Branching Out: Canberra Nature Walks – Cotter Dam Discovery Trail & Explorer Track

Combining two easy, pram and wheelchair accessible, walks to explore our beautiful Cotter Avenue nature space. All welcome!
We’ll meet at the covered gazebo in the grassy area opposite the Cotter playground. We’ll have a break for morning tea – we recommend staying on and enjoying a picnic lunch and a splash in the river. On the walk we’ll see the Cotter Dam from below and above, lots of lizards, birds and maybe even fish or crayfish in the river.

Register for the walk here: https://events.humanitix.com/branching-out-cotter-dam-discovery-trail-and-explorer-track

The tracks – description, distance and duration
These walks join so it’s easy to combine them. Total distance 3km – we’ll allow 2.5 to 3 hours because we will be stopping to watch the wildlife and look at flowers.

Cotter Dam Discovery Trail – 1km
An easy, wheelchair and pram friendly, walk. We take the ramp up to the dam, stopping to read the signs to learn about the dam and look for the lizards sunbaking on the rocks and paving.

Cotter Explorer Track – 2km return
Travels along the banks of the Cotter River where you can see lizards, fish, birds, insects, flowers – lots of wildlife.

Accessibility
Both tracks are listed as easy, pram suitable, and wheelchair-friendly.
https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/murrumbidgee-river-corridor/cotter-avenue

More information
https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/murrumbidgee-river-corridor/cotter-avenue

Please bring/wear:

• a camera and binoculars if you have them
• water, food, and snacks
• lunch, snacks, swimmers, towel if you’ll stay for lunch and a dip/splash
• enclosed shoes
• sun cream, hat
• to protect against mosquito bites it’s important to: (reference https://www.act.gov.au/environment/animals-and-plants/mosquitos):
  • wear loose, long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing
  • covered footwear and socks
  • Apply mosquito repellent evenly to all areas of exposed skin. The most effective repellents contain picaridin, DEET or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Read the instructions to find out how often you should reapply repellent.

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Your safety and rescheduling

Your safety is our first priority. We monitor weather, location and track condition to assess risk and ensure safety. If the weather, or tracks/river condition are considered to pose safety risks to attendees the walk will be rescheduled. Registered people will be notified as soon as possible prior to the walk date/time and given first opportunity to re-register for the new date.

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Branching Out: Canberra Nature Walks is an initiative aiming to engage the Canberra community, especially people with no, or very little, experience with our nature, and support them to enjoy all the beautiful nature spaces the ACT has on offer.

We know that unfamiliar things can feel intimidating — especially when it comes to woodlands, wildlife, and insects — so we would like to support as many people as possible with making that first step.

We hope to ignite a love of Canberra’s nature throughout the community and raise awareness of the importance of healthy ecosystems and the rich biodiversity across the ACT.