Granite Tors

Hard

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Parks ACT describes Granite Tors as a very steep, grade 4, 8 km return, 3-hour walk from the former Orroral Tracking Station through tall forest and granite boulders to the site of a former geodetic observatory.

☰ Trail details

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Distance

8.8 km

Est. time

3 hr 32 min

Elevation gain

416 m

Route type

Out & back

Steepest stretch: +58m over ~300m (around the 0.5km mark)

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In an emergency

Call 000 for police, fire or ambulance — Australia's emergency number works even with a weak signal, and without a SIM if any carrier has coverage.

You're in Namadgi National Park, Orroral Valley, Namadgi NP, ACT. Mobile reception in this area is not guaranteed — this is exactly why the offline map and GPS position on this page work without signal.

Tell someone your plan and expected return time before you set off. A PLB is the most reliable backup where there's no reception at all.

Tracks & plans

+ Add to tracks / plans

Species to look for on this trail

Ancient trees and rare flora confirmed in this park. Spot one? Add it as a sighting pin below.

BrackenDocumented on this trail

Pteridium esculentum

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species▾

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species

Bracken (Pteridium) is a genus of large, cosmopolitan, coarse ferns in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. Brackens are noted for their large, highly divided fronds and are found on all continents except Antarctica; their typical habitat is moorland. The word bracken is of Old Norse origin, related to Swedish bräkencode: swe promoted to code: sv and Danish bregne, both meaning fern. In the past, the genus was commonly treated as having only one species, Pteridium aquilinum, but the current trend is to subdivide it into about ten species. Like other ferns, brackens reproduce by spores rather than seeds or fruit. The immature fronds, known as fiddleheads, are sometimes eaten, although some contain carcinogenic compounds.

How to spot it

Bracken is one of the oldest ferns, with fossil records from the Eocene period 55 million years old having been found. The plant sends up large, triangular fronds from a wide-creeping underground rootstock, and may form dense thickets. This rootstock may travel a metre or more underground between fronds. The fronds may grow up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long or longer with support, but typically are in the range of 0.6–2 m (2–6+1⁄2 ft) high.

Family Dennstaedtiaceae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Bracken

Summer GrasshoodDocumented on this trail

Pterostylis decurva

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species▾

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species

Pterostylis decurva, commonly known as the summer greenhood, is a species of orchid endemic to south-eastern Australia. As with similar greenhoods, the flowering plants differ from those which are not flowering. The non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves but the flowering plants have a single flower with leaves on the flowering spike. This greenhood usually flowers in summer and has a white flower with green stripes and a brownish tinge. It is similar to P. aestiva but has paler green flowers.

How to spot it

Pterostylis decurva is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and when not flowering, a rosette of two to five leaves often held above the ground on a stalk up to 100 mm long. Each leaf is oblong to egg-shaped, 10–30 mm long and 10–20 mm wide. Flowering plants have a single flower 18–25 mm long and 7–9 mm wide borne on a spike 150–300 mm high with four or five stem leaves. The flowers are white with green stripes and a brown tinge in the galea. The dorsal sepal and p

Family Orchidaceae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Pterostylis decurva

Photo via NSW South Coast & ACT plants (CC-BY 4.0 (Int)), collected by Don & Betty Wood

Mother Shield-FernDocumented on this trail

Polystichum proliferum

Endangered — ACT: Restricted Trade Species, SA: Endangered▾

Endangered — ACT: Restricted Trade Species, SA: Endangered

Polystichum proliferum, commonly known as mother shield fern is an Australian endemic fern. The genus name Polystichum is derived from Greek poly - many, and stichos - rows referring to the many rows of sori. The species name is derived from Latin, Proli – offspring and fer - bearing referring to the proliferous buds, a prominent feature of the species.

How to spot it

Polystichum proliferum is a terrestrial fern that can grow to 130 cm in height. The rhizome and frond bases are covered in persistent scales which are glossy brown with pale edges. Fronds can reach up to 100 cm in length and 30 cm wide, are dark green when mature but lighter and paler when young. Sori (spore clusters) occur in rows on either side of the midrib and are covered with by a large umbrella-like indusium (protective covering) hence the common name “mother shield fern”.

