The Sanctuary Circuit

Starting from The Sanctuary’s southern car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River, this walk takes you on a circuit around The Sanctuary via a concrete track all the way. The Sanctuary is an environmental project that is surrounded by a ‘predator-proof’ fence for about 40 years, thus teeming with wildlife. You can come across platypuses and brush-tailed rock-wallabies, along with some superb fairywrens(which are basically lightning-fast fluffballs) whilst going through the facility. The area is built to save endangered animal species from extinction. The track is flat and concrete all the way through, therefore wheelchair accessible. It is also a great spot to have a family picnic as there are plenty of picnic tables at scenic spots all around. 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	(-35.4667375,148.9041723)
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 670 m Turn left onto Ashbrook Fire Trail and drive for another 3.2 km Turn right onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 760 m Turn right and drive for another 440 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From The Sanctuary’s southern car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road(660 metres southwest of Black Flats Dam), head towards the slanted “The Sanctuary” informational signpost along the concrete footpath. Pass by the said signpost(to your left) and follow the track as it veers left. Head between the boulders and pass through the gate. Turn right as the track divides into two to continue along The Sanctuary Circuit(counterclockwise).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 30 m pass a seat (on your right). After another 15 m pass the sign (7 m on your left). After another 25 m head through/around the gate.
	After another 80 m turn right. After another 200 m turn left. After another 95 m pass a seat (on your right). Then pass the artwork (8 m on your right). Then come to the viewpoint (10 m on your right).
	Turn right. After another 40 m come to the viewpoint (10 m on your left). Then cross the bridge (about 8 m long)
	After another 30 m turn left. After another 20 m pass a seat (on your right). After another 20 m pass the artwork (10 m on your left).
	After another 25 m turn left. After another 20 m pass the sign (on your right). Then pass the "No rocks, No icecream" (5 m on your right). After another 30 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long) After another 10 m pass a seat (5 m on your right). After another 225 m pass the artwork (15 m on your left).
	The starting point of an alternate route. An alternate route cutting the loop short if you're low on time. To take the alternate route veer left here. Details below. Veer right. After another 40 m pass the artwork (30 m on your left). After another 60 m pass a seat (on your right). Then pass the sign (on your left). After another 200 m pass the artwork (5 m on your left). After another 80 m pass the sign (on your left). After another 45 m pass the sign (on your right).
	The starting point of an alternate access track. An alternate access point from/to the northern car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River. Details below. Turn left. After another 35 m pass the sign (on your right). After another 125 m pass the picnic table (20 m on your right). After another 80 m pass the water tap (8 m on your right). Then pass the toilet (20 m on your right). After another 65 m cross the bridge (about 55 m long) After another 15 m cross the bridge (about 9 m long) After another 115 m pass a seat (on your left). Then cross the bridge (about 10 m long) After another 2 m turn right. After another 8 m cross the bridge (about 30 m long) After another 125 m cross the bridge (about 70 m long) After another 80 m pass the artwork (9 m on your left). After another 70 m pass the sign (on your right).
	After another 45 m turn left. After another 45 m come to the viewpoint (9 m on your left). Then pass a seat (on your right). After another 8 m pass the toilet (7 m on your left). Then pass the picnic table (10 m on your left). Then come to the viewpoint (15 m on your left). Continue straight. Keep left. After another 8 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
	After another 25 m turn right.
	After another 150 m come to the end.

An alternate route cutting the loop short if you're low on time.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After 25 m pass the artwork (30 m on your left). Then cross the bridge (about 8 m long) After another 10 m pass the artwork (5 m on your left).
	After another 30 m come to the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

The Sanctuary Circuit

Grading

	Class 2/6 Easy track
Length	2.3 km
Time	40 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
Gradient	Flat, no steps (1/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 750 m apart with the largest gap of 1.4 km.

Seat: There are 7 on route, on average they are 280 m apart with the largest gap of 810 m.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Seat	30 m	[seat]
Seat	450 m	[seat]
Seat	450 m	[seat]
Seat	570 m	[seat]
Seat	810 m	[seat]
Toilet	1.4 km	[toilet]
Seat	1.6 km	[seat]
Seat	2.1 km	[seat]
Toilet	2.1 km	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Mount Ginini Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 20 September
  
  5°C
  Snow shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds westerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the middle of the day then becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:50am to 2:40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 6 [High]
  
  Saturday 21 September
  
  -1°C → 5°C
  Snow shower or two. Windy.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Mostly sunny. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening.
  
  Sunday 22 September
  
  0°C → 6°C
  Showers or snow at times.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming westerly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening.
  
  Monday 23 September
  
  0°C → 11°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds.
  
  Tuesday 24 September
  
  3°C → 13°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.
  
  Wednesday 25 September
  
  6°C → 12°C
  Showers. Wind easing.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 10mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h turning westerly 15 to 25 km/h later.
  
  Thursday 26 September
  
  -3°C → 3°C
  Snow shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending southerly 25 to 35 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