Warren.