Australian Alps Walking Track (SOBO – South Bound)
Section 1 (5 days): Days 1 – 5 to Food Drop 1
2/04/2025 – 6/04/2025 Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre (Tharwa) – Gurrangorambla Creek (Pockets Saddle Road)
Distance: 78.1km Total Ascent: 3,696m Total Descent: 2,949m
Time: 39 hours Moving Time: 21 hours
Participants: Damien Aggio (Report), Stephen Davies (Report, Photos)
After months of research, planning and preparation, Damien and I were finally ready to tackle the AAWT. With my wife, Sue, acting as our support person, we set off early on Tuesday, 1/04/2025, for a 5-hour drive to Kiandra to stash what would be our second food drop. From here, we had a one-hour drive along the gravel Tantangara and Pocket Saddle Roads to Gurrangorambla Creek to stash our first food drop. Another hour drive saw us at Alpine Tourist Park, Adaminaby, setting up our tents for the night. Sue and I would be trying out my new Durston X-Mid Pro 2 Dyneema tent, a 510g tent bought just for the AAWT. Our pub dinner was one to forget.
Day 1: Wednesday 2/04/2025 Tharwa – Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre – AAWT – Naas Road (intersection) – Cypress Pine Lookout – Mt Tennent Track – Mount Tennent – Mount Tennent Fire Trail (intersection) – Mount Tennent Fire Tower – Blue Gum Creek Fire Trail (intersection) – Georges Creek – Bushfold Flats
Namadgi National Park, ACT
Ngunnawal Country
The big day had arrived. This morning, we drove to Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre via Boboyan and Naas Roads to start the trip. A final gear check, and we were “checking” in at the Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre. As there was no formal trip registration to complete, this just involved a short chat with the ranger on duty. She thought there were about 30-40 people who completed the AAWT each year and wished us well for what she said would be a 750,000-step walk to Walhalla. (Weeks later, it dawned on us that number would require very big steps to cover the “680km” journey. My watch ended up counting, including side trips, over 1,300,000 steps across 821km).
With Damien barely having tolerated the hottest, most humid summer he could recall at his western Sydney base, he had completed no pre-trip, physical training to prepare his mid-50’s body for what was to come. I, on the other hand, had been hiking in Tasmania throughout February and early March and also been running and walking prior to starting the hike. Aged 68, I needed to do what I could to be physically prepared for the planned 60 days of hiking.
Max elevation: 1390 m
Total climbing: 859 m
Total descent: -467 m
Average speed: 3.26 km/h
Total time: 06:50:09
Our initiation to the AAWT involved an easy 1km, gently uphill incline before our initial test, a 500m climb to the Mount Tennent Track turn-off. Along the way, we stopped at Cypress Pine Lookout from which we had great views over the Visitor Centre and Murrumbidgee River valley. Along the way, we crossed paths with Eamon. Eamon was wearing what looked like a daypack (I thought my daypack was bigger), but was in fact in the final hour of his 28-day NOBO AAWT trip. He was not carrying a stove, nor a sleeping bag or a tent (instead a small tarp) as he wanted to go light, at least he had made it. He gave us a few tips with regard to water sources, etc, before heading off to get decent, well-earned feed.
Views from near Mount Tennent Firetrail
At the Mount Tennent Track turnoff, we had some lunch before heading to the summit of Mount Tennent for our first side trip. The summit track provided more great views across the Murrumbidgee River valley and from the summit fire tower, extensive views to the south as well. Returning to our packs we said goodbye to Sue, who now returned to the car, whilst Damien and I continued onward.
We were soon descending along Bushfold Flats Fire Trail through forest towards the upper reaches of Blue Gum Creek and our planned overnight stop at Bushfold Flats. We noted along the way that the small waterways we had crossed today were almost dry and were glad to have carried enough water to see us through the day. As the descent flattened out approaching the Blue Gum Creek Fire Trail junction, the forest opened up and terrain levelled off, leaving a couple of kilometres of easy walking to Bushfold Flats. Amongst these open, grassy areas, we observed several small mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos.
Arriving at Bushfold Flats, we headed up above the dam, where we found a couple of flat campsites near the edge of the forest. After setting up camp, we collected and treated water from the dam. The best we could do from this questionable water source was to collect from its shallow, stagnant, muddy edge and then christen our Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System before consuming any.
