Honeysuckle Creek Picnic

29 January 2023 / Words and photos by Mike Lawless and Joanne Blackburn, a few additional words and photos by Rod Nicholas

It was a beautiful Canberra January day - where the temperature was predicted to be in the high 30s.

We met mid-morning at the Morning Dew Cafe in Denman Prospect, not long ago way out in the bush, and now pretty much halfway between the northernmost and southernmost extremes of Canberra. The early-birds enjoyed the coffee and friendly atmosphere at the café. (Our run leader was fashionably early but still managed to be the last to arrive.)

We set out at 11am and travelled as a group along the Cotter Road, past the Dam which is still full, over the Murrumbidgee and Cotter rivers. The picturesque Paddys River Road and Tidbinbilla Road were both in comparatively good condition compared to others we have driven in the past year. These roads climb through the picturesque Australian bush along valleys rising to the high catchment for the Canberra region.

The journey out

The journey out was hampered by a dawdling Yaris, who's driver was either blind to the train of MX-5s behind, or wilfully chose to exercise his to her rights to drive at whatever speed they thought was appropriate, regardless of other road users. A few choice words were mumbled in my car, and (I suspect) all the others, as drove the twisty road at a snail's pace. But as the navigator said, it was a nice day, the roof was down, and we were still having fun. Sure.

After passing though the old village of Tharwa, 11 km on the Naas Road we turned into Apollo Road for the climb to Honeysuckle Creek. The sign for the intersection is long gone, souvenired by some thoughtless clown. Tracking the 11 km from Tharwa is an important safety hint. The unwary who slip past the turnoff always end up at the Naas River and the gravel road to Adaminaby.

Someone pinched the sign

Apollo Road is a climb to about twice the elevation of Canberra at about 1000 meters. Mike had warned us there were some unsavoury spots on the road (check out the phots), but there weren't that many and easy enough to deal with - they did little to spoil the drive.

The area had a few campers. The sheltered BBQ site provided shade and tables for our picnics.

Most took a brisk (?) walk around the foundations of the old tracking station, which played a role in various space missions. The Tracking Station was officially opened in March 1967 and closed in December 1981 (the antenna was dismantled and moved to nearby Tidbinbilla). After it was closed, the site was frequently attacked by vandals who smashed windows, panels, and generally made a mess – why anyone would trek so far out of Canberra to smash stuff up is a complete mystery. Unattended, what was left of the buildings was regarded as a hazard and demolished. Almost lost to history, all that’s left now are concrete pads where once stood the antenna, operation building and other structures.

We made our way home. The car temperature showed 28 degrees when we left Honeysuckle Creek and showed 37 degrees as we approached Tharwa.

If you haven’t been there, it is a good drive, and a trip into the past. There are some great walking trails around too (Baroomba Rocks and Legoland are within a few hours walk).

Honeysuckle Creek is a great location for a picnic on a hot day.

You can check out Rod’s drive home from the Honeysuckle Creek Barbie on Relive! at https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8BnB8mP6.