The best MTB trails in Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve

Mount Taylor Nature Reserve covers 300 hectares in Canberra’s south, with a network of walking tracks winding through one of the ACT’s largest remaining areas of grassy woodland. Popular for bushwalking, trail running, birdwatching, and nature photography, it’s an easy place to escape the city without travelling far. The reserve is home to a wide variety of native wildlife, including colourful parrots, honeyeaters, and, in spring, beautiful displays of wildflowers that dot the landscape.

Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve covers 637 hectares of native bushland on Canberra's northeast edge, adjacent to Mount Majura Nature Reserve. There is a network of shared trails that wind through eucalypt forest, leading to beautiful views of Lake Burley Griffin and the city from the summit. Aside from the popular trails, the reserve also protects critically endangered grassy woodlands and diverse habitats that support threatened birds, rare plants, and native wildlife.

Point Hut Pond is an urban reservoir designed to improve stormwater quality before it flows into the Murrumbidgee River. It’s a picturesque centrepiece for recreation in the park, with calm water surrounded by open green space and a walking path around the shoreline. It’s a peaceful spot to enjoy the views, watch waterbirds, or cast a line from the bank.

Canberra Centenary Trail is a long-distance walking and cycling route that forms a 145-kilometre loop around the Australian Capital Territory. In this rural section near Hall, the trail follows easy farm paths and grassy hills as it approaches the climb to One Tree Hill. This quieter part of the route offers expansive views of farmland and distant ranges, giving the walk a remote feel despite being close to Canberra.

Hall is a small historic village on the northern edge of the ACT and a common starting point for the route to One Tree Hill. The path from the village quickly leaves the streets behind and climbs through open farmland toward the ridge. Its quiet rural setting is a charming gateway to the surrounding countryside and nearby tracks.

Lake Ginninderra is a beautiful artificial lake, created in 1974 by damming Ginninderra Creek. There are several parklands, walking and cycling paths, and popular recreation areas near the Belconnen Town Centre and the University of Canberra that surround the lake. Its open shoreline and wetlands attract a variety of waterbirds, making it a well-known spot for walking, picnicking, and enjoying the lakeside views.

Ngadyung Beach is a small, sandy, quiet lakeside area nestled along Lake Tuggeranong. The beach sits along open grass and the shared path that forms part of the Lake Tuggeranong Circuit. It's a peaceful place to stop along the lake for views across the water and a short break during a walk or cycle.

Lake Tuggeranong is a beautiful artificial lake in Canberra’s Tuggeranong district, created in the 1980s as part of the suburb’s town centre development. There is a shared walking and cycling path that circles the lake, passing parks, wetlands, and recreation areas along the shoreline. The lake is a popular local spot ideal for walking, cycling, kayaking, and birdwatching.