With so much work involved in organising and planning leading up to this trip, my urge to write up trip reports was low, so I managed to talk Damien into doing them. However, by the end of our rest day at the end of Section 3, my urge to write up this amazing trip in my own words had returned, so until we started on the Cascade Trail, Damien had the final say.
Damien
We set off from the Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre at 10:30am, beforehand making sure we took the time to speak with the ranger at the centre about track conditions, closures and of particular interest – water availability. The first couple of hours were a hard, uphill slog. Here we bumped into Eamon, a young solo hiker who was on his last hour of a 28 day AAWT NOBO from Walhalla.
After 2 hours we stopped for lunch at the junction of the Mount Tennant side track. After lunch we hid our rucksacks in the bush and continued up Mount Tennant with our small silnylon day packs holding a half litre of water. At the top we were rewarded with great views. After this three hour side trip we pushed onto Bushfold Flats for two hours to set up tents for the night.
There was virtually no water along the trail for the whole of the first day, as the ranger had told us. She also forewarned us that there was only a stagnant dam for water at Bushfold Flats. We sure were glad we had our water filters for that water.
Day 2: Thursday 3/04/2025 Bushfold Flats – AAWT – Georges Creek – Booroomba Creek – Booroomba Rocks – Booroomba Rocks 1372m – Booroomba Rocks Road (intersection) – Deadmans Hill 1396m – Orroral Ridge – Apollo Road – Honeysuckle Creek – Honeysuckle Creek Campground
Namadgi National Park, ACT
Ngunnawal Country
Max elevation: 1378 m
Total climbing: 530 m
Total descent: -397 m
Average speed: 3.42 km/h
Total time: 06:41:32
Damien
We spent considerable time in the morning filtering 2.5L of water each from the stagnant dam. In hindsight, we didn’t have to bother. At 10:00am we set off and found the walking a lot easier than the first day and within the first hour came across a decent brook. Then we realised that we could have left camp with no water and had our first drink at the brook.
Booroomba Rocks
Two hours later at 12:00pm, we stopped for lunch at the Booroomba Rocks car park. There were toilets to use and a few cars in the car park. I’m glad we chose to do the two hour side trip to the top of Booroomba Rocks as they were picturesque, had good views into Canberra and phone reception, so we were able to make calls back home. After returning back to the car park it was another 1.5 hours walk to Honeysuckle Creek for our camp for the second night. Along the way we had to obtain some phone reception to book the campsite, a requirement for Honeysuckle Creek Campground.
At camp we found the abundant wildlife friendly, to the point of harassment. They stole some food and probed into our tents and backpacks.
The campsite has ample space for tents, twin long drop toilets, water tanks and an undercover BBQ area with fireplace.
Day 3: Friday 4/04/2025 Honeysuckle Creek Campground – Orroral Ridge Road – Bellfry Rock – Lego Land – Link Track – Bill’s track (intersection) – Orroral River – AAWT – James Creek – Cotter Hut Road – Prairie Dog Creek – AAWT – Sawpit Creek
Namadgi National Park, ACT
Ngunnawal Country
Max elevation: 1357 m
Total climbing: 793 m
Total descent: -736 m
Average speed: 3.96 km/h
Total time: 08:41:35
Damien
An easy amble along a dirt road open to public vehicles. Regular crossings of water filled creeks along the side every hour or two. We did a 1.5 hour side trip up to Legoland half way through the day. The rocks up there gave a strange aura to the forest they were in.
Granite boulders at Legoland
Further along the AAWT the Orroral Valley is like a little slice of paradise with mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos everywhere. At 5:00pm we arrived at Sawpit Creek to camp for the evening. A beautiful flowing stream, but no decent tent sites to be found.
Day 4: Saturday 5/04/2025 Sawpit Creek – AAWT – Cotter Gap – Pond Creek – Pond Creek Campsite – Pond Creek Flats – Licking Hole Gauging Trail (intersection) – Cotter River – Cotter Flats – Cotter Hut Track (intersection) – Cotter Hut Road – Cotter Hut – Yaouk Trail – Bimberi Creek – Murray Gap Trail – Little Bimberi Creek – Jacks Creek – Murray Gap – Murray Gap Camping Area
Namadgi National Park (Bimberi Wilderness), ACT
Ngunnawal Country
Max elevation: 1524 m
Total climbing: 837 m
Total descent: -469 m
Average speed: 3.58 km/h
Total time: 06:48:31
Damien
We were up super early, packed and left at 7:30am. Beautiful clear flowing streams across the trail every hour, so didn’t bother carrying any water.
