Ashbrook Fire Trail

Starting from the Flints car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River, this walk crosses Tidbinbilla River, Ashbrook Creek and Mountain Creek via the Ashbrook Fire Trail, then heads back to the start. Explore the mixed Eucalypt woodland as you enjoy a little bit of Aboriginal history. You’ll visit 2 scarred trees near the track, which have their bark removed in the shape of a shield. The Aboriginal people used these barks to make canoes, traps and shelters as well. Fellow (kanga)roos can be spotted throughout the journey, with a chance to see some interesting birdlife near the ponds and creeks. Enjoy this stroll in nature as the singular wide fire trail lets you focus on your surroundings. Although, take care on the crossings as the water level can reach ankle height in colder months. Thus, waterproof shoes may come in handy. Keep in mind that the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve requires a pass, which can be acquired daily or annual. This journey can be made into a one-way trip if you arrange transport. You can also reverse the direction if you’d like to. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-35.458682,148.919403)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Tuggeranong Parkway Turn on to Drakeford Drive then drive for 2 km At roundabout, take exit 3 onto Woodcock Drive and drive for another 2 km Turn right onto Jim Pike Avenue and drive for another 820 m Turn right onto Point Hut Road and drive for another 4.8 km Turn right onto Tidbinbilla Road and drive for another 10 km Turn left onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 550 m Continue onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 3 km Turn slight right onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 550 m Turn left and drive for another 25 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Flints car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road(630 metres southwest of Historic Rock Valley Homestead), head back towards the paved road. Turn left and follow the road for about 105 metres to come to the start of the fire trail(to your left). Turn left and join the said fire trail(Ashbrook Fire Trail), moving perpendicularly away from the paved road. Follow the wide dirt trail as you pass by Cinerea Cottage to your left to continue along the Ashbrook Fire Trail.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 55 m pass the sign (8 m on your left). After another 40 m pass the BBQ (25 m on your left).
	After another 65 m turn right. Then pass the toilet (15 m on your right).
	After another 160 m turn left, to head along Ashbrook Fire Trail. After another 2 km continue straight, to head along Ashbrook Fire Trail. After another 345 m cross the ford. After another 700 m (at the intersection of Ashbrook Fire Trail & Tidbinbilla Reserve Road) continue straight, to head along Ashbrook Fire Trail. After another 20 m to find the "Hanging Rock Parking". After another 980 m cross the ford. After another 1.8 km cross the ford.
	Continue another 200 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 6.4 km to get back to the start.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Ashbrook Fire Trail

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	12.7 km
Time	3 h 30 min to 5 h

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one 160 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	160 m	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Tuggeranong Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
  
  Saturday 14 September
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower this evening, mainly near the coast. Light west to northwesterly winds shifting south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the early evening then increasing to 35 to 45 km/h about the coastal fringe later in the evening.
  
  Sunday 15 September
  
  0°C → 13°C
  Early frost. Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers along the coastal fringe, grading to a slight chance in the outer west. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Possible small hail along the coastal fringe. Damaging winds possible along the coastal fringe. Winds south to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h, increasing to 30 to 40 km/h in the early afternoon and reaching up to 60 km/h along the coastal fringe, then easing to 20 to 30 km/h in the evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: High
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:20am to 2:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 5 [Moderate]
  
  Monday 16 September
  
  -4°C → 17°C
  Morning frost. Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Patches of morning frost in the outer west. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.
  
  Tuesday 17 September
  
  -1°C → 19°C
  Morning frost. Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe in the morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting east to northeasterly during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Wednesday 18 September
  
  2°C → 18°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Thursday 19 September
  
  6°C → 18°C
  Mostly sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning westerly 20 to 30 km/h during the day.
  
  Friday 20 September
  
  1°C → 18°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Saturday 21 September
  
  1°C → 18°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- ACT Parks alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check ACT Parks Website for anything that may impact on your plans. It is also worth checking the Parks Facebook page for more timely information.

Weather Forecast

Alerts