Grade: M-X
Distance: 40km return
Road Conditions: Cycle paths and a short section of road at the start and finish.
Route: From Weston Park this ride takes you along cycle paths through the suburbs of Yarralumla, Phillip and Mawson, and then on to Lake Tuggeranong, Tuggeranong Town Centre and Pine Island, and return.
Starting Point:Weston Park, Yarralumla.
Description:
Another swimming spot on the Murrumbidgee upstream from Kambah Pool, with barbecue and toilet facilities. Exit Weston Park southward and follow Novar St until you cross the Adelaide Avenue overpass, where you join the cycle path turning to the right along Denison St and then alongside Yarra Glen.
Following this path towards Woden Town Centre involves crossing over Yarra Glen at its junction with Carruthers St by coming up onto Carruthers Street and down again onto the other side of Yarra Glen.
The cycle path continues towards Woden where it forks at the big roundabout with Melrose Drive. Take the left fork and then continue following the cycle path southward under the roundabout and past the pitch and putt course along the stormwater drain beside Woden Town Centre. Just after the Callam Offices, the building which looks like a space station astride a storm water drain, the cycle path continues south (with the drain on your right) and soon passes under Hindmarsh Drive. Continue south along the path and take a right fork to an underpass under Athllon Drive. Turn left out of the underpass onto the cycle path which follows Athllon Drive, skirting the suburbs of Mawson and Torrens, and on over the ridge south of Woden and into Tuggeranong.
Continue on toward Tuggeranong Town Centre where the cycle path follows Athllon Drive on a long gentle descent, until it reaches the waters of Lake Tuggeranong. Follow the cycle path anticlockwise around the lake, across the dam wall and into the Tuggeranong Town Centre.
Continue through the Town Centre along the lake edge and through the underpass at the southern end of Athllon Drive near the Isabella Drive roundabout. Turn right on the far side of the underpass and shortly after turn left into Pine Island Rd, which leads down to the picnic/swimming area only one kilometre further on. Return the same way or alternatively follow a narrow path along the bank of the River upstream for about 5km to Point Hut Crossing.
More information about the Murrumbidgee River in the ACT