Tharwa Bridge

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

13 25 00

Tharwa Bridge is a riverside picnic area between the beautiful Murrumbidgee River and the historic town of Tharwa. The area has great river views, picnic tables and toilet facilities.

Walk down to the 19th-century De Salis Cemetery or take in views of the river. Read about the history of the iconic Tharwa Bridge, as well as the rich indigenous history of this region.

No dogs allowed.

What you'll see

The historic De Salis family cemetery at Tharwa.

What you'll see

At Tharwa Bridge, you can see:

De Salis Cemetery
historic Tharwa village nearby
Tharwa Sandwash nearby
Namadgi National Park nearby

Things to do

Activities

Features

BBQs - gas
Canoe / kayak entry point
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Picnic tables
Toilets
Walking track/s

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.

Tharwa Explorer Track

Distance: 2.8 km return
Time suggested: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy

This track begins at Tharwa Bridge and follows the Murrumbidgee River upstream to a unique 19th-century cemetery. The De Salis Cemetery is the resting place for 19 members of the De Salis family as well as employees of Cuppacumbalong Station. Originally, the family buried their loved ones next to the river. However, when the flooding river carried away three coffins and all the granite soil, making digging impossible, the family decided on a new solution. Instead of digging down, they raised the cemetery above the ground instead.

View of the Murrumbidgee River from historic Tharwa Bridge.

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

The shallow river at Tharwa was traditionally a crossing point for the Ngunnawal people as they travelled to and from the mountains. It was also chosen by European settlers as one of the few places where the Murrumbidgee could be safely crossed. Despite this, drownings were still common.

After decades of public demand and bureaucratic wrangles over sites and cost, the Tharwa Bridge was built. A public holiday was declared for its opening on 27 March 1895.

Tharwa Bridge has served the region well for over 120 years, and has recently undergone strengthening to preserve this wonderful piece of our heritage.

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
bring your own drinking water
camping and fires are not permitted
you can bring your own gas barbecue
check the recreational fishing rules

Tharwa Bridge is part of a Special Purpose Reserve protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Thank you for taking care of the natural environment.

How to get there

Tharwa Bridge is located on Tharwa Drive, 30 minutes' drive south 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

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

Find out about:

the Murrumbidgee River Corridor

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

Tharwa Bridge

What you'll see

Things to do

Activities

Features

Restricted or prohibited

Walking tracks

Tharwa Explorer Track

Ngunnawal Country and People

European heritage

Before you go

How to get there

More information