When it’s time to explore, the Centenary Trail reminds us why Canberra is known as the Bush Capital.
This self-guided loop winds through both urban and bush areas. It’s divided into 7 sections and opened in 2013 to celebrate Canberra’s 100th birthday. The length of the trail varies between 138 km and 145 km, depending on the source and whether they’re counting detours.
At either length, hiking it all is a huge commitment – luckily, quick treks can take you to some of the prettiest parts. If you’re curious about the rest of the Centenary Trail, check out this post about hikes on the southern half.
About the hikes
Our five picks are either part of or intersect with the Centenary Trail in sections 1,3, and 5. This marker denotes the Centenary Trail.
These hikes take between one and two hours, with an occasional optional detour. Not all of them are dog-friendly – check the individual descriptions to see whether you can bring your canine companion.
Trail surfaces vary greatly, so comfy shoes are a must. And of course, don’t forget to carry water.
Working south to north, let’s get started!
Cork Oak Forest and Himalayan Cedars – National Arboretum
This double-loop trail features a cork plantation, a sculpture commemorating one of Australia’s most famous poems, and a towering cedar forest.
From the car park, pass through an area of local eucalypts and grasses on the way to the cork oak plantation.
The world’s cork comes from the bark of these trees. This plantation is the largest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
Begin the loop through the plantation by taking the trail to the left. The trees are two-toned, with the darker bottom showing where the cork bark has been carefully harvested by ACT Forests.
Follow the Centenary Trail marker to the right to complete the lower loop. Leave the cork oak plantation to return to the car park.
Head toward the second loop by following signs to the Himalayan Cedars. The path zigzags up the hill through different types of trees, including fig, chestnut, and magnolia.
At a trail marker for the Centenary Trail, turn left to begin the second loop. This trail is also called the Link Track to the Himalayan Cedars. Ascending the hill leads to lovely views of the National Arboretum and surrounding area.
Bear right to stay on the loop, heading toward the Wide Brown Land sculpture. (If you reach the road, you’ve gone too far.)
The sculpture spells out ‘wide brown land’ in cursive and frames the hills marking Canberra’s western and southern boundaries. The phrase comes from the beloved Australian poem ‘My Country’, written by Dorothea Mackellar in 1908.
You’ll pass the sculpture and a car park, and the trail surface changes to bitumen as you enter the Himalayan Cedar forest.
Turn right onto the dirt path at the barbecue area. Turn left at the fork to follow the Link Track downhill to complete the second loop. The cedar forest is shady and quiet, although four yellow-tailed black cockatoos chatted it up while I was there.
Turn right to follow the trail back toward the cork oak plantation. Return on the zigzag dirt path to the carpark.
Distance: approximately 4.42 km
Time: 1.25 hours
Elevation gain: 98 m
Parking: Cork Oak Carpark, National Arboretum
Kokoda Track – Mount Ainslie
Hiking to the top of Mount Ainslie is on visitor itineraries for a good reason – the views of Canberra are spectacular. This hike has it all: lots to learn about history and nature, brick walls that serve as rest stops along the way, and an ice cream van at the summit. What’s not to love?
Part of the Centenary Trail, the Kokoda Track is easy to follow – just stay on the sealed path all the way up. The Kokoda Track connects Remembrance Park at the National War Memorial with the summit of Mount Ainslie. Plaques along the way commemorate the battles fought in the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea in WWII.
Since Mount Ainslie was never cleared for settlement, the eucalypts here – mostly scribbly gums – are very old. Their hollows serve as nests for cockatoos and rosellas. While honeyeaters like Red Wattlebirds and Noisy Friarbirds reportedly frequent the forest as well, I saw only Crimson Rosellas and a cheeky Willie Wagtail while I was there.
Native sarsaparilla and golden wattle offer spots of colour.
At the top, spoil yourself with the breathtaking views – and maybe an ice cream or coffee.
Return down the Centenary Trail the way you came.
Distance: 4.5 km
Time: about 1.5 hours
Elevation gain: 251 m
Parking: Treloar Crescent car park for National War Memorial. The trailhead is in Remembrance Park, across the street on Treloar Crescent.
Frost Hollow to Forest Walk – Aranda
Choose this hike to see heritage snowgums and loads of kangaroos. It’s right off Caswell Drive, and yet you’ll feel so far away. This double-loop journey takes you through both grassland and forest.
From the car park, go to the end and take the concrete pavement down to the bitumen bike trail – part of the Centenary Trail – and turn right. Pass through the tunnel under Old Caswell Road and feel the temperature drop – a welcome blast of coolness on hot days.
