Starting from The Sanctuary’s southern car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River, this walk takes you on a circuit around The Sanctuary via a concrete track all the way. The Sanctuary is an environmental project that is surrounded by a ‘predator-proof’ fence for about 40 years, thus teeming with wildlife. You can come across platypuses and brush-tailed rock-wallabies, along with some superb fairywrens(which are basically lightning-fast fluffballs) whilst going through the facility. The area is built to save endangered animal species from extinction. The track is flat and concrete all the way through, therefore wheelchair accessible. It is also a great spot to have a family picnic as there are plenty of picnic tables at scenic spots all around. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
At roundabout, take exit 3 onto Woodcock Drive and drive for another 2 km
Turn right onto Jim Pike Avenue and drive for another 820 m
Turn right onto Point Hut Road and drive for another 4.8 km
Turn right onto Tidbinbilla Road and drive for another 10 km
Turn left onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 550 m
Continue onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 3 km
Turn slight right onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 670 m
Turn left onto Ashbrook Fire Trail and drive for another 3.2 km
Turn right onto Tidbinbilla Reserve Road and drive for another 760 m
Turn right and drive for another 440 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started From The Sanctuary’s southern car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road(660 metres southwest of Black Flats Dam), head towards the slanted “The Sanctuary” informational signpost along the concrete footpath. Pass by the said signpost(to your left) and follow the track as it veers left. Head between the boulders and pass through the gate. Turn right as the track divides into two to continue along The Sanctuary Circuit(counterclockwise).....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After 30 m pass a seat (on your right).
After another 15 m pass the sign (7 m on your left).
After another 25 m head through/around the gate.
After another 80 m turn right.
After another 200 m turn left.
After another 95 m pass a seat (on your right).
Then pass the artwork (8 m on your right).
Then come to the viewpoint (10 m on your right).
Turn right.
After another 40 m come to the viewpoint (10 m on your left).
Then cross the bridge (about 8 m long)
After another 30 m turn left.
After another 20 m pass a seat (on your right).
After another 20 m pass the artwork (10 m on your left).
After another 25 m turn left.
After another 20 m pass the sign (on your right).
Then pass the "No rocks, No icecream" (5 m on your right).
After another 30 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
After another 10 m pass a seat (5 m on your right).
After another 225 m pass the artwork (15 m on your left).
The starting point of an alternate route. An alternate route cutting the loop short if you're low on time. To take the alternate route veer left here. Details below.
Veer right.
After another 40 m pass the artwork (30 m on your left).
After another 60 m pass a seat (on your right).
Then pass the sign (on your left).
After another 200 m pass the artwork (5 m on your left).
After another 80 m pass the sign (on your left).
After another 45 m pass the sign (on your right).
The starting point of an alternate access track. An alternate access point from/to the northern car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River. Details below.
Turn left.
After another 35 m pass the sign (on your right).
After another 125 m pass the picnic table (20 m on your right).
After another 80 m pass the water tap (8 m on your right).
Then pass the toilet (20 m on your right).
After another 65 m cross the bridge (about 55 m long)
After another 15 m cross the bridge (about 9 m long)
After another 115 m pass a seat (on your left).
Then cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
After another 2 m turn right.
After another 8 m cross the bridge (about 30 m long)
After another 125 m cross the bridge (about 70 m long)
After another 80 m pass the artwork (9 m on your left).
After another 70 m pass the sign (on your right).
After another 45 m turn left.
After another 45 m come to the viewpoint (9 m on your left).
Then pass a seat (on your right).
After another 8 m pass the toilet (7 m on your left).
Then pass the picnic table (10 m on your left).
Then come to the viewpoint (15 m on your left).
Continue straight.
Keep left.
After another 8 m cross the bridge (about 15 m long)
After another 25 m turn right.
After another 150 m come to the end.
An alternate route cutting the loop short if you're low on time.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After 25 m pass the artwork (30 m on your left).
Then cross the bridge (about 8 m long)
After another 10 m pass the artwork (5 m on your left).
After another 30 m come to the end.
At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.
An alternate access point from/to the northern car park off Tidbinbilla Reserve Road, Paddys River.
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
After another 150 m come to the end.
A car park.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
The Sanctuary Circuit
Grading
Class 2/6
Easy track
Length
2.3 km
Time
40 min to 1 h
Quality of track
Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
Gradient
Flat, no steps (1/6)
Signage
Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure
Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (1/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)
Some facilities on route
Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 750 m apart with the largest gap of 1.4 km.
Seat: There are 7 on route, on average they are 280 m apart with the largest gap of 810 m.