Woodstock Nature Reserve, Murrumbidgee River

There are a few points where there is easy access to the Murrumbidgee River Corridor, however, they are not very well known. The Murrumbidgee River Corridor has never become popular as a tourist attraction, apart from Cotter Reserve. Pine Island in Tuggeranong, Kambah Pool, and Woodstock Nature Reserve are all worth doing. 

There are a lot of animals in the Murrumbidgee River Corridor, and when I last visited the Woodstock Nature Reserve I saw deer, which was a first for me. Take time to look around as there is much to see. 

Woodstock Nature Reserve is on Stockdill Drive in West Belconnen. Stockdill Drive starts at the new Suburb of Strathnairn and ends high up above the Molonglo River. Stockdill Drive is popular with road cyclists.

Shepherd Lookout is an easy family walk. It is at the end of a short 610 m long, slightly downhill track from the car park on Stockdill Drive. Return to the car park along the alternate path to the west for a great view of the Brindabella Ranges. There is a path here down the hill to one of the few Molonglo River crossings. The next one is 8.3 km away at Coppins Crossing. The path is not suitable for cycling due to the steps.

The Woodstock Nature Reserve gate is to the right of the car park. The reserve is bigger than it first appears. You can ride your bike down to and along the Murrumbidgee River. There is a well-formed vehicle trail down to the river, and this road continues along the river and back up to Strathnairn. Eventually, it will be possible to loop back to the new suburbs of Strathnairn and Macnamara, but the development of Ginninderry is not quite that far yet and the gate is locked at Strathnairn. You will need to return along the path the way you came. The route is so pretty that I doubt you will mind. The road up to the gate is cut into the hillside and well maintained by Canberra standards, with an average gradient of 11% and a maximum of 15%.