Honeysuckle to Booroomba Rocks
This is a popular ACT bushwalk and Booroomba Rocks is a favourite destination for many. It provides panoramic and specatuclar views, amongst peacful surrounds (Image 1).
Walk Rating: From Honeysuckle to the carpark at the base of the Booroomba Rocks walk is easy, with some moderate inclines. The walk from the carpark to Booroomba Rocks is reasonably steep with a number of stairs to climb. This section is reasonably tough (Image 2). The return walk was 11.4 kilometres.
Image 2 - An example of the Booroomba Rocks walking track incline
Directions:To get to the hut, you drive to Tharwa. Once over the bridge, swing left onto Naas Road. From here, drive along Naas Road for 10.6 kilometres until the intersection with Apollo Road. Turn right onto Apollo Road and follow the road 5.5 kilometres and you will arrive at the Honeysuckle Campground. Apollo Road is steep in sections with a lot of sharp and blind curves. It is a popular bicycle ride, so be cautious on the drive.There is further information about the campground available at the Namadgi Visitors Centre. You can book camp sites and the facilities are very good, including pit toilets, covered barbecue and sitting area. The commencement of the walk is situated to the east of the covered barbecue and sitting area (you can't miss it).
Image 3 - A bee collects pollen from the prolific flowering Parrot Pea
Image 4 - Native bee gathering pollen
We continued on and arrived ta the Booroomba Rocks carpark and commenced the trek upwards towards Booroomba Rocks. Although this was a reasonably warm day, the eucalypt forrest provided shade from the sun and kept it cooler. It was still a fairly demanding walk however, and we were please to arrive at Booromba Rocks.
We stopped at this location and had morning tea. Two of our group decided that we would go a little further and we trekked to the high point of Booroomba Rocks (Image 1). There is a track for this walk and to get to the track, you travel back down the Booroomba Rocks walking track. Just after coming off the Booroomba Rocks and onto the walking track, you will notice an area where someone has camped and there are remnants of an old fire. If you look across (east) you will just make out the start of a track. It looks as though it is not very well defined but once you get going on this section, the track is well defined and easy to follow.
After getting near the top, we left the track and commenced a small 'climb' across the granite rocks before arriving at our destination. The round trip only took about 20 minutes and provides absolutely breathtaking views (Images 6, 7, 8, and 9). Image 10 was the photo taken from the top, of our walking friends enjoying their cuppa (used telescopic lense).
Image 7 - View to the north east
Image 9 - View to the south
After returning from the peak, we packed our gear and commenced the walk back. The return walk was obviously less challenging and after a close encounter with an Eastern Brown snake (which I'm please to inform you was way more afraid of me than I of it, which is saying something!) we came across a Blue Tongued Lizard who had ventured out from the undergrowth to sun itslef on the track (image 11). After it posed for a photo, we tentatively stepped around, so as not to disturb its sun baking, and continued on our way.
On the final section of the walk before arriving back at Honeysuckle, I stopped to take some photos of the the wildflowers that had bloomed during the day. It was a pleasant way to finish the walk.
This is a great walk with many worthwhile things to see and, some specatcular views at the top. I would recommend it but, at this time of year, please make sure you wear boots and gators as the snakes are prolific. We saw a number of people in running shoes and shorts, which does not provide much protection from snakebite (The Eastern Brown snake is the second most venomous in the world).
Wooly Grevillea
Buttercup - One of the fifteen local species
Image 1 - Rooroomba Rocks looking to the north east to the highest point on the cliff face
The Walk: As mentioned in the initial introduction, this walk is well known to many, and it continues to be a popular destination. It offers sweeping views and an abundance of native flora. However, please remember that the Booroomba Rocks are a series of cliff faces so don't get too close to the edge!
The walk from Honeysuckle is your characteristic Namadgi forrested environment. The track is well defined and easy to follow and takes you through a vast array of native eucalypts and, if you do the walk at the right time of the year, the native wildflowers provide an injection kaleidoscope of different colours to the landscape.
The two most prolific flowering shrubs were the Gorse Bitter Pea and the Parrot Pea, which provided a sea of orange and yellow on either side of the walking track as well as a good source of pollen for the native and non-native bees (Image 3 and Image 4).
Around the three kilometre mark, you come across a large granite 'platform'. The rock is elevated eneough to provide views of the immediate area (not views into the distance). It gives you a good appreciation of the native flora and eucalypts in the immediate area and also provides some natural rock formed seating if your after a rest or a cuppa (Image 5).
Image 5 - The granite formation at about the three kilometres mark
Image 6 - View to the south
Image 8 - View to the south west
Image 10 - Enjoying a break on Booroomba Rocks
Image 11 - Blue Tongued Lizard
Snow Daisy - This plant survives under the snow during winter.
Alpine Shaggy Pea