Cotter Bend

Alerts

30 March 2023 until further notice
Sections of Cotter Pines Mountain Bike Trails are closed until further notice. Please adhere to all signage onsite..

The Cotter Bend is where Paddys River meets the Cotter River. A wide pool and sandy beach marks the meeting of the two rivers.

Paddys River rises north of Mount Tennent near Tharwa and its fresh clean waters complement those of the Cotter River as they come together at the 'Bend'.

The Cotter Bend has plenty of grassy areas with shade on sunny days. Free electric barbecues and toilets are available.

No dogs allowed.

Friends enjoying a barbecue at Cotter Bend.

What you'll see

A section of the river, walking path and recreational area at Cotter Avenue.

What you'll see

At Cotter Bend, you can see:

colourful autumn leaf displays
Cotter Avenue nearby
Cotter Dam nearby
Moores Hill Lookout nearby
Grasstree Lookout nearby

Things to do

Activities

Features

BBQs - electric
Drinking water
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Picnic tables
Toilets
Walking track/s
Wheelchair access

Restricted or prohibited

Camping prohibited
Dogs prohibited
Fires prohibited

Walking tracks

Stay alert for slippery surfaces and trip hazards when walking or running near waterways. For more tips on how to reduce your risk around waterways, visit the safety page.

Cotter Dam Discovery Trail

Distance: 1 km return
Time suggested: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy; wheelchair accessible

Once you have carefully crossed the Cotter River you can wind your way up to the dam viewing area, learning about the history of the dam along the way. The trail is lined with stories of Canberra's water history and features a 16-metre wide, amphitheatre-style viewing platform which provides direct views of the Cotter Dam.

Cotter Explorer Track

Distance: 2 km return
Time suggested: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy, wheelchair accessible

This trail takes you along the banks of the Cotter River as well as Cotter Avenue. It is wheelchair- and pram-friendly.

The Bullen Track

Distance: 4.5 km return
Time suggested: 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate

This fascinating walking trail explores both sides of the Cotter River before climbing up the side of the Bullen Range then down again to cross Paddys River. There is no bridge so take caution when crossing the river. After crossing Paddys River, the track winds its way upward to end at Cotter Cave, which is closed to the public due to safety and conservation concerns. However, you can still see into the cave and learn about some of the history of mineral exploration in the ACT.

Ngunnawal Country and People

The waterways on Ngunnawal Country have sustained all life including their people, the plants and animals. The Murrumbidgee is part of Ngunnawal songlines, and pathways throughout Ngunnawal Country.

Songlines are the memory code that gives Ngunnawal people information from the landscape to tell the stories of vital knowledges, cultural values and wisdom.

European heritage

For over 40 years after its completion in 1915, the Cotter Reservoir was Canberra's only water supply, until Bendora Dam and Corin Dam were built upstream on the Cotter River in the 1960s. These became the primary source of supply (with the Cotter used only as an emergency back-up), supplemented more recently by Googong Reservoir on the Queanbeyan River in NSW.

In response to the 2003 bushfires and the prolonged drought of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cotter Reservoir was accessed again for domestic water in 2004. The Cotter Dam was enlarged to its current size between 2009 and 2013, with the building of a new dam wall just downstream of the original.

Before you go/How to get there

Before you go

Prepare by:

understanding safety
checking alerts
checking water quality before swimming

Remember:

mobile phone reception may be unreliable
camping and fires are not permitted
you can bring your own gas barbecue
check the recreational fishing rules

Cotter Bend is part of the Cotter Recreation Area, a Special Purpose Reserve protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Thank you for taking care of the natural environment.

How to get there

Cotter Bend is located off Cotter Road, 25 minutes' drive west of Canberra's city centre.

Parking is available.

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:

There are dog-friendly areas in and nearby the Murrumbidgee River Corridor at:

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

1800 022 222

13 25 00

Cotter Bend

Alerts

What you'll see

Things to do

Activities

Features

Restricted or prohibited

Walking tracks

Cotter Dam Discovery Trail

Cotter Explorer Track

The Bullen Track

Ngunnawal Country and People

European heritage

Before you go

How to get there

More information