Rendezvous Creek Walk

Rendezvous Creek is in the Namadgi National Park on the southern side of Canberra. We went there on the recommendation of a guide book, now obviously a bit out of date. The attraction is a cave of aboriginal artwork, as well as the striking hills and countryside. The guide book was out of date as the hut that was mentioned has been burnt down (on purpose according to someone from the Kosciuszko Huts Association), and the sign posts leading to the cave have been removed. It is a pleasant and easy walk, and I'm sure the cave could be found with some extra time and a bit of searching.

Park your car at a small carpark about 150 metres to the south of the creek on the western side of the rode. There is a stile to help cross the fence. Then follow the road through the open paddocks that are now home to hundreds of kangaroos. The road is well used and well marked on the map. Follow the road up the valley. At approximately four kilometres the road goes through an old fence with some hefty fence posts, and immediately in front of you should be the remains of the cattlemans hut that was there. There are a few burnt stumps and a block of bricks that was the base of the fireplace. If you look down to the creek on your right you will notice a set of old stockyards.

Salome and kangaroos, Rendezvous Creek

The aboriginal artwork cave is meant to be a 1.8 kilometre walk up to the southern side of the valley, but there were no signs of the previously reported posts, and a sign at the beginning of the walk said that they were closed due to fire damage in the 2003 bushfires. We kept on following the road for another couple of kilometres, until it petered out into a vague track. The track meets a fence at this point and turns towards the creek. We stopped near the creek and had lunch in a wonderfully secluded spot with nothing but the birds to keep us company. Mental note to further explore up this valley later with camping gear.

View up the Rendezvous Creek valley.

We turned back and followed the track to where the hut ruins were, then left the track and walked down to the creek to follow it back to the carpark. The kangaroos (and the frost) keep the lush creek vegetation under control and it is easy walking over soft green grass and sedge.