At 1913 metres, Mount Bimberi is not a
giant among mountains, but, it is the highest mountain in the ACT,
so, if you are into that kind of thing, you need to walk up to the
top. Luckily, doing so goes beyond easy and is actually quite
pleasant. People hike up Mount Bimberi from all sorts of directions
but the easiest way is to walk in from the west via Murray Gap and
then amble the final three kilometres on a beaten in foot-pad.
Grasslands near Goodradigbee Creek
From the Snowy Mountains Hwy, drive up
Tantagara Road, crossing the surprisingly small Murrumbidgee River
just below Tantagara Reservior, and continue on Pockets Saddle Road
until you reach the gate at Gorrangorambla Creek. There are a couple
of lovely campgrounds up this road.
Oldfields Hut
Walk up the road for almost 1.5 km to
the well marked Murray Gap track and follow this up and over a
ridge-line down the other side to arrive at the grassy plains around
Oldfields Hut. From the charming old hut, it is about another four
kilometres of pleasant walking to Murray Gap. There are plenty of
campsites, either around the Oldfields Hut, or even up at Murray Gap
where there was some water at the gap.
Looking south to the Scabby Range
A cairn marks the start of the footpad
up Mount Bimberi and the pad is easy to follow with some faded taped
sections but also a pretty clear pad. Just under one kilometre from
the top, the track reaches a flatter plateau with stunted snow gums
and scattered granite boulders. The summit trig is now visible and
it is only about 10 minutes further to the top.
Grasslands near Oldfields Hut
There are good views from the top,
south to the Scabby Range, east into Namadgi National Park and over
to the Tinderry Range, and west to Kosciuszko National Park. Enjoy
the view, have lunch, and return the way you came. Although
Gorrangorambla Creek is not deep, there is just enough water in it to
dunk in and wash off the sweat of the day at the end of your walk.
Mount Bimberi
