In early September 2024 I walked the Nursery Swamp Track in Namadgi National Park. On the day, I was the only person along the trail. Not surprising, on a day that started with rain along a trail leading to a swamp. However, it was a fantastic hike and I would thoroughly recommend it, especially to pause at the end and enjoy a valley with nobody else around, and no indication of Canberra’s proximity. The swamp was more of a soaked grassland but with plenty of firm, dry land to allow for a rest or a picnic at the turnaround spot. One interesting site I found at the open area marking the end of the trail was a character-filled dead tree. The remains of the trunk, pictured above, was now part of a termite mound. Along the trail, there had been plenty of wildlife and the tranquility of the walk was lovely, with birdsongs and frog calls for a soundtrack. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
The most challenging aspect was finding the carpark because it was not listed on Google Maps. However, on the ground it was well signposted on the right of Orroral Road, following the road after turning onto it from Boboyan Road. The carpark was about 3 km from the Orroral River Picnic Ground. The trail head was on the other side of the road and clearly marked.
The hike started with an uphill section through woodland, which was not hard and was less than a kilometre. The trail then flattened out before another brief climb brought the route to Nursery Creek.
Car park
iPhone photo
Information board
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Trail head
iPhone photo
On this first part of the track there was a lot of variation to the flora along the track, with many wildflowers blossoming in early Spring. Indeed, on the walk back it was wonderful to stop to watch the insects gathering the pollen from the flowers.
Initial path on the climb up
iPhone photo
Once the trail followed Nursery Creek, there were occasional boggy spots but they generally had some form of matting or duckboard over them. The country was also more open. The creek was hidden under the vegetation but where it was visible, the water was wonderfully clear. This part of the route was basically flat. There was a bench about a kilometre short of the end, which prior to vegetation growth may have had a good view of the valley but I would advise to keep pushing on rather than rest there.
Metal mesh over a boggy section
iPhone photos
Duck boards
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A long, very straight section of duck boards
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A rock surrounded by moss
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 125, 100mm, f/9.0 and 1/200 SEC])
The end of the hike was at Nursery swamp, where an information board explained that early European settlers had used the area as a ‘nursery’ for young livestock because of the abundance of grass. The livestock was now gone and there was a wonderful view. There was also a bench that had an uninterrupted view along the valley. Despite this trail being only about a 45 minute drive from Canberra, I met nobody else, I heard no cars and I saw no planes overhead. I felt like I could have been a long way from any city. It was so pleasant just to sit while enjoying the way the vegetation and landscape wrapped around this quiet part of the world. The actual swamp was just to my front, but it was more a boggy grassland than what most people would think of as a swamp. I wandered around some nearby trees, where the ground was very firm.
The end of the walk at Nursery Swamp
iPhone photo
Rocks and trees on the far side of Nursery Swamp
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])
This was an out and back hike so I returned the same way but the rain clouds had cleared and the sun was out. This day had also warmed up a bit making the return walk thoroughly enjoyable. While the larger animals were gone, there were a number of insects busying themselves in the bright sun.
The descent was easier than the climb
iPhone photo
There was a lot of beautiful animal life as well
Female Gang-gang Cockatoo
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
White-eared Honeyeater
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 160, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Grey Shrike-thrush
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Brown Thornbill
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Wandering Percher
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Australian Painted Lady
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/13 and 1/320 SEC])
It was a lovely walk. There was nobody else on the trail and the weather cleared into a gorgeous day. I also saw far more wildlife than I was able to get photographs of. With the whole experience leaving more completely refreshed. It was a wonderful way to start a day.
Thanks for reading this post and thanks also for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the Australian Capital Territory has on offer. All the best until the next post.