Metal stairs on the right take you up and over a fence to the trailhead. You’ll enter a frost hollow, where cold air settles at night. Only grasses and herbs thrive here.
Pass by a pond on the right – you may hear frogs calling. As you continue to the Aranda Snow Gums Heritage Site, you’ll notice you’re on the Centenary Trail – this is one of the walker-only detours.
On both sides, you’ll see snow gums in the only surviving patch of these trees in Canberra. In the afternoon, a kangaroo mob nibbled on grass under the snow gums.
At the old gate, turn left and follow the trail marker, a black arrow against white, to begin the forest loop. Walk on a grass path up the hill and turn right at the fence line. Follow the trail across a maintenance road and go left up the manmade steps.
Climb a hill through a forest featuring 10 kinds of eucalypts.
At a wooden bench, turn left to follow the loop back down.
Returning to the old gate at the end of the forest loop, you have three options: return the way you came, take an alternate route back, or extend the hike by going an extra kilometre out and back.
The detour follows another part of the Centenary Trail and gives a sense of how the Aranda Bushland connects with the Black Mountain Reserve nearby. From the old gate, head straight through grassland towards Telstra Tower. At the next gate, turn right onto a dirt and gravel road (Finneran’s Road).
Along the way, I saw a red-necked wallaby and heard the calls of a kookaburra and raven.
I followed the road until I saw the concrete tunnel that passes under Gungahlin Drive. The underpass leads to the Black Mountain reserve. I retraced my steps and returned to the gate at the end of the Forest Walk loop.
I followed the alternate return trail, also marked with a black arrow. This completes the frost hollow loop. The trail returns to the stone markers through the grassland. Go back over the metal stairs and turn left on the bike path to return to the carpark.
Distance: approximately 4 km, with detour approximately 6 km
Time: About an hour, with the detour about 1.25 hours
Elevation gain: 108 m
Parking: GDE Memorial Carpark, Caswell Drive, Aranda ACT. The trailhead is straight ahead as you enter the carpark, with parking spaces on the right. Dogs are prohibited in the snowgum area, but they are permitted on lead in the rest of the Aranda Bushland Reserve.
Summit Trail – Mount Majura
If you want a good cardio workout, pick this hike. The out-and-back trail climbs up Mount Majura, the highest peak in Canberra’s northern suburbs. The summit offers views of the city and the Brindabellas.
From the car park, start out on the equestrian trail. By the water tower, turn left onto the Centenary Trail to begin your ascent. This nature reserve serves as a protected corridor that helps wildlife pass through to the Majura Valley and the Molonglo River valley.
Turn right and go up the stone steps to follow the Centenary Trail (also called the Casuarina Trail here).
Turn left onto the Mount Majura Summit track. When you reach the gate, cross the bitumen road and take the rocky path up the hill to the trig marker at the summit. Check out the gorgeous views.
Return down the way you came.
Distance: approximately 6.7 km
Time: about 2 hours
Elevation gain: 283 m
Parking: Mount Majura Reserve and Antill Street Carpark, Monash Drive, Hackett
One Tree Hill – Hall
This hike is for history buffs. One Tree Hill offered a critical high point for surveyors as early as 1829. Surveyors returned in 1908 to determine the site for Canberra, the new capital of Australia. At the base of One Tree Hill stands the heritage village of Hall, one of the area’s earliest settlements.
At the trailhead, start out on the gravel and dirt road. Follow the Centenary Trail marker and bear right onto the dirt path. This out-and-back trail is easy to follow – you’re fenced in by paddocks on either side. The pleasant walk offers lots of shade along the way.
Several cattle crossings intersect the trail. Other signs of animal life abound, from cubes of wombat scat to frog and kookaburra calls. I saw fairy wrens, kangaroos, and a red-necked wallaby along the way and made lots of room for a redback spider crossing my path.
Climb the steps leading to a walk-only trail to the summit.
At the top, you can relax on a bench or learn more about the history of One Tree Hill. Cows may keep you company.
Return down the way you came. If you have time, check out the historic village of Hall.
Distance: approximately 8.43 km
Time: about 2 hours
Elevation gain: 237 m
Parking: The trailhead is at the intersection of Hall and Hoskins Street in Hall. There are a few spaces on the street there, but parking is limited. Other options are street parking on the main street (Victoria Street) and walking a few blocks to the trailhead, or there’s parking by a school at the intersection of Hoskins and Palmer Streets. Dogs are prohibited on this trail.
Those are my five picks for short hikes on the northern Centenary Trail. Did I miss any of your favourites?
