This track runs for 27 kilometres all up, from Point Hut Crossing to Casuarina Sands, but our favourite section passes by the vivid cliffs of Red Rock Gorge Lookout. The churning rapids of the Murrumbidgee River below are your added pay-off for the 4.4-kilometre return journey, starting – or ending – near legendary local swimming hole Kambah Pools, where you can cool down and chill out on the ‘beach’.

One Tree Hill Lookout (90 minutes’ return walk) presents Brindabella mountain range vistas, reminiscent of what Canberra’s earliest inhabitants would have experienced, and the incline is mostly gentle on the way up.

Where a handful of intentionally meandering paths spread out over the slopes and soon-to-be forests. The 1.1-kilometre Himalayan Cedars Walk is a relaxing stroll of note – you’ll feel like you’re in a land far, far away.

Power through the five-kilometre walk in an hour, or pause at countless charms along the way, such as the many and various attractions, historical cottages, or just tick off the Australians of the Year Walk. Take a side-trip at Reconciliation Place along pathways leading to the National Gallery of Australia et al. Linger longer here for a caffeine replenishment.

Five timber bird hides help you get intimate with Kellys Swamp’s 200-plus bird species. Wander along the boardwalk, with popping frogs as your soundtrack, on the look-out for eastern long-necked tortoises, while Black Angus cows graze incongruently nearby.

The steepish path winds up through a shrubby woodland of scribbly gums, charmed by intense birdsong and ever-present rosellas, before opening up to a 270-degree view over the Parliamentary Triangle. You’ll probably stumble across hares, roos, lizards and maybe even a local politician, too. Don’t forget to stop and look around on the way for candid views, plaques commemorating the Kokoda Track and a (sidetrack) memorial to Aboriginal soldiers.

Surrounded by other reserves, the bush here exudes a rainforest ambience, making it sublime for wildflower and orchid spotting. The Forest Track (one-hour loop) is blanketed in moss, ferns and lichens, with plenty of mammals and reptiles coming to the party, if you’re stealthy enough.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens, directly to the east of Black Mountain, has plenty of passageways to explore throughout the 35-hectare ‘living collection’ (containing a third of Australia’s plant species).

The pick of the 20 or so marked, verdant valley walks is the moderate-to-hard trek (three to four hours) up to the glorious, house-sized boulders of Gibraltar Peak. Expect to see glades interrupted by spiky grass trees, barely babbling creeks, plus impressively expansive views, once you reach the somewhat phallic boulders at the summit. Tidbinbilla is well known for excellent opportunities to view wildlife in situ, such as mobs of curious kangaroos, emus and the endangered southern brush-tailed rock wallaby, throughout the reserve’s 14 protected habitats.

Taking up almost half the ACT’s land area, it offers a selection of short and long hikes (up to seven-hour treks) through alpine meadows and snow gum forest. Yankee Hat Rock Shelter (six kilometres return, two-and-a-half hours) beelines towards an indigenous rock art site (protected by the Ngunnawal people) that was the first-ever identified in the ACT. Sheltered granite hides small red (ochre) and white (clay) figures – dingoes, turtles and kangaroos – and abstract, human-like figures.