Googong Foreshores walking tracks

Explore the various walking tracks throughout the Googong Foreshores area.

Please keep to the tracks and protect this environment.

View the Googong Foreshores maps for detailed maps of the walks listed below.

London Bridge Walk (South Googong)

Distance: 4.5 km return

Difficulty: easy

London Bridge Arch holds cultural, spiritual and environmental value to Traditional Custodians. The section of walking track that previously went over the Arch is now closed. Please ensure your safety and respect the cultural and environmental value of this location by using marked walking tracks only.

View the detailed map of the London Bridge Walk to see the track.

About the walk

This walk starts at London Bridge Woolshed carpark. It follows the management trail 1.3 km south, then crosses Burra Creek the via a pedestrian bridge just north of the historic London Bridge Homestead. From the Homestead follow the track on the southern creek-bank a further 1.4 km north to London Bridge Arch. Return (1.8 km) via another management trail that crosses the Burra creek 400 m south of the Arch.

Please view the Homestead from outside the fence - this is in place to protect fragile structures from damage. Both the Arch and the Homestead are on the Register of the National Estate and are protected for their heritage values.

As you walk down the track you may see Eastern Grey Kangaroos resting in the shade of the trees. They move out into the grasslands to graze in the late afternoon.

London Bridge Arch

The limestone of London Bridge Arch began to form when sediment and dead coral settled on the ocean floor 420 million years ago. It was then subjected to intense pressure. Over time the ocean receded and erosion shaped the landscape.

The arch formed when water seeped through the limestone. After many years, the water caused a gap big enough for Burra Creek to pass through. It reached its present size about 20,000 years ago.

The arch was first recorded by Europeans in 1823. An Aboriginal guide directed explorer Captain Mark Currie to the arch. Currie described it as 'a natural bridge of one perfect Saxon arch, under which the water passed'.

Remains of extinct native rats, mice and small marsupials have been found around the arch. These animals may have become extinct in the mid-1800s when European settlers cleared and farmed the surrounding land.

The London Bridge Property

In 1857, John McNamara, an Irishman, paid 30 pounds for 30 acres of land in the Burra Valley. 'London Bridge' became one of the first properties in the area.

The homestead buildings have at least five architectural styles and building materials. The styles and construction changed according to the costs of materials and labour. Newer buildings used corrugated iron and weatherboard instead of stone and pisé. This was because mass produced materials became available with the arrival of the railway at Queanbeyan.

The first construction, the stone cottage, was built around 1860 from stone quarried from a nearby hill. Additional buildings were constructed in response to the needs of a growing family. John and his wife had 13 children, although not all of them lived at the homestead all the time. The McNamara family owned the London Bridge property until 1920.

Other notable owners of the property included James Moore, the Noone brothers and the Douglas family. By the time the Douglas family bought the property it was 9000 acres.

In 1973 the Australian Government acquired most of the property to protect the catchment of the dam.

The homestead is listed on the Register of the National Estate. This recognises the significance of the diversity of this site and the rural setting of the area.

London Bridge at Googong Foreshores.

Black Wallaby Loop Track (North Googong)

Distance: 2 km return

Difficulty: easy

Start at the Downstream Picnic Area and after crossing the bitumen road follow the walking track upstream parallel to the Queanbeyan River to the dam wall. This section provides lovely views of the river gorge known as the Cascades. The track then climbs gently through stringy bark woodland, crossing several moist gullies before emerging into an open area with views to the north-west. Descend on the walking track through thick tea-tree until the track loops back on itself and returns to the carpark.

Cascades Walk (North Googong)

Distance: 200 m return

Difficulty: easy

This short river walk takes you down into the Cascades gorge where there are a number of large waterholes. The Cascades Lookout and the Dam Wall Lookout are 2 scenic vantage points. These are both reached by walks shorter than 100 metres from the car park.

Shoreline Walk (North Googong)

Distance: 4 km return

Difficulty: easy

This walk takes you along one of the most popular and accessible stretches of shoreline at Googong. It runs close to the high water mark between the foreshores car park and Shannons Inlet. On still days you may see trout and Golden Perch swimming close to the bank in search of food, or find waterbirds roosting and sunning themselves. The walk can be extended by returning via the Western Foreshores Walk.

Dhurrawarri Buranya Walk (South Googong)

Distance: 4 km return

Difficulty: easy

This walk starts and ends at London Bridge Arch. Start on the Queanbeyan River Walk turning off towards Washpen Crossing then walk north along the Queanbeyan River. Climb a rocky, wooded ridge then descend to the confluence of the Queanbeyan River and Burra Creek. The return track follows the remains of an old boundary and 'vermin-proof' fence along the ridge. If the river is low, you may be able to cross over the nearby Drawdown Crossing and return along the management trail.

Queanbeyan River Walk (South Googong)

Distance: 18 km return

Difficulty: moderate

This walk starts at the London Bridge car park, crosses London Bridge Arch then joins management trails, finishing at Flynns Crossing. It passes through dry forest roughly following the Queanbeyan River, with 3 access points to the river: Washpen Crossing, Gelignite Crossing and Flynns Crossing. Return via the same route. Swimming is not permitted.

Western Foreshores Walk/Ride

Distance: 19.7 km return

Difficulty: moderate

This walk joins the northern and southern ends of Googong Foreshores and can be begun from either. The northern end of the track is near the Upper Foreshores car park and the southern end at Tin Hut car park. The track follows management trails through grassland and open woodland providing many scenic vantage points of the reservoir and the Queanbeyan escarpment to the east.

Cyclists are welcome to ride on management trails.

Bradleys Creek Walk (North Googong)

Distance: 14.2 km return

Difficulty: moderate

Starting at the Downstream Picnic Area, this walk initially follows a route marked by directional posts. It then follows management trails, skirting the northern shore to the reservoir before climbing steeply up the Queanbeyan escarpment to Gormans Trig. From here it is a relatively easy walk to Bradleys Creek which is typical of the steep-sided creeks bisecting the escarpment. A short detour to Googong Lookout on the way provides panoramas of the northern part of the reserve and reservoir.

Queanbeyan River Loop Ride (South Googong)

Distance: 19.7 km return

Difficulty: difficult

This bicycle ride starts at the London Bridge car park and follows the management trail towards London Bridge Homestead. Before reaching Burra Creek, follow the management trail branching eastwards and travel past Gelignite Crossing to Flynns Crossing. Follow the trail to loop back to Gelignite Crossing and then London Bridge car park. Track markers define the route. The loop involves some steep grades plus 2 crossings of the Queanbeyan River. See Queanbeyan River Walk for more details.

Before you go

Prepare by:

  • understanding safety, especially during fire danger periods or flooding
  • checking alerts

Remember:

More information

If you notice any issues during your visit:

  • report maintenance issues to Access Canberra
  • report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444
  • in an emergency, call 000

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