Mount Bimberi Walk (50km)

Bimberi Peak or Mount Bimberi with an elevation of 1,913 metres (6,276 ft) located within the Brindabella Ranges is the highest mountain in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It is located on the border between New South Wales (NSW) and the ACT, the NSW portion in Kosciuszko National Park and the ACT portion in Namadgi National Park. It is accessible by bush walking trails and requires no specialised climbing skills, although there is no marked trail to the very summit.

Bimberi Peak can be reached along the Australian Alps Walking Track, from the east through the ACT, or from the west through NSW, approximately 40 kilometres north northwest of Adaminaby that ascends the southern ridge.

The route to Mount Bimberi starts by following a trail west from the Orroral Tracking Station to Cotter Hut Road. Turning right (north) you then follow the road for around 5.5km to the junction of the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT). The trail junction is not overly obvious so keen an eye out for Paririe Dog Creek, its not far after that. Following the AAWT, you will gradually ascend through Cotter Gap to the Pond Creek Campsite. This campsite is around 9.2km from the trailhead and makes a great spot to pause for a break before following Pond Creek as it gradually descends to Pond Creek Flats.

From Pond Creek Flats, it's a 2-kilometer walk to Cotter Flat, a great spot to pitch camp for the night. Open grasslands on the Cotter River make it an excellent base. Bimberi Peak hikers can drop their packs here and tackle the summit with a light daypack for a two or three-day trip.

After leaving the Cotter River, head south along the Cotter Hut Road past Cotter Hut. The trail you are following now takes the name of Yaouk Trail. Follow this trail south for approximately 1.4km to the junction of Murray Gap Trail. You'll now start the first of the descent ascents as the track clicks from an elevation of 1070m to 1480m over a distance of around 3km. Enjoy the climb. After the track levels out, its only around 2km to the swampy Murray Gap (I don't recommend camping here).

From Murray's Gap the ascent is accessed by breaking away from the trail and hiking up the southern ridge of the summit, keeping Little Bimberi to your right (East). The climb to the summit can take you 2-3 hours to cover 3 kilometres. Yes, it's slow going. Following the ridge up is the easiest way to summit, although taking a compass bearing is useful.

Bimberi Peak boasts a prominent surveyor's mark and delivers a staggering 360-degree panorama. Witness both NSW and the ACT unfold beneath you, with shimmering dams scattered across the vast landscape. This remote peak reigns supreme as the Canberra region's most breathtaking summit view.

The return leg of your Bimberi Peak adventure follows the same route back to the Orroral Tracking Station, but that doesn't mean it's a mere retrace. Whether you chose a single overnight push or a multi-day trek, the descent offers a fresh perspective on the stunning landscapes you encountered on the way up.