Cotter River
The usual regime of perfect weather, 3 -18 degrees made excellent walking conditions, with no flies or bugs. By 10:00am we crossed the Cotter River and past the mobs of stunned Roos. Hit camp at 1:30pm and settled down for a windy but sunny afternoon. The chilly wind over the gap subsided at sunset for a peaceful sleep in the tent.
Day 5: Sunday 6/04/2025 Murray Gap Camping Area – Bimberi Peak – Murray Gap Trail
Namadgi National Park, ACT
Ngunnawal Country
Dunns Flat Creek – Dunns Flat – Dunns Flat Camp – Goodradigbee River – Lone Pine Trail (intersection) – Oldfields Hut – Leura Gap Fire Trail – Pocket Creek – Pockets Saddle Road – Gurrangorambla Creek
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo Country
Max elevation: 1895 m
Total climbing: 677 m
Total descent: -880 m
Average speed: 3.48 km/h
Total time: 10:45:21
Damien
Woke up at 5:00am to find a heavy frost on the ground. It was extremely cold and with the addition of the breeze the wind chill was horrific. Our objective was to summit the highest mountain in the ACT – Mt Bimberi for sunrise.
I put on my fleece, Goretex jacket, ski gloves and beanie and we quickly headed off an hour before dawn at 5:30am. As we entered the forest the wind reduced and going uphill created some extra warmth for our cold bodies. For the first kilometre the trail was difficult to distinguish and we kept getting off track. Luckily we had the GPS to continuously correct our aim, and follow the easier way up. After that first kilometre the trail became clearer, just as the forest was becoming more sparse and we had more exposure to the wind. When we got out of the trees the gale force wind froze us to the bone.
Damien climbing Mount Bimberi
Unfortunately the trip up took 1.5 hours so we missed the sunrise. We could not tolerate the freezing conditions and soon had to begin a downward retreat. It was remarkable how much warmer conditions were in the forest. Back at camp we slowly packed up and continued our trek along the AAWT. Once again I didn’t have to carry water as we passed good clear creeks every hour.
No feral animals had been encountered so far. It is a testament to good parks management of the ACT water supply in the Bimberi Wilderness. The only damage we saw was near the top of Mt Bimberi, the dirt had been ploughed up by pigs or deer.
Next stop was Oldfields Hut. A very photogenic building and surroundings. After using the convenient toilet there we were back on the trail for a couple of hours before arriving at our first food drop and camp at Gurrangorambla Creek along Pocket Saddle Trail.
Food Drop 1 Expedition Log Equipment List
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A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries and other content
Information on Parks signage along the way
Welcome to the Australian Alps Walking Track
The Alps Track … is an overland bushwalking track that crosses the length of the Australian Alps.
The track weaves its way over 650km of remote mountain country, through magnificent tall forest, stunted snow gum woodlands and across grassy alpine peaks and high plains.
The Australian Alps have always been used and traversed by people.
Thousands of years ago the Aboriginal ancestors formed intricate pathways across the whole region. Their journeys were to find food, conduct spiritual cultural and important intertribal business. Many of the Aboriginal pathways form the basis of the Australian Alps Walking Track.
Today, the Aboriginal pathways and the Australian Alps Walking Track have a shared significance that links people, places, times and events together across the whole area.
The Northern end of the Alps Walking Track crosses the traditional lands of © Ngunnawal, Ngarigo and Wiradjuri Nations. As the track crosses into the ACT and Bimberi declared wilderness area the track is unmarked and not signposted, so walkers should be prepared to navigate their path. Following the Alps track to the South walkers will pass through the unique Karst landscape of Cooleman plains, cross the Murrumbidgee river, explore the historic Kiandra goldfields and climb into the majestic main range.
NGUNNAWAL PEOPLE WELCOME YOU
Ngunna munnagali yanggu
Jade (You can come here now).
The name ‘Namadgi’ is taken from an Aboriginal word for the mountains in the south west of the ACT. Ngunnawal people welcome others onto their traditional lands and ask visitors to be aware of, respect and acknowledge Ngunnawal cultural traditions, laws and customs.
Come in to the Visitor Centre for more information and inspiration.
WOODLAND DISCOVERY TRAIL
Diverse, Different, Dynamic
Woodlands are rich in life, with most of the diversity in the form of insects and other invertebrates. Supporting the animals is a complex structure made up of trees of different ages and sizes, dead timber, hollows, rocks, water and different layers of vegetation.
