Mount Majura Nature Reserve

For after hours urgent public health matters including environmental health, radiation safety, food poisoning and communicable disease management phone:

1800 022 222

ACT State Emergency Service

Emergency help
during flood or storms

Mount Majura Nature Reserve is a 502-hectare protected area adjoining Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve to the south. Together they form an extensive area of forested country overlooking both Canberra and the Majura Valley.

At 888 metres above sea level, Mount Majura is the highest hill in northern Canberra, and provides magnificent views of the bush capital.

Mount Majura Nature Reserve is part of an extensive area of forest and woodland in the northern ACT, connecting important natural habitat and enabling wildlife movement through to the Majura Valley, the Molonglo River valley and into NSW.

In Mount Majura Nature Reserve, cycling is only permitted on roads and management trails including the Centenary Trail. Adjoining the reserve is Majura Pines recreation area, where there are dedicated trails for mountain bike riding. To protect sensitive natural values, cycling on 'single' or walking tracks, or attempting to build or create mountain bike tracks, are prohibited activities in Mount Majura Nature Reserve.

Horse riding is permitted on marked equestrian trails only.

Dogs are permitted on-leash on a track or trail only.

Natural values

Mount Majura Nature Reserve protects:

stands of Drooping She-oak (Allocasuarina verticillata), an important foraging resource for the vulnerable Glossy Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)
a large area of critically endangered Yellow Box–Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland on the lower slopes
an area of rare Snow Gum Grassy Woodland on the eastern slopes
regionally important breeding habitat for many threatened and regionally declining woodland birds
large areas of woodland and forest, whose nectar attracts threatened or declining nomadic and migratory woodland birds such as the Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) (198.6 KB) and Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) (177.0 KB)
important habitat for the critically endangered Canberra Spider Orchid (Arachnorchis actensis) and endangered Hoary Sunray (Leucochrysum albicans) as well as for several other rare plants
breeding habitat for the rare Rosenberg's Monitor (Varanus rosenbergi, a goanna)

Friends of Mount Majura have undertaken significant habitat restoration works across the reserve, particularly in areas previously impacted by grazing. In sections, the group has transformed the bush replacing woody weeds and tirelessly working to replant with local natives. Canberra Ornithologists Group has monitored birds in the reserve since 1998.

Mount Majura Nature Reserve is protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Thank you for taking care of the natural environment.

Add a sighting to the NatureMapr or visit the Canberra Birds website.

Walking tracks

Casuarina Walking Trail

Distance: 3.8 km loop

A moderate walk via the summit of Mount Majura with steep sections, steps and uneven ground. Fantastic views of northern Canberra. For more information visit the Friends of Mt Majura website.

Other walking tracks include:

part of the Centenary Trail
Clancy's walking track

Rosenberg's Monitor

Things to do

Activities

Features

Dogs on-leash
Lookout
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Walking track/s

Restricted or prohibited

Aircraft landing/take-off prohibited
Camping prohibited
Chainsaw use prohibited
Domestic animals (other than dogs) prohibited
Off-road driving prohibited
Driving on management trails prohibited
Drone use prohibited
Fires prohibited
Wood and timber collection prohibited
Metal detector use prohibited
Trailbikes prohibited except on public roads

Attempting to build or create mountain bike tracks prohibited
Cycling is only permitted on roads and management trails including the Centenary Trail
Dogs are permitted on-leash on a track or trail only
Horse riding is permitted on marked equestrian trails only

Ngunnawal Country and People

Mount Majura Nature Reserve is located on Ngunnawal Country, an ancient and diverse landscape managed and cared for by Ngunnawal people for tens of thousands of years. For time immemorial Ngunnawal people have maintained a tangible and intangible cultural, social, environmental, spiritual, and economic connection to these lands and waters.

Mount Majura Nature Reserve is an important Ngunnawal access pathway and landmark feature from the Majura Valley for guiding Aboriginal groups travelling west into the mountains. They journeyed to Corroboree Park, through Haig Park along Belconnen Way arriving at the Ginninderra Creek ceremonial site before crossing over the Murrumbidgee River to continue their journey into the high country.

Mount Majura Nature Reserve likely protects many as-yet-unrecorded Aboriginal heritage sites. All Aboriginal places and objects in the ACT are protected under the Heritage Act 2004 and must not be disturbed. Aboriginal places and objects within reserves are additionally protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Anyone finding an (unregistered) Aboriginal object or place has an obligation to report it to the Heritage Council.

European heritage

Robert Campbell was one of the first major landowners in the area, with a property covering most of Mount Ainslie, the foothills of Mount Majura and land stretching in the present day from Canberra Airport to the city centre.

Stock grazing and associated activities reduced vegetation cover in many areas. A 1915 timber inspector's report notes that there were, 'very few trees and those of poor quality'. Records at Yarralumla Nursery note that Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) seeds sourced from Queanbeyan were sown on Mount Majura in 1919 and that a further 8,000 Kurrajong seeds were sown there in July 1920. Grazing ceased in the Mount Majura area in 1985.

Today, old fencelines, stockyards, dams and tree stumps as well as introduced grasses and other non-native plants found in the reserve are remnants of Canberra's pastoral era.

Mount Majura Nature Reserve was established in 1993.

Before you go/How to get there

Before you go

Prepare by understanding safety and checking alerts.

Respect Canberra Nature Park reserves by:

staying on the tracks to minimise your impact
taking your rubbish home with you
leaving what you find, including plants, animals, rocks and timber (dead and alive)
respecting our heritage - leave cultural sites undisturbed
riding safely and following trail etiquette as a horse rider
riding safely and following trail etiquette as a bicycle rider
collecting and responsibly disposing of your dog's droppings (where dogs are permitted)
cleaning your outdoor gear, including bicycles, to avoid spreading weeds and disease

Remember:

bring your own drinking water
carry a mobile phone, especially if you are on your own
let someone know where you are going and when you'll return
be bushfire alert - on total fire ban days some reserves may be closed

How to get there

Mount Majura Nature Reserve can be accessed from:

the suburbs of Hackett and Watson
Majura Pines recreation area
the Federal Highway

Boundary mapping is indicative only.

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

Find out about:

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700