molonglo gorge

This picturesque gorge is just outside Canberra and makes for a very pleasant walk.The track can be a little rocky and rugged in places so good enclosed shoes are recommended.Highly recommend this as a nice afternoon walk or a picnic destination a short distance from town.

Unlike major capital cities, there is so much to see just minutes out of Canberra. This is a beautiful park and so accessible.

It's amazing how quickly you can leave town and be in the bush. Going for a picnic or walk is easy for everyone, amazing variety of birds, plants and wildlife.

The most scenic picnic and walking area in Canberra. You won't get waterfalls like this anywhere else here. Once again, the lovely outdoors right on our doorstep

The Molonglo Gorge Forest Park is just a few kilometres north of Queanbeyan in the ACT. Access is from a signposted turnoff on Sutton Rd about a kilometre north of the intersection with Yass Rd and Pialligo Ave. There is a short stretch (less than 1 km) of very good unsealed road to the boundary of the reserve. The roads in the reserve are all sealed.I visited on a weekday morning. I disturbed a large mob of kangaroos grazing on the side of the road as I drove into the almost deserted carparks– only 2 other cars (and a campervan trying to be inconspicuous behind some shrubs). Picnic tables, free gas and wood BBQs, water and toilets (flush ones) are provided. Lots of open space for kids and a large modern playground. Everything in the picnic area looks to be in good condition.I did the Molonglo Gorge walk which is around 6 km return. Most of the signs are antiques – one proudly proclaiming the area as managed by Department of Territories (which hasn’t been the case since self-government for the ACT in 1988). The walk is along the northern side of gorge of the Molonglo River (the other side of the river is NSW) and is generally easy to follow. In many parts the track is in poor condition and doesn’t seem to have had any maintenance for several years (a number of dead trees across the path, with well worn tracks around the blockage). There is almost no signage after the start.The gorge is very pretty – lots of nice ‘reveals’ of pools, cascades and small waterfalls and a lot of small wrens flitting around. Except in some of the less interesting parts, the track doesn’t approach the river, so it isn’t easy to get really close to these pretty spots.At the far end there is a basic picnic area beside the river.

The sound of the birds chirping combined with the gushing of the water through the rocks and the whistling of the wind through the trees makes for a very relaxing combination. The walk is beautiful, and there are many wildflowers along the path. It is not very challenging, with a bench to rest on and railings along the route. Highly recommend!

Although it's only a short walk (about 2 hours return) it had some difficult spots of climbing up and down rocky sections, and a few steps which were quite deep. But the bush and river views were great. It's quite a narrow gorge with steep sides. We stopped for lunch near a wide, still part of the river. There were picnic tables on this flat, grassy area.

could do with TLC on pathways - a hidden canberra treasure.

Beautiful gorge to walk through. Nice example of Aussie landscape.

Water was poor and it looked shabby. We're disabled and it was difficult to get around.

Molonglo Gorge is a great place for a family picnic and short bush walk along the river. There are picnic tables , a play ground and car park - probably toilets as well.Recommended for young familiies in particular, but need to be careful near the river as it can be fast flowing after rain.The Bungendore train (or more correctly the Canberra-Sydney line) runs through the Gorge and is another very good way to experience it.

take good shoes and water, a hat and a camera. there are two tracks at the start, the high and the low. we usually go up the high one on the way in and come out on the low one on the way out. it is well marked and is about 6 km, 2 hours for an old stodger like me. enjoy