Church Rock Heritage Loop ACT (1.8 km)
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
Nearest Town
Canberra
Starting Location
Flints car park
The carpark is well sign posted and easy to get locate
The car park at Flints will easily take 20+ cars
Finish Location
Flints car park
Best Time to Travel
Year round. If you go in mid-winter try to avoid an early start if the weather is bad otherwise your views from the high points may be impacted by low cloud and fog
What's special?
It just has that special feel to it that’s hard to describe
Church Rock Heritage Loop Trail Review
This is one of the shortest walks I have done in a while but I found myself captivated. On the day I did this walk there were plenty of kangaroos but no wildflowers. Having said that the only way to describe this walk is ‘pretty’. It just had something about it that made me dawdle at a much slower pace than I usually walk just taking in the scenic views.
The trail gets its name from large rock that is just past the high point and at about the stage you start heading back down to the start – it looks like a church steeple from a distance.
This trail is called the Church Rock Heritage Trail for a reason as it show cases the remains of an old settlement area. The remains of the old infrastructure has good interpretation signage but some of it relies on getting the brochure from the visitors centre or having a really good memory as you pass the early signage given some of the heritage features are marked only with numbered trail markers.
This carpark is excellent for families has it has a good sized car park, gas barbecue facilities with shelter, seating and a toilet block. In addition there are large grassy areas for the kids to run around and kick a ball or just look at the plentiful kangaroos.
As I mentioned at the start of this write up, this very short trail just has something about it that can only be described as pretty or scenic, and is well worth the visit.
Gas barbecues at Flints. This is a great place for a family day out
There are good toilet facilities at this site
The trail is well sign posted with good descriptions of what you are seeing at the main feature points
Marker post and plaque commemorating the old building that once stood on this spot
Like the other walks at Tidbinbilla the kangaroos are everywhere. If you are on the south side of the city and want to show overseas visitors kangaroos, then Tidbinbilla is the place to go
There is a trail map at the start of the walk that identifies the main points of interest. Have a look at this map as the some of the trail signs have numbers rather than descriptions as it relies on you getting the brochure from the visitors centre
A remnant from the past
If you look in the top left hand corner of this image you will see a rock pillar sticking through the trees. This rock was thought to look like a church steeple which is where this walk got its name
A comfortable spot at the first lookout to take a rest or just take in the view
Views from the first lookout
Just after the first lookout point, the trail crosses the road. Check for traffic before you cross
Just after you cross the trail head a short way up the management trail following the signs. You will come to a small dam just off the trail. The day I did this walk was mid-winter and the dam had a solid layer of ice on it about 8 mm thick. Having said that it was a spectacular day if a little cold. Gotta love Canberra
Cresting the main peak on the trail
The views from this main peak are very pretty and while only a short walk its well worth doing
Church rock. This large rock tor looks like a church steeple
There is a steepish set of stairs just after you go past church rock. If it wasn’t for the stairs, this trail would be classed as grade 2 rather than grade 3
Seat and view on the way down
Across the road on the way down
The parkland coming back to the trail head
Getting There
Image from Google Maps
The trip from the centre of Canberra is approximately 45 minutes and 46 km. Once you enter the nature reserve itself travel past the Dalsetta carpark and follow the signs to Flints carp park to start the walk. The car park is approximately 5 km from the visitor centre and is clearly signposted.
The Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve contains a series of walks that are closer to Canberra than those at nearby Namadgi National Park. Many of the Namadgi walks, particularly those that go into the Bimberi Wilderness Zone, are more remote requiring a higher level of skill but with it a higher degree of seclusion whereas the Tibinbilla walks are easier to access but you are unlikely to be alone on the trail.
As at 24 March 2024 entry fees are not being charged but please check before you go in case this changes
Gates open at 7:30am in the morning and you will need to be out by 6:00pm at the latest (8:00pm in summer).
Tidbinbilla entry
Tidbinbilla Visitor Centre and boomgate
Things to Know
- Phone: There is good phone signal on this track
- Water: You should bring your own water
- Toilets: There are toilet facilities at the trailhead
- Trail: This trail consists of formed track
- Dogs: Dogs allowed on a leash
- Other:
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve isnt charging entry fees at this point in time (24 March 2024)
- There are BBQ facilities at this site
Disclaimer
This walk was undertaken by the team from Australian Hiker