Tharwa Sandwash

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

Tharwa Sandwash is a picnic spot on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, particularly popular with birdwatchers. There are 200 bird species known in this area, including Tawny Frogmouths (Podargus strigoides).

Fishing is not allowed on the Murrumbidgee River between Angle Crossing and the Gudgenby River confluence. This includes the Sandwash.

No dogs allowed.

What you'll see

View of the Murrumbidgee River from historic Tharwa Bridge.

What you'll see

At Tharwa Sandwash, you may see:

a wide variety of bird species
the resident Tawny Frogmouths (Podargus strigoides)
historic Tharwa village nearby
Tharwa Bridge nearby
Namadgi National Park nearby

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

Things to do

Activities

Features

Canoe / kayak entry point
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Picnic tables
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.

The Tharwa Sandwash Track

Distance: 2 km return
Time suggested: 45 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

This track starts at the carpark at Tharwa Sandwash and follows the Murrumbidgee River upstream. Look for some of the 200 species of birds known from this area.

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.

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.

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
fishing is not permitted on the section of the Murrumbidgee River that includes the Sandwash – check the recreational fishing rules

Tharwa Sandwash is part of Gigerline Nature Reserve, which is protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Thank you for taking care of the natural environment.

How to get there

Tharwa Sandwash is accessed off Smiths Road near Tharwa, 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 Sandwash

What you'll see

Things to do

Activities

Features

Restricted or prohibited

Walking tracks

The Tharwa Sandwash Track

Tharwa Explorer Track

Ngunnawal Country and People

Before you go

How to get there

More information