Ulandra Nature Reserve

Location, access and how to get there

Ulandra Nature Reserve is located 25 kilometers southwest of Cootamundra, near the village of Bethungra. It is around 190 kilometers from Canberra GPO (2 hours 20 minutes drive). Access to the Reserve is via Mahomets Road from Bethungra. The alternative road that enters the Reserve from the southwest (off Bethungra Road) is a private road with a locked gate. Similarly, fire trails entering the Reserve at various points are through private property and not accessible to the public.

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Bushwalking opportunities

Walking is allowed in the Reserve "for the appreciation and enjoyment of its wildlife and natural environments". There are no walking tracks, but there are around 30 kilometers of management trails within the Reserve boundaries. A three kilometer private road links the Reserve's southwestern boundary to the summit of Mount Ulandra. A walk from Mahomets Road entry to Mount Ulandra along management trails and the summit road is about 20 kilometers return.

Camping and other facilities

The now rather dated (1994) Plan of Management for the Reserve does not indicate whether camping is allowed, although it would generally be expected that it is not. Check first with the National Parks and Wildlife Service Tumut office (02 6947 7025). Fires are definitely not allowed. There are no public use facilities within the Reserve.

Features

Size
3,934 hectares.
Natural features

The Reserve is dominated by Mount Ulandra (761 meters), which is 450 meters above the surrounding country. A television transmission tower is on the summit of the mountain. The terrain within the Reserve is "a series of ridges, hills and valleys running roughly north-south". A number of creeks flow out of the Reserve. The Reserve is open forest, and was established to protect stands of Cootamundra wattle.

Heritage features

A number of Aboriginal heritage sites have been identified in the Reserve. Remains of past grazing, agriculture and forestry use of the Reserve may also be seen.

References

Ulandra Nature Reserve Plan of Management (1994) - link

National Parks and Wildlife Service - Ulandra Nature Reserve website - link
Wikipedia - link

Burrinjuck Nature Reserve

Location, access and how to get there

The Burrinjuck Nature Reserve is located on the northern end of Lake Burrinjuck. It can only be accessed by car from Burrinjuck Road, which enters the Reserve about 104 kilometers (1 hour 15 minutes drive) from Canberra GPO. Around 2.2 kilometers into the Reserve, two management trails intersect with Burrinjuck Road, the Childowla Trail to the west and the Link Trail to the east, but private vehicles are not permitted on management trails within the Reserve. Burrinjuck Waters State Park, about 6.2 kilometers into the Reserve along Burrinjuck Road, has a range of visitor facilities and a single walking trail north into the Reserve.

http://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

Bushwalking opportunities

Walking is permitted in the Reserve and there are two specific walking tracks: a section of the Hume and Hovell Walking Track which passes through the Reserve east of Burrinjuck Road and then into the Burrinjuck Waters State Park, and a very steep hiking trail from the State Park to Mount Barren Jack. There is also a network of about 30 kilometers of management trails in the Reserve west of Burrinjuck Road that could be walked. 

Camping and other facilities

Camping and fires are not permitted in the Reserve. There are, however, camping and other facilities in the adjacent Burrinjuck Waters State Park.

Features

Size
5,207 hectares.
Natural features

The highest peak is Mount Barren Jack at 966 meters, and there are two other significant peaks in the Reserve: Mount Little Jack (883 meters) and Mount Europe (843 meters). Barren Jack Creek flows through much of the Reserve before flowing into Lake Burrinjuck. Other creeks flow out of the Reserve to the north, east and west. There are six forest ecosystems within the Reserve and sixteen Threatened species of fauna.

Heritage features

There are seven recorded Aboriginal heritage sites in the Reserve, and more are believed to exist. There are also fourteen identified historical sites.

References

Burrinjuck Nature Reserve Plan of Management (2010) - link

National Parks and Wildlife Service - Burrinjuck Nature Reserve website - link

Wikipedia - link
Burrinjuck Waters State Park website - link