Little Mulligans Circuit ACT (5.0km)
ACT
Nearest Town
Forde, Canberra
Best Time of the Year to Travel
Year round
Starting Location
Car park for the Little Mulligans Circuit
Trail head car park located just off Mulligans Flat Road in Forde. Access the trail start through the horse access on the left side of the car park
Or through the stile in the fence on the right hand side of the car park
Finish Location
Trail head car park located just off Mulligans Flat Road in Forde
Little Mulligans Circuit Review
This is the third of the four walks that start from this trail head and the main thing that you need to be aware of is that the sign post at the start of the walk that identifies the 3km ‘Border walk’ relates to you just walking up the hill to the border fence then turning back around the way you came. The little Mulligans Circuit at 5km is not hugely longer but if that length of walk is at the end of your fitness range then this may be a bit of a shock.
We started this walk in an anticlockwise direction and walked though the main paddock which consists mainly of grassland complete with a 100+ Kangaroos. Follow the management road on the first half of the Golden Sun Moth Walk and instead of veering left keep going up the hill until you hit the fence line. At this point if you were doing the walk to the Northern Campground you would go through the fence. Turn towards the right and follow the fence line for the rest of the walk.This fence line at the top of the walk is the boundary between the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales (NSW).
If you are walking anticlockwise make sure you remember to take advantage of the views one you start gaining some altitude. At the high point of the walk you enter tree bushland and much of your views are now into neighbouring NSW. Continue to follow the management road and you will eventually return to your starting point.
This is a great walk and like the other walks commencing from the trailhead you are guaranteed to see Kangaroos.
On the day we did this walk we passed a group of ground scouts coming the other way and that seemed to be having no issue with the distance. If you start this walk in an anticlockwise direction you are essentially walking uphill until you reach the high point but you will do this over a 3.5km distance. If you choose to start the walk in an clockwise direction to do all the climbing in 1.5km. Given a choice I would recommend starting anticlockwise so you have the views without having to turn around. If you are doing this walk in winter time I would also suggest starting after the fog has burned off to take advantage of the views over northern Canberra.
Before you start the walk note the warning signs for dog/fox bait. Dogs are prohibited in Mulligans flat although I regularly see people taking both leased and unleash dogs into this area. There is also signage for the Canberra Centenary Trail and the Little Mulligans Circuit is part of this much larger trail.
Trail head signage at the start. The Border walk is part of the 5km Little Mulligans Circuit
Reserve signage
Interpretive signage at trail head
View of the walk from near the start
Water source for this area
Kangaroos on the trail. The start of this walk is one of the easiest places in the city to be guaranteed of seeing kangaroos. On this day we almost had to brush them out of the way
Cockatoos flock near the dam
The trail is well marked and this signage for the Golden Sun Moth Walk is the first part of the Little Mulligans Circuit
Views over to the northern suburbs of Canberra. if you do this walk in Canberra the leave it until the fog has burnt off to get the best of the views
Keep to the right and head up the hill on the management trail. If you veer to the the left you will reach the turnaround point for the Golden Sun Moth Walk
The steep section of this trail once you pass the turnoff to the Golden Sun Moth Trail
Turn left to the Northern Campground or right for our trail
Follow the managment trail. This trail is also part of the 145km Canberra Centenary Trail
Interpretation sigange on the trail
Border fence. NSW on the left and ACT on the right
Young scouts on the trail. This walk is suitable for most people
Trail example
Bushland at the rear of the trail
Views accross the border into NSW
Old Fence line
Eucalyptus bark
Drain and animal crossing under the mulligans flat road
Return to the car park
Getting There
Google Map to the trail head for the Little Mulligans Circuit from the Canberra GPO. This trailhead is approximately 17km from the centre of Canberra and is about a 25 minute drive
- This walk is located on the northern edge of the Australian Capital Territory and is very easy to locate
Car park for the Little Mulligans Circuit
Things to Know
- There are no toilet facilities on this trail
- You need to bring your own water
- This trail is walkable year round
- The mobile phone coverage is excellent on this trail
- This trail can be started in either direction from the Mulligans Flat Road car park
- This walk does not allow dogs
Disclaimer
This walk was undertaken by the team from Australian Hiker