2024 08 08 Mt Tennent, Namadgi
This was a one day walk from Namadgi Park HQ near Tharwa up a part newish walking track to the top of Mt Tennent and back. I had done it one year ago on 2023 08 03
The featured image is a view of Deadmans Hill and Booroomba Rocks west of Mt Tennent
My pictures of this trip are available on Google Photos.
Points of Interest
This is a tough walk to the top, with an altitude of 1394m. The car park at the Namadgi National Park HQ is at an altitude of around 645m making the trip climb of around 750m to the top.
On 3rd Aug 2023 I took a trip to Mt Tennent return using the new and updated walking track to Mt Tennent. I returned slightly differently to the outward journey by returning down the management dirt road that was used by the earlier walking route. I redid this walk including the return journey on 8th Aug 2024.
The new track section provides a more exciting route to the top with several nice rock platforms providing views to the east and some of the north. It has many rock step sections and is quite narrow in places. In a couple of areas the foot track and road are close by. In fact if you return down the road you might like to walk through a few metres of bush to rejoin the new track and thus save some distance off the overall journey.
I left my car at the front gate at the entrance to the Park HQ at 8.20AM and headed through the reserve behind the centre to cross the main road and start the climb to Mt Tennent.
The first section to Cypress Pine Lookout is fairly simple and relatively easy. Just before the lookout there is an area of rocky open slabs with a creek running through it also providing some nice views. Cypress Pine Lookout is then reached with a rustic seat that many use.
After this spot the trail passes over two metal bridges then becomes steeper and more winding with several rocky step sections. There are several steep and slow sections, and a couple of large open slabs have to be walked across so its best to not have slippery footwear.
I then reached a junction where the new waking track starts and it took me along the edge of the eastern escarpment. In several sections there are some rock steps cut in the rocks as well as providing some rock platforms that gave nice views to the north and east, and of Castle Hill to the north, Mt Rob Roy to the north east and Gigerline Reserve to the east.
The old firetrail to the top can also be seen to the right as I continued climbing.
I did continue and eventually reached the top coming up from the south side of the peak around 12.10 PM. It was blowing quite briskly from the west so I walked down past the phone tower and took the fire trails down a few hundred meters until I was in a calm area and could find a rock to have lunch on.
From Mt Tennent there were good views of peaks out to the west. Also to the south west there was great views of Deadman’s Hill and Booroomba Rocks area.
After lunch I continued until I could turn right to pick up the old trail that would take me down to rejoin the Mt Tennent Walking Track in 1.3Km.
I then took this old link trail but I also reached the junction where the AAWT branches off the trail. Its only 100m west of the Mt Tennent new track turnoff.
I went back down the original part of the Mt Tennent track meeting only two people. The first was a lady runner who seemed mostly unequipped. The second was a guy closer to the bottom, also vaguely equipped.
I reached the HQ and car about 3.30PM, thus having done about 12.0Km in around 7hrs including all breaks. This was a bit slower than last year although my route seems to be about 2Km shorter. I don’t quite understand this as I did not make any deviations. I did adjust the distance higher as I didn’t turn on my new GPS until a fair way up towards Cypress Pine Lookout. Its possible the new GPS I was using, a Garmin Map 66i makes less points which might truncate pieces of the trail making it overall seem shorter.
A lot of the track is slow as you have to lift your feet a lot to higher stone steps which is also slower coming down as you should be careful, as you don’t want to slip on any of the large stone steps. The old firetrail and link across to the new track are a lot faster as you avoid those large stone steps.
Link to folder with gpx file, GDB file and two versions of jpg Maps of the walk on Google Drive – Google Drive files
Link to Photo Album
A few thoughts on the walk
A lot of the Mt Tennant track is easy open walking. However above Cypress Pine its quite rocky, winding in place with many rocks protruding from the ground. I noticed I had many small trips caused by loose rocks on my boots. Its really not the sort of walk that you can race or run. If want to do that take the alternative route from Apollo Road which is graded dirt road.
My legs were tired after this walk. I also had experienced pain in my knees coming down the section above Cypress Pines Lookout. Luckily its not as bad as the Stockyard Spur Trail. Take it easy and be careful. You need to carry some water.
Do you need a gps? Well not really, the track is well marked although if you return from the top then you need to be OK with turning right to take the old track back to the top of the main track back to Tharwa. If you blindly follow the fire trail down trending west then south, then be aware that you are either heading down to Apollo road or taking the AAWT towards Honeysuckle Camp Ground. Of course there is a mobile phone tower on top of Tennent so you should have coverage. If you do use my gps files also be aware that my file for 2024 has the beginning of the walk gpx data missing from the gpx file which shouldn’t be an issue as its the easiest section to follow.
Part of the track could be classified as dangerous if your not careful. There are several slabs to negotiate which shouldn’t be an issue if you footware is appropriate and you are not running flat out. Its also rocky in lots of places with some loose rocks under foot so be careful.
Its also quite often quite windy on top of Mt Tennent making it not always a nice place to have a rest break. If you come back down for several hundred meters its usually calmer. Happy walking!.
Greg Hutchison, 19 Aug 2024
