Bicentennial National Trail between Hawker and Strathnairn
The Bicentennial National Trail can be ridden with a mountain bike from Hawker to Strathnairn in Belconnen west. The Pinnacle Nature Reserve in Hawker is a gem. A photo essay of the ride.
In 1988 the National Horse Trail was rejuvenated and relaunched as the Bicentennial National Trail. The Bicentennial National Trail extends from Queensland to Victoria. A section of it passes through the ACT. It is not to be confused with the Canberra Centenary Trail which came later and is only in the ACT. The Bicentennial National Trail and the Canberra Centenary Trail alignments are at times in close proximity and cross. Both pass through The Pinnacle Nature Reserve in Hawker, Belconnen, but one on the north side and the other on the south side. This ride was predominately on the Bicentennial National Trail but a section was on the Canberra Centenary Trail.
We explored the Bicentennial National Trail in Belconnen by bike. We had a mountain bike and one touring bike with fat tyres. In the muddy conditions, the mountain bike is the better option. It was soggy and pays off the trail were slippery. Canberra does not get much rain though, so we must be grateful. We joined the Bicentennial National Trail at Hawker and rode through to the new suburb of Strathnairn in Belconnen’s far west. Many have never heard of Strathnairn. Strathnairn is part of the Ginninderry development that will one day extend into NSW.
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This is a photo essay of the route with captions. Below you will also find a map of the route. I welcome your comments.
Tully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerTully Boundary Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, HawkerThe Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenDowling Track, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenBrindabella Range, Dowling Track, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenDowling Track, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenBicentennial National Trail, Springvale Track, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenHorse style, Bicentennial National Trail, Springvale Track, Hawker, BelconnenSwing gate but bikes can squeeze through. A ramp up onto the verge is missing. Bicentennial National Trail, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenBicentennial National Trail, Springvale Track, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenBicentennial National Trail, Springvale Track, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenBicentennial National Trail, William Hovell Drive behind the trees, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, BelconnenMud and water on Bicentennial National Trail, William Hovell Drive underpass, opposite Hawker, BelconnenBicentennial National Trail, past the William Hovell Drive underpass, opposite Hawker, BelconnenBike path beside the golf course, Pro Hart Avenue, approaching Strathnairn, West BelconnenConstruction blocking the bike path, new suburb of Strathnairn, West BelconnenBike ONLY path, Pro Hart Avenue, Strathnairn, West BelconnenBike ONLY path, Pro Hart Avenue swings right, Strathnairn, West BelconnenSegregated paths, the footpath on the left and bike only path, Pro Hart Avenue, Strathnairn, West BelconnenThis is how it should be done. Safe cycling with the “continuous verge treatment”, Bike ONLY path crossing cnr Ariotti Street and Pro Hart Avenue, Strathnairn, West BelconnenNew lake finally filling after the heavy rain behind a construction fence, Strathnairn, West BelconnenLeft turn here. Construction beside the Bicentennial National Trail, new suburb of Strathnairn, West BelconnenStraight ahead to Macgregor. Construction beside the Bicentennial National Trail, new suburb of Strathnairn, West BelconnenBad design cannot be fixed with a sign. The sign “Cyclist Dismount” is not correct. The ACT standard for safe cycling (MIS05) requires “continuous verge treatment”. A bike and car coming from the same direction will not see each other due to the trees. Southern Cross Drive, Macgregor, West BelconnenAerial view, Bicentennial National Trail between Hawker and Strathnairn
10 replies on “Bicentennial National Trail between Hawker and Strathnairn”
[…] The Belconnen to Strathnairn ride was a lot of fun and the views from Hawker were absolutely stunning. We kept going and decided to check out the Bicentennial National Trail. […]
[…] Mount Ainslie, Mount Stromlo, Narrabundah Hill, Mount Taylor, National Arboretum, Molonglo Valley, The Pinnacle, Mount Painter, Bruce Ridge, and Black […]
[…] the word ONLY, all paths in the ACT are legally shared. Bicycle-only path in the new suburb of Strathnairn, West Belconnen Pedestrians-only paths are very rare. Indeed, so rare that we don’t have […]
[…] crossings close together. Source overpass-turbo and OpenStreetMap Horse stile: Common along the Bicentennial National Trail. Source overpass-turbo and OpenStreetMap Stile: Common in Canberra Nature Park. Source […]
[…] The Pinnacle Nature Reserve is part of Canberra Nature Park and ever-popular with locals. The lower section of The Pinnacle is an offset area and something new. Offset areas spring up where there are urban developments. […]
[…] between the north and south side of the Molonglo River. Both the Canberra Centenary Trail and Bicentennial National Trail pass through here. For the gravel rider, the river crossing in Coombs is the most direct route […]
[…] Amaroo along Horse Park Drive and Merrabei Drive. Crossings are at lights on Horse Park Drive. The Bicentennial National Trail lies between Ngunnawahl and Moncrieff. Nobody lives in Taylor yet but there is an underpass beneath […]
10 replies on “Bicentennial National Trail between Hawker and Strathnairn”
[…] The Belconnen to Strathnairn ride was a lot of fun and the views from Hawker were absolutely stunning. We kept going and decided to check out the Bicentennial National Trail. […]
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[…] Mount Ainslie, Mount Stromlo, Narrabundah Hill, Mount Taylor, National Arboretum, Molonglo Valley, The Pinnacle, Mount Painter, Bruce Ridge, and Black […]
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[…] Bicentennial National Trail, Springvale Track, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, Hawker, Belconnen […]
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[…] the word ONLY, all paths in the ACT are legally shared. Bicycle-only path in the new suburb of Strathnairn, West Belconnen Pedestrians-only paths are very rare. Indeed, so rare that we don’t have […]
LikeLike
[…] crossings close together. Source overpass-turbo and OpenStreetMap Horse stile: Common along the Bicentennial National Trail. Source overpass-turbo and OpenStreetMap Stile: Common in Canberra Nature Park. Source […]
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[…] The Pinnacle Nature Reserve is part of Canberra Nature Park and ever-popular with locals. The lower section of The Pinnacle is an offset area and something new. Offset areas spring up where there are urban developments. […]
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[…] is on the Bicentennial National Trail and just a few kilometres north of the Namadgi National Park and visitors centre. The area has […]
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[…] The Pinnacle, […]
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[…] between the north and south side of the Molonglo River. Both the Canberra Centenary Trail and Bicentennial National Trail pass through here. For the gravel rider, the river crossing in Coombs is the most direct route […]
LikeLike
[…] Amaroo along Horse Park Drive and Merrabei Drive. Crossings are at lights on Horse Park Drive. The Bicentennial National Trail lies between Ngunnawahl and Moncrieff. Nobody lives in Taylor yet but there is an underpass beneath […]
LikeLike