Despite changes by humans, this woodland still retains a variety of wildlife. Sit quietly while you watch for some of these animals.
The local landscape features, geology, scenic highlights, flora, fauna, Indigenous history, white history and other nearby walks in the area (Perplexity AI Model)
Landscape Features and Geology
The AAWT traverses a segment of the Australian Alps characterised by rugged mountain ranges, expansive valleys, and rolling high plains. The section between Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre at Tharwa and Gurrangorambla Creek (Pockets Saddle Road) is located in the southern ACT and northern Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales. The landscape is dominated by the Bimberi, Scabby, and Brindabella Ranges, with elevations commonly ranging from 600 m to 1,900 m above sea level.
Geologically, this area is part of the Lachlan Fold Belt, featuring ancient granites and metasedimentary rocks. The terrain is shaped by millennia of glacial and fluvial processes, resulting in deep valleys, steep escarpments, and rounded peaks. Numerous creeks and rivers, including the Murrumbidgee and Gudgenby, have carved dramatic gorges and broad alluvial plains. The region is subject to frost, snow in winter, and occasional bushfires, all of which influence the landscape.
Scenic Highlights
The AAWT in this section offers dramatic vistas of the Brindabella and Bimberi Ranges, with panoramic views from summits such as Mount Tennent and Bimberi Peak. The track follows ridgelines and high plains, providing expansive outlooks over alpine meadows and dense eucalypt forests. Notable features include the rugged escarpments of the Murrumbidgee River Gorge, the open grasslands of the Orroral Valley, and the forested slopes of the Brindabellas. Watercourses such as Gurrangorambla Creek and the Murrumbidgee River are prominent, offering tranquil settings for rest and reflection.
Local Flora
The vegetation along this section of the AAWT is diverse, reflecting changes in altitude and aspect. At lower elevations, open woodlands dominated by yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora) and white box (Eucalyptus albens) are common. As the track ascends, alpine ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) and mountain gum (Eucalyptus dalrympleana) become prevalent. The highest ridges and valleys feature snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) woodlands, interspersed with subalpine heath and grassland. Groundcover includes shrubs such as silver wattle (Acacia dealbata), and a variety of native grasses and wildflowers, including mountain daisies (Brachyscome spp.) and snow daisies (Celmisia spp.).
Local Fauna
The region supports a rich array of wildlife, adapted to both the alpine and subalpine environments. Mammals include eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), and wombats (Vombatus ursinus). The endangered northern corroboree frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) is found in the sphagnum bogs of the high country. Birdlife is abundant, with species such as the gang-gang cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum), superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), and wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) commonly observed. Reptiles, including the alpine water skink (Eulamprus kosciuskoi), are present in rocky outcrops and grasslands.
Indigenous History
The traditional custodians of the land through which the AAWT passes between Tharwa and Gurrangorambla Creek are the Ngunnawal people, whose country extends across the southern ACT and adjacent regions of New South Wales. The Ngunnawal have lived in this area for tens of thousands of years, maintaining a deep spiritual and cultural connection to the land. The high country provided seasonal resources, including food, medicine, and materials for tools and shelter. Important ceremonial and gathering sites are located throughout the region, with rock shelters, artefact scatters, and rock art providing evidence of long-term occupation. The Ngunnawal people continue to maintain their cultural heritage and connection to country.
White History
European exploration and settlement of the area began in the early 19th century, with pastoralists and graziers moving into the high country in search of grazing land for cattle and sheep. The construction of the road between Kiandra and Tharwa (now part of the AAWT) facilitated access to the region for European settlers. Historic huts, such as Hainsworth and Orroral, were built as shelter for stockmen and travellers. The area was also used for prospecting and timber harvesting, though these activities were limited by the rugged terrain. In the 20th century, the region became valued for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities, leading to the establishment of national parks and conservation areas.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries and other content
We start hiking SOBO in September and have been loving reading about your adventures. Thank you so much for sharing. We have been able to add information to our itinerary and plan from learning about huts that have been rebuilt / Telstra service (since 3G was switched off), potential side trips, etc from reading your adventures and can’t wait for you to post other sections.
As well as a fantastic reminder of the AAWT trip for myself and Damien, I have aimed to share what we learnt on our trip with others through these posts and pages on my website. Most sites I researched had good information in some planning areas but were lacking in others. Facebook had great, but very isolated snippets of information. I am hoping to end up with pages and posts providing a more comprehensive resource for the AAWT than I found during my planning stages.