Family Dryopteridaceae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Polystichum proliferum

Late Leopard OrchidDocumented on this trail

Diuris semilunulata

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species▾

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species

Diuris semilunulata, commonly known as late leopard orchid, is a species of orchid that is native to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It has two grass-like leaves and up to five orange-coloured flowers with brown and purple blotches.

How to spot it

Diuris semilunulata is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves, each 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Between three and five orange-coloured flowers with large brown and purple blotches, 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–350 mm (8–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and egg-shaped. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base

Family Orchidaceae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Diuris semilunulata

Photo via iNaturalist Australia (CC-BY-NC 4.0 (Int)), collected by Ned Johnston

Graceful Sun-OrchidDocumented on this trail

Thelymitra simulata

Endangered — ACT: Restricted Trade Species, VIC: Endangered▾

Endangered — ACT: Restricted Trade Species, VIC: Endangered

Thelymitra simulata, commonly called collared sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a single fleshy, channelled leaf and up to six blue flowers with small darker spots. It grows in higher altitudes places part and the flowers have a purple lobe with a yellow tip on top of the anther.

How to spot it

Thelymitra simulata is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single fleshy, channelled, linear to lance-shaped leaf 100–150 mm (4–6 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide with a reddish base. Up to six blue flowers with darker spots, 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are arranged on a flowering stem 200–560 mm (8–20 in) tall. The sepals and petals are 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide. The column is bluish white, 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The lobe on the t

Family Orchidaceae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Thelymitra simulata

Photo via iNaturalist Australia (CC-BY-NC 4.0 (Int)), collected by Ciaran Ernst-Russell

Bog Saw-SedgeDocumented on this trail

Gahnia subaequiglumis

Endangered — ACT: Restricted Trade Species, VIC: Endangered▾

Endangered — ACT: Restricted Trade Species, VIC: Endangered

Gahnia subaequiglumis is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, that is native to eastern parts of Australia from south eastern Queensland to Victoria.

How to spot it

Real occurrence confirmed near Namadgi National Park (Atlas of Living Australia, 2022) — no separate physical description was available on Wikipedia for this species, see the source link for more.

Family Cyperaceae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Gahnia subaequiglumis

Photo via NatureMapr (CC-BY 3.0 (Au)), collected by NedJohnston

Yellow Box

Eucalyptus melliodora

Critically endangered grassy woodland species▾

Critically endangered grassy woodland species

A tall tablelands eucalypt that pairs with Blakely's Red Gum to form the White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland, an ecological community now critically endangered. A large stand survives on Mount Majura's lower slopes, and Namadgi's Woodland Walk passes through remnant Yellow Box woodland.

How to spot it

Grows to around 30m with a lignotuber and highly variable bark — from smooth with a short fibrous 'stocking' at the base to rough and fissured over most of the trunk, grey to yellow or red-brown. Lance-to-egg-shaped adult leaves and white flowers clustered in groups of seven.

Family Myrtaceae · Source: Wikipedia: Eucalyptus melliodora; ACT Parks and Conservation Service

Photo: Bidgee (CC BY 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Snow Gum

Eucalyptus pauciflora

Sub-alpine woodland specialist▾

Sub-alpine woodland specialist

The classic eucalypt of Namadgi's high country, forming gnarled cold-climate woodlands above roughly 700m across the Brindabella and Bimberi ranges. A rarer, lower-altitude Snow Gum Grassy Woodland also survives on Mount Majura's eastern slopes.

How to spot it

Smooth white, grey or yellow bark shed in colourful ribbons; glossy green lance-shaped leaves (60-200mm); white flowers in clusters of 7-15 from October to February. Often multi-trunked and wind-sculpted at higher elevations.

Family Myrtaceae · Source: Wikipedia: Eucalyptus pauciflora; ACT Parks and Conservation Service

Photo: Toby Hudson (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Wildlife you might see on this trail

Animals confirmed in this park. Spot one? Add it as a sighting pin below.

