Old Boboyan Homestead ACT (5.1 km)
Namadgi National Park
Nearest Town
Tharwa approximately 50 km from this trail head. Please note that Adaminaby is about 40 km in the opposite direction
Starting Location
Old Boboyan Homestead car park
Trail head car park on the Old Boboyan Road
Finish Location
Old Boboyan Homestead car park
Old Boboyan Homestead Trail Review
I love the southern end of Namadagi National Park, it has a sense of remoteness combined with a bit of rural that makes this region unique. This walk is a bit of a drive from central Canberra being around 70 km from the GPO and around 50 km from Tharwa or for that matter about the same distance if you choose to head to Adaminaby in the other direction.
Head down the centre of the park on Boboyan Road and keep an eye out for the Mount Clear Campground on the left hand side of the road. The turnoff to the trail head which is Old Boboyan Road, is on the right side and around 500 metres past Mount Clear. Once you turn off onto Old Boboyan Road you have about a 700 metre drive to the trail head car park which is located at a locked gate.
This walk is all on management road and to reach the homestead site is around 2.4 km. On the day we did this walk it didn’t feel that way which is a rarity. I think that was down to the mix of eucalyptus forest, and open grassland that made me focus on the surrounding landscape rather than the road. Usually in this area of Namadgi National Park all you tend to see are wallabies due to the dense trees but in this case with the open grass areas, there were lots of kangaroos as well. The walk is flat-ish to sightly uphill all the way to the old homestead site but not enough to be strenuous.
The first indication you have reached the old homestead is the very obvious and visible old chimney. If by some chance you aren’t paying attention, you know you have arrived as the road turns to the right by almost 90º at this point. We spent around 45 minutes wandering around this site and its worthwhile walking up the hill to the rear of the homestead until you reach the fence line as there are all sorts of little hidden gems such as the old rubbish dump (better than it sounds), the old orchard, and apparently an old grave site although we couldn’t find it on the day.
After you have had a good look around it’s time to head back and it’s a walk either slightly downhill or on the flat all the way back to the starting gate.
This walk can be extended to around 14km as a one-way walk (28 km return) by continuing along the road until you reach the Yankee Hat car park. In this form the walk is called the Old Boboyan Road Walk.
This access gate is stuck closed so access to the trail through the gap at the main gate
Starting point
Trail register about 300 metres into the walk on the right hand side of the road
Big male wallaby on the side of the trail
Trail example. The walk in on the Old Boboyan Road which has now become a management road
Forest on the side of the road
Usually at this end of the park the trees are too dense for kangaroos but with the old farmland in this area there were lots of kangaroos about
Homestead visible in the distance
Marker sign
Gill likes purple!
I think the chimney could be bigger
View down into the valley from the homestead
Old tin can dump
Old orchard
Old foundations – by the location this looks like the path to the outhouse
Snow covered mountain in the distance. Even though you are heading down to the bottom of the ACT you are increasing in altitude into the snow zone. During mid winter expect this area to have snow coverage
Ice on the side of the road
It must be cold if Tim is wearing the cold weather gear
Remnant Black Sally. This is one of the bigger examples of this tree type in Namadgi National Park
Getting There
Google map showing the distance from Tharwa Bridge to the trail head on the Old Boboyan road car park
- From the Tharwa Bridge head done Boboyan Road towards the Yankee Hat Rock art site
- Instead of turning off to the the right towards the Yankee Hat car park keep on going. The bitumen ends not far from the Yankee Hat turnoff and the road is usually in good condition for an average car
- The road edges can be a bit soft and in cold conditions there can be snow and ice on the road so drive carefully. WARNING: sometimes the road may be closed so if doing this walk in winter check with the Namadgi Visitor Centre prior to driving to this site. On the day we did this walk the road was closed to all vehicles except those with 4wd capability
- At the end of the bitumen road travel about 2.6 km until you come to the Hospital Hill lookout on the right hand side of the road. This lookout is signposted and the lookout is adjacent to the road so a stop off is well worth the visit as there are some great views
- From the Hospital Hill lookout head along the Boboyan Road Road until you reach the Mount Clear car park – your turnoff is the first turn on the right side approximately 500 metres further on.
The whole trip from the Tharwa Bridge is just on 50 km.
Yankee Hat turnoff. Keep to the left and head towards Adaminaby
End of the bitumen road. The dirt road from here on is usually in good condition. Check that this road is open with the Namadgi National Park visitor centre if doing the walk in winter time as there may be heavy snow on the road
Road warning sign. You’ve been warned!
Hospital Hill lookout car park
Hospital Hill lookout. Stopping here is worth the trip itself
Hospital Hill lookout signage
Tim and Gill at Hospital Hill lookout. The views from here are well worth the stop; and yes its cold
Turn off Boboyan Road to Old Boboyan Road. The trail head is about 700 metres down the road
Things to Know
- Phone: There is no mobile phone coverage on this trail (Telstra)
- Water: You need to bring your own water as there is none unless you go looking for a creek
- Toilets: There is a toilet facility at Glendale which is approximately 16 km on the Tharwa side of Yerrabi Track so this is a good place to stop off if you need to use the facilities or want to have lunch on the way back
- Trail: This walk is on management road
- Dogs: Dogs not allowed
- Camping: Camping allowed
- Other:
- Keep an eye on the road once you reach the unsealed section as there is a lot of 4WD traffic and blind corners
- The road may be closed due to snow so if its winter it would be worthwhile calling the Namadagi Visitor Centre
Disclaimer
This walk was undertaken by the team from Australian Hiker