Lace up your hiking boots – a new outdoor adventure in our capital awaits.

While there are plenty of reasons to visit Canberra, this one deserves a spot near the top of your list. The newly opened Mindjagari Track is a network of hiking trails weaving through pristine bushland and rugged mountain terrain – designed to showcase the capital’s wild beauty and draw nature lovers from across the country.

All about the Mindjagari Track

At first glance, it might seem like just another bushwalk – but the Mindjagari Track is anything but ordinary. The new network spans roughly 14 kilometres between Fishing Gap and Johns Peak in the Tidbinbilla Range, a mountainous region deep in the ACT’s wilderness.

It comprises four main ascending routes: the nine-kilometre Short ‘n’ Brutal, 11.5-kilometre Snowy Corner Traverse, 12.5-kilometre Banggu Loop and the 22-kilometre Full Traverse. The beauty of the Mindjagari Track is its choose-your-own-adventure style. Each route is connected via a series of trails and loops, so hikers can cut or extend their walk to suit.

You’ll be fully immersed in the Tidbinbilla Range’s remote landscape from the minute you take off, some of which was previously inaccessible to the public. Hikers will also be treated to sweeping views across the nearby Brindabellas and Kosciuszko National Park, home to the new Snowies Alpine Walk.

Native wildlife like kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and echidnas are commonly sighted along the way, so keep your eyes peeled. Look a little closer and you may catch a glimpse of its smaller residents, too – from platypus and potoroos to critically endangered species like the northern corroboree frog and grassland earless dragon.

Your experience here will shift with the seasons. In winter, snow can drape the landscape in peaceful silence. Come spring and summer, wildflowers bloom and the Tidbinbilla Range bursts to life with colour and energy. Either way, you’ll see parts of this under-the-radar region few have laid eyes on, from subalpine woodlands and eucalypt forests to rocky outcrops and swampy wetlands.

What to expect

While the Mindjagari Track is an exciting addition to Canberra’s impressive collection of walks, it may not be for everyone. All four trails that ascend the range are listed as Grade 5 under the Australian Walking Track Grading System.

A Grade 5 classification means the terrain is steep, rough and challenging – best suited to very experienced hikers with advanced skills in navigation and first aid. Anyone planning to tackle the track should check their fitness, prepare for all conditions, plan ahead and monitor their progress along the way.

It’s important to note that camping is not permitted within Tidbinbilla. Failure to return before the park closes each day will prompt a search and rescue response. Carrying an emergency Personal Locator Beacon is highly recommended, too – mobile reception is unreliable at best – and can be hired from the visitor centre at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

Keen to explore the region but still finding your feet? No sweat – the reserve is also home to shorter tracks suitable for all abilities. There’s the 2.2-kilometre Wandarawari Track and four-kilometre Devils Gap Loop, as well as the wheelchair accessible 700-metre Koala Path and 2.1-kilometre Sanctuary Loop. Or check out nearby Namadgi National Park, another outdoor mecca full of walking trails.

The details

The new Mindjagari Track is accessed via the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, an approximate 45-minute drive (50 kilometres) from Canberra, ACT. All four routes start at the Mountain Creek car park, where hikers can leave their car for the day.

An entry fee is required, with varying prices depending on visitor type. Day passes for a private vehicle with up to eight seats will cost $15.53, while those travelling by coach pay $2.07 per passenger. If you plan on returning, annual passes are also available. You can purchase a pass online through Access Canberra or by popping into the visitor centre.

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is open every day except Christmas, from 7:30am–6pm during winter and 7:30am–8pm in summer. However, it may close on days with a total fire ban, severe weather or for management. Visitor centre hours are 9am–5pm daily.