THE BRINDABELLAS: MT COREE VIA BLUE RANGE HUT

Grade: M-XXX

Distance: 90 km return

Road Conditions: The Brindabella Road is now sealed 10km past Condor Creek. The remaining roads in the area vary from the good to the terrible.

Terrain: Hilly to mountainous, necessitating low gears, especially when carrying a load.

Maps: Natmap 1: 100 000 Topographic Map of the Australian Capital Territory; Canberra 8727; Brindabella 8627. For routes within the ACT see the Canberra Cycleways Map

Starting Point: Weston Park, Yarralumla

Description: This ride winds through a succession of pine forests and dry and wet eucalypt forest on the way to Coree Hut, a survival shelter at the top of the range. It is best undertaken over two days with an overnight stay at the hut.

Hazardous Areas: Bridges in the Cotter Reserve Area; fallen trees, etc., on forestry roads.

Points of Interest:

• Cotter Reserve: camping area, kiosk, hotel.
  
• Uriarra Forestry Settlement: last manifestations of civilisation for many miles. A public telephone is located here.
  
• Blue Range Hut is the sole survivor of a World War II internment camp, the occupants of which worked in the plantation forests in the area. Camping is permitted here. An arboretum of exotic trees grow nearby. There are water tanks at the top of Blue Range.
  
• Coree Hut was erected in the 1950s as a survival shelter for bushwalkers. Camping is permitted. It is possible that the hut will be full, so it is a good idea to carry a tent if an overnight stay is intended.
  
• Mount Coree: spectacular views over the Goodradigbee River valley to the west, the ACT to the east, and the broken ridges to the south stretching down into the Kosciusko National Park.
  
• Blundell's Flat is the site of a farm which was razed when the catchment area was proclaimed. The orchards remain, and provide a splash of colour in spring. Another arboretum is located on the north-western side of the Flat.
  

More information about the northern Brindabella Mountains