Summary
This circuit, starting from the edge of the suburb of Banks, takes you up a delightful rocky creek. It then climbs to a knoll with broad views, stretching from Booroomba Rocks though the Tidbinbilla peaks to Mount Ainslie. The terrain is rough, with some rock scrambling and some steep slopes; this walk will suit people with prior experience of rocky, off-track walking.
- 7 km, 2 to 3 hours
- Rocky creek with small cascades after rain, some grassland walking, great views, steep slopes
- Rough terrain, mostly off-track
View from top of a knoll, Rob Roy Nature Reserve
Route
Up unnamed creek #1
Start at the Big Monks carpark (listed in Google Maps as ‘Car park for Banks Trail-Big Monks-Rob Roy’) opposite number 10, Orange Thorn Crescent, Banks. Walk uphill through the locked gate, then turn immediately left. Head downhill to a second locked gate, noting a huge concrete weir on your left. Climb over the gate and head down to the creek, reaching it above the weir.
Walk up the creek for approximately 1.5 km, passing several tributary creeks which enter from the right. The creek varies in character. There are some grassy banks and some sections where you may need to clamber up a few metres using your hands.
Up the hill
You will need to be able to read the route map to recognise the point at which you leave the creek. Inviting grassy slopes on your left is a clue – see the ‘exit’ photo on this page.
Head left (north) from the creek, up the grassy slopes for approximately 120 metres to a fence line. Climb through or over the fence and turn right (east). Walk uphill, parallel to the fence line for approximately 330 metres. A big old eucalypt with a horizontal branch that is above head height marks where you will start to leave the fence (pictured).
A few metres after passing under this tree branch, veer left and continue uphill (north) over open grassland, a further 220 metres to the top of the knoll. The knoll is at 870 metres altitude.
This is a great spot for a break, with extensive views and a few low rocks and a log to sit on. Note Black Mountain Tower on the horizon – this is roughly the direction you will take when you start your descent.
Down to unnamed creek #2
From the knoll, head downhill (north) on a spur for around 200 metres. The slope starts as grassland and then steepens and becomes rocky. After descending through the rocks, veer slightly left and continue to descend steeply through small casuarinas and some lovely eucalypts with grey and yellow bark. If you find this section uncomfortably steep, choose a zig-zag route downhill.
Continue downhill to the creek, whose valley you will be able to see by now. The map shows one feasible route but as long as you head downhill you will reach the creek which will lead you back to the suburbs, so it does not matter if you stray a little from the mapped route. The last 20 vertical metres into the creek is probably the steepest part of the descent – follow animal tracks back and forwards till you are down.
Down unnamed creek#2 and along the fringe of the suburbs
When you reach the creek, cross to its northern bank and turn left (= west, downstream). Initially, some wombat tracks will help you here, then you will come across a mountain bike track. Follow the bike track downstream about 400 metres, admiring some large old eucalypts in the creek bed below you. Continue on the bike track as it crosses the creek, until it reaches a narrow bitumen road that fringes the suburb. Turn left onto this road, which is closed to vehicle traffic, and follow it for around 650 metres, taking in the views across the rooftops to the Tuggeranong Valley. After the 650 metres, the road drops to the right and you can see the large concrete weir that marked the beginning of this walk. Cross the grassy gully below the weir, then follow the back fences a further 100 metres or so back to the carpark.
Downloadable files
Download the route in KML format here. Open Google Earth on your computer and drag the KML file on to it. Or download the route in GPX format to load to your GPS.
Download the walk description as a PDF.
Walk description contributed by Linda Groom.
Rob Roy foothills map of the route
Start at the carpark for Banks Trail-Big Monks-Rob Roy
Head downhill and over this gate to the creek
The rocky section of the creek; after rain it contains pools
Exit point from Unnamed Creek #1: head left, up the grassy slopes
This tree with its long horizontal branch is a useful marker; after passing it, turn left
From the knoll, descend this ridge