Black Rock Skink

Egernia saxatilis

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species▾

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species

The black rock skink is a species of large skink native to Eastern and Southern Australia from central New South Wales to Grampians National Park in Victoria. A large, dark colored skink, up to 135 mm from snout to base of the tail, the black rock skink is the first reptile discovered to have a "nuclear family" structure where the parents form a pair and care for their offspring for more than one year. The black rock skink is a viviparous skink meaning females give birth to live offspring instead of laying eggs. They defend their home range and families against conspecifics for up to several years.

How to spot it

Real occurrence confirmed near Namadgi National Park (Atlas of Living Australia, 2018) — no separate physical description was available on Wikipedia for this species, see the source link for more.

Family Scincidae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Egernia saxatilis

Photo via iNaturalist Australia (CC-BY 4.0 (Int)), collected by Keith Martin-Smith

Southern Grass Skink

Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species▾

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species

Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii, also known commonly as Entrecasteaux's skink, the southern grass skink, the tussock cool-skink, and the tussock skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

How to spot it

P. entrecasteauxii grows up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) in length (not including the tail). Male skinks change colouration during the breeding season.

Family Scincidae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii

Photo via NatureMapr (CC-BY 3.0 (Au)), collected by KShort

Pale-Flecked Garden Sunskink

Lampropholis guichenoti

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species▾

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species

The common garden skink is a small species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Additional common names for L. guichenoti include grass skink, Guichenot's grass skink, pale-flecked garden sunskink, and penny lizard.

How to spot it

L. guichenoti can grow to a maximum total length (including tail) of 14 cm (5.5 in), but the average total length is 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in). The average common garden skink lives for 2–3 years. It usually has a browny black colour and sometimes may appear a dark shade of red when bathing in the sun. The lighter its colour, the more energetic it is. It has small sharp teeth which easily slice through smaller prey.

Family Scincidae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Lampropholis guichenoti

Photo via iNaturalist Australia (CC-BY 4.0 (Int)), collected by Pete Woodall

Pilotbird

Pycnoptilus floccosus

Vulnerable — AUS: Vulnerable, ACT: Vulnerable, VIC: Vulnerable▾

Vulnerable — AUS: Vulnerable, ACT: Vulnerable, VIC: Vulnerable

The pilotbird is a species of passerine bird in the family Acanthizidae. It is monotypic within the genus Pycnoptilus. The species is endemic to south-eastern Australia.

How to spot it

The pilotbird is a large, plump species of acanthizid, measuring around 18 centimetres (7.1 in) in length and weighing 27 grams (0.95 oz). The plumage of the underparts is reddish-brown with scalloping on the chest and the centre of the belly speckled dull white.

Family Acanthizidae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Pycnoptilus floccosus

Photo via NatureMapr (CC-BY 3.0 (Au)), collected by Liam.m

Dark-Flecked Garden Sunskink

Lampropholis delicata

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species▾

Restricted Trade Species — ACT: Restricted Trade Species

Lampropholis delicata, the delicate skink, dark-flecked garden sun skink, garden skink, delicate garden skink, rainbow skink or plague skink, or the metallic skink is native to Australia and invasive in New Zealand and Hawaii where it is commonly found in gardens. The species is known for their color dimorphism between males and females; striped morphs and non-striped morphs exist in this species, however the stripe is less pronounced in males. This species' diet consists of a wide range of prey, such as spiders, bees, larvae, and termites. Mating occurs in the late summer and generally one clutch of 2 to 4 eggs are laid per year by each female.

How to spot it

Real occurrence confirmed near Namadgi National Park (Atlas of Living Australia, 1969) — no separate physical description was available on Wikipedia for this species, see the source link for more.

Family Scincidae · Source: Atlas of Living Australia + Wikipedia: Lampropholis delicata

Greater glider

Petauroides volans

EPBC-listed Endangered (uplisted 2022)▾

EPBC-listed Endangered (uplisted 2022)

Australia's largest gliding marsupial, the (southern) greater glider was uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered under the EPBC Act in July 2022 after severe habitat loss from logging and the 2019-20 bushfires. It is a nocturnal, solitary specialist that feeds almost exclusively on eucalypt leaves and buds.

How to spot it

Look up into tall, hollow-bearing eucalypts at night with a spotlight - the eyeshine glows a