Summary
This circuit is an interesting tour of one of Canberra’s newer suburbs, designed with a green fringe, walk-ways, corridors of green, a community garden and a wetlands area. Part of the walking route provides views across the adjacent Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve.
- 5 km: Approx 1 hour 30 minutes
- A tour of one of Canberra’s newer suburbs – corridors of green, grasslands
Descent from Crace Hilltop Reserve towards Community Gardens
Route
Start in the turning circle at the end of Indi Close, Crace. Walk north i.e. parallel to Indi Close, on bike path. Follow the bike path as it curves north-west. Where the path crosses Jellicoe Street, it changes from bitumen to concrete. Continue on the concrete path, passing Kappalooka, Harrow and Durong Streets on your left. Cross chance Street, then follow the concrete footpath in Medhurst Crescent as it bends left (south west). Cross Medhurst to enter the playground in the Duncan Dunbar Reserve. Continue west/south west on concrete path and then gravel path, keeping Chance Street close on your right.
At Baratta Street, leave the green corridor and enter the suburb. Walk south on the footpath of Chance Street. Cross Abena Avenue at the roundabout and then turn right into Crace Recreation Park. There are several branching concrete paths here – take the one that leads you along the edge of the futsal court and into the wetlands. Follow the curving path around the wetlands until you are heading east, parallel to Tabbara Crescent. Pass the playground, cross Narden Street at the pedestrian crossing and you will see before you the winding, snake-like concrete path that heads gently uphill through George Kemp Park.
Follow the winding path to the top of George Kemp Park, then turn right into Redruth Street. A hundred metres along Redruth, at the roundabout, turn right into Vandyke Street. After another 100 metres, turn left (south) into Zanci Street. Where Zanci Street. Three hundred metres along Zanci Street you will meet the fringing grasslands of Crace and bitumen bike path. Turn left on to the bike path, following it south east. Continue to follow it as it turns sharply north, around the edge of the suburb. Two hundred and eighty metres north of the sharp turn, watch for a branching concrete path that diverges on the left towards Lanaba Street. Follow concrete paths north (uphill) for four blocks through small; reserves, crossing Langtree, Samaria and Ivory Streets, until you reach the Hilltop Reserve.
In Hilltop Reserve, turn right near the skate park and follow the path east to the Admiral Crace Memorial. The path then descends, continuing east and winding down to Langtree Crescent, Cross Langtree and note the community gardens on your left as you continue to descend. Cross Drooka Crescent and continue towards the Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve. At the T junction with the bike path, turn left (north). You can see your starting point from here. Follow the bike path back to the starting point.
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.
