Mount Taylor Nature Reserve (Hiking Trail)

If you are in Canberra and are looking for some beautiful hiking trails, then Mount Taylor Nature Reserve is your answer. With amazing landscapes and trails suitable to all kinds of hikers, this reserve makes a perfect weekend activity destination from Canberra.

Canberra was the first city that I lived after migrating to Australia. It was very different to my home city Bangalore. Canberra was quiet and had so much of nature and wildlife around. I lived in the suburb of Chifley, very close to the Canberra Nature Park. One evening, I decided to hike the Mount Taylor nature reserve to go see the wallabies and kangaroos in the wild.

Are you visiting Canberra for the first time? Read my travel guide to Canberra.

PIN for later reference

This article may contain affiliate links. For full information, please see our affiliate disclaimer here.

About Mount Taylor

With an elevation of 856 metres, Mount Taylor is a hill located between the valleys of Woden and Tuggeranong in Canberra city. Originally named Taylor’s Hill, Mount Taylor was named after James Taylor, son-in-law of Colonel George Johnston.

About Mount Taylor Nature Reserve

Spread across 300 hectares of land, Mount Taylor Nature Reserve is part of the Canberra Nature Park. The reserve is a series of thirty three separate and protected areas in Canberra. And the park consists of bushland hills and lowland native grassland. As I mentioned, the reserve has plenty of trails and hikes that suit all levels of hikers.

Apologies for the quality of the pictures as these were taken using an my phone.

Nature trail in the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve

There are many beautiful tracks that lead up to the peak of Mount Taylor. Most of these trails are the fire trails which means that they are the muddy roads with vehicle access. Only the hikers can access these fire trails and is closed for public vehicles. The trail is very popular among the locals, especially in the evenings for good views of sunsets.

Are you new to hiking or trekking? Read my beginner’s guide to hiking and trekking.

Statistics of Nature hike in the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve

There are many trails and ways that lead up to the peak of Mount Taylor. The access to the peak is from four suburbs which are Chifley, Kambah (Tuggeranong), Pearce and Torrens. The foot track from Tuggeranong is longer and steeper than the fire trail from Chifley. I am talking about the trail from Waldock street car park in Chifley.

• Starting and finishing point: Waldock street car park in Chifley.
• Total distance: Less than 2 kilometres.
• Time taken: 45 minutes return.
• Grade: Easy. But do note that there are a few uneven sections.
• Note that the trail is also used by the dog walkers.

Wildlife to spot

Australia is home to many unique animals and native birds. I wanted to hike up the Mount Taylor Nature trail only because I wanted to see the wallabies or the kangaroos. And this nature reserve is surely one of the places to see the kangaroos / wallabies in the wild.

• Note that the trail has many wallabies and kangaroos and they usually do not disturb the humans. But do keep a distance from them as they are wild and you cannot control or predict wild animals.

Apart from the wallabies and kangaroos, the nature reserve also has many nationally endangered pink-tailed legless lizards. The lizards look a lot like small snakes and is of 14 centimetres in length. They live under rock and their main diet are the ant eggs.

Mount Taylor Nature Reserve also has been a place to of spot birds and there have been records for spotting around 85 species of Australian native birds. If you love seeing birds or if you are a bird photographer, then this walk is surely a perfect spot for you.

How to get to Waldock street car park?

By Car

The car park at Waldock Street in Chifley is the best place to park the car and walk up the nature trail in the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve. There are picnic tables near the car park and there is ample and free car parking spaces.

• Note that there are other car parks, such as one at Tuggeranong and Parkhill street in Pearce, through which this nature trail is accessible.

By Public transport

There are public buses (at around one hour interval) between Chifley and Woden bus interchange. The bus stop is a walking distance from the Waldock street in Chifley. And the up to date information on the buses is found on ACT Transport website.

Closing Notes

The nature trail at Mount Taylor Nature Reserve is an easy and accessible walk. It is very popular among the locals of the suburbs and usually you will find people walking up this trail in the mornings. With a short and easy hike, you can reach the peak that provides stunning views of the city. Do hike up this trail if you are in Canberra and want a short hike.

Did you enjoy reading about the Mount Taylor Nature trail? Then you would also love reading the hikes in Tidbinbilla nature reserve or the hike to the Square rock lookout.

PIN for later reference