Summary
This walk heads south from Narrabundah Lane on tracks and off-track through pleasant, open woodlands and grassland. The higher points on the route provide views towards Black Mountain and across the Monaro Highway to grassy hills. These two reserves are home to several threatened animal and plant species.
- 8 km; 2.5 to 3 hours including a break
- Views
- Yellow box and red gum woodland and protected grasslands
- Gently undulating route without steep climbs.
History
Both reserves are traditional lands of the Ngunnawal people; Jerrabomberra West Nature Reserve contains Indigenous sites.
Callum Brae Nature Reserve was formerly part of the Callum Brae pastoral property. In 1825 Robert Campbell established the 4,000 acre property ‘Duntroon’ on the Molonglo River at Pialligo, and extended his land holdings in 1838 by purchasing land south of the Molonglo, including the area that is now Callum Brae Nature Reserve. The Duntroon property was resumed in 1913 for the Federal Capital Territory. In 1919 the Callum Brae area was leased to returned soldier Hector MacIntosh, who worked the property until 1933. The Jerrabombera West Nature Reserve was formerly part of the Woden Homestead property.
Route
Start at the dirt carpark in Narrabundah Lane, Symonston, where there is a gate and a sign ‘Callum Brae Nature Reserve’. Google Maps shows this carpark if you search for ‘Callum Brae Nature Reserve’.
Go through the gate and take the right hand of the two fire trails. Follow it, crossing a paved ford at about 300 metres. Continue a further 300 metres till you see an earth dam on your left.
Turn left at the dam, leaving the fire trail. Walk along the earthen wall that retains the dam. Continue in the same direction i.e. south-south-east for 200 metres at which point you will see another dam. Cross above the dam and continue south for 350 metres until you meet a fire trail of grey gravel. Turn left and follow the fire trail uphill, for 450 metres to the crest of an open, grassy spur. This is a good spot for a break to admire the views.
Then veer a little right, southeast, as you descend, aiming for the south-easterly corner of Callum Brae Nature Reserve about 600 metres ahead. Precise navigation is not needed here as the reserve’s southern and easterly fenced boundaries will guide you towards the corner if you stray a little left or right. On the descent to the reserve’s corner you will cross two fire trails and a gully and see powerlines ahead.
At the corner of the reserve, climb through the gap in the gate and enter a narrow corridor of reserve, about 25 metres wide, which heads southeast.
On the crest of the spur, leave the fire trail, turning left into grassland with some particularly beautiful old yellow box trees, and follow the crest of the spur downhill i.e. east for 350 metres.
To your left and right, beyond fences, are private property. Follow this corridor – 500 metres of almost-level walking – until you see an open gate and a sign for Jerrabomberra West Nature Reserve. Enter the Jerrabomberra Reserve and turn immediately right and head south, keeping within about 50 metres of a fence line which is in sight on your right. After 200 metres you will meet a fence which you will need to clamber across. Continue south, with the fence line still in sight on your right hand, for about 800 metres. At this point you will be heading gently uphill and will see up on your left a low grassy ridge with scattered rocks. You can cross directly to it (ie head east) or take a longer curving route as shown on the map. Three concrete survey posts mark a knoll on this ridge which makes another good spot for a break to admire the views.
From this viewpoint you can see to the north a small dam and a fire trail heading north through the open grasslands. Head north past the dam and along the fire trail for about 900 metres until you come to a gate. This gate allows you to get through the fence that you had to clamber over when you were on your way south. Go through the gate and follow the fire trail past a cylindrical concrete structure back to the gate at which you first entered the Jerrabomberra reserve. Retrace your steps north along the narrow reserve corridor.
After climbing through the gate at the north end of the corridor, continue 200 metres northwest, across a gully, keeping the fenced boundary of the reserve in sight on your right. At this point you will see an interpretive sign giving the history of Callum Brae Homestead. At the sign you will meet a fire trail that heads northwest. Follow it 1.5 km back to the carpark.
Downloadable files
Download the route in KML format here. Open Google Earth on your computer and drag the KML file onto it. Or download the route in GPX format to load to your GPS.
