Bungendore to Captains Flat Rail Trail (36km)

The Southern Tablelands is a landscape of open grazing country, rolling hills, rugged ranges and historic rural towns stretching across the south-eastern corner of New South Wales. Sitting between the Great Dividing Range and the Australian Alps, the region forms a transition zone between the coastal landscapes to the east and the high country to the west. Its elevated terrain brings cooler temperatures, crisp winters and a distinctive character shaped by wide valleys, granite outcrops, native woodlands and waterways.

For thousands of generations, the Southern Tablelands has been cared for by Aboriginal communities, including the Ngunnawal, Ngarigo, Wiradjuri and Yuin peoples whose Country extends across parts of the region. The landscape holds deep cultural connections through waterways, mountains, travelling routes and places of significance. Today, visitors are encouraged to explore the region with respect, recognising that these landscapes are living cultural places as well as destinations for recreation.

The region is rich in natural areas that provide opportunities for walking, hiking and exploring. From the granite landscapes and forested ridgelines around places such as Googong, Tidbinbilla and the Tallaganda area, to the high country environments of the nearby Snowy Mountains, the Southern Tablelands offers walking country that varies considerably in character. Trails often pass through quiet rural landscapes, along old transport routes, beside rivers and through areas where native wildlife remains abundant.

Beyond its natural beauty, the Southern Tablelands is also a region shaped by history. Towns such as Bungendore, Braidwood and Queanbeyan reflect the region's pastoral heritage, gold mining history and connection to early European settlement. Former railway corridors, historic stock routes and old mining landscapes continue to provide opportunities to discover the stories behind the places you walk through, making the region a rewarding destination for hikers seeking both nature and a sense of connection to the past.