It had been a while since I’d last had the chance to get out bush on the bike, so when the opportunity came up to explore some new tracks in the Brindabella Range, I wasn’t going to pass it up. The goal for the day was simple: make it to McIntyre's Hut. I’d come close on a previous ride but turned back before the final descent—this time, riding solo, there were no excuses.
Rolling out from the servo at Weston, I made my way towards Wee Jasper via Sawyers Gully Road, before linking into Doctors Flat Road and entering the ranges along Webbs Ridge Trail—a section I hadn’t ridden before. From there, I turned onto Folly Trail, quietly hoping the name wasn’t a sign of things to come, and that it would connect through to McIntyre’s Trail.
Fortunately, it did.
Reaching Waterfall Trail brought me back to familiar ground—the exact spot where I’d turned around on my last attempt. This time, I committed. The descent was every bit as steep as I remembered, possibly one of the steepest I’ve tackled, demanding a slow and deliberate approach. Bit by bit, I worked my way down until the trail opened out at the campground and the hut itself. Goal achieved. I took a moment to soak it in, wander around the hut, and enjoy the quiet before turning my attention to the climb back out.
Heading back up Waterfall Trail was no easy task. The climb was technical and steep, and not helped by a rookie mistake—I thought I was in first gear when I was actually in second. A few stalls on the tougher sections made that lesson stick, but once corrected, the rest of the climb became far more manageable.
Back at Webbs Ridge Trail, I turned left and soon after right onto Dingi Fire Trail, eventually linking up with Two Sticks Road. Along the way, I stopped to help a couple of riders looking for directions to Flea Creek before continuing towards Mount Coree. The climb to the summit was rewarded with complete solitude and sweeping views—no one else around, just the kind of quiet that makes these rides worth it. I spent a bit of time taking it all in before beginning the descent.
With the day winding down, I followed Two Sticks Road to Curries Road, dropping back towards Brindabella Road. A short stretch of dirt soon gave way to bitumen, signalling the end of the off-road section and the run back to Weston, and eventually home.
All in all, it was a cracking day out—blue skies, warm weather, and a solid mix of challenge and reward. A couple of close calls kept things interesting, but the bike stayed upright, and I finally ticked McIntyre’s Hut off the list.

​Here is the map of the route I rode.

And here is my Video of the day's adventure.

While out exploring Tallaganda with a few mates, I managed to snap my clutch cable halfway through the ride. From that point on, it was a matter of getting home without stalling — easier said than done. The trip back included several creek crossings, followed by the added challenge of traffic once I hit the asphalt.

Somehow, I made it all the way home and only managed to annoy a couple of car drivers along the way. A solid reminder that adventure rides don’t always go to plan.

The weather was too good to waste in Canberra, so we made a snap decision—head to the coast for the day.

Rather than follow the usual path to Batemans Bay, we aimed a little further south. Our destination: Meringo, with a stop in Moruya along the way. We left Canberra and followed the familiar route to Braidwood, but instead of turning down the Kings Highway, we continued straight on towards Araluen—a road I hadn’t driven in years.
The descent into the Araluen Valley was as scenic as I remembered—twisting bends through open country, the kind that makes you slow down and take in the view. We made a quick stop in the valley so I could grab a photo of the old church there—just a reference shot for when I come back with proper gear.

From Araluen, the road follows the Deua River and becomes a narrow, winding dirt track in places—barely wide enough for one car in some stretches. It’s a quiet route, hugged tightly between the hills and the river, and the scenery is well worth the slower pace.
Partway along, we turned off onto Larrys Mountain Road—new to me, and a nice change. Eventually, we hit sealed roads again and made it into Moruya. As we crossed the bridge, we noticed a market happening on the riverbank, so we pulled in for a break. It was a good chance to stretch our legs, wander through the stalls, and grab some lunch. While we were there, a seaplane landed on the river—first time the kids had seen one up close, which added a bit of novelty to the stop.
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After lunch, we continued south to Mullimburra Point. I had hoped to check out Cathedral Rock, but access wasn’t really suitable for the kids, so we parked on the other side and walked down to Mullimburra Point Beach instead. It turned out to be a sheltered spot, good for swimming and exploring, and shared with only a couple of other families.
Once the others were settled, I ducked back over the headland to scout Cathedral Beach properly. I wanted to get a feel for the location and light—worth returning another time with camera gear in hand. I took a few quick shots and returned to the beach to rejoin the family.
After some time exploring the rocks with Joel, we packed up and headed for home, this time sticking to the Kings Highway. It was a straightforward return, rounding out a 370 km loop.
A good mix of familiar and new roads, with a quiet beach at the end—definitely a spot worth revisiting.

I was recently away on a two-week work trip. This trip started with me flying to Brisbane with a work compatriot, catching a taxi to Yamanto to meet up with two others and driving to Tenterfield for the first 5 days of working at Jennings.

​An awesome ride through the Budawangs National Park, with Marea England, Ian Richman and Matt Tough.

​This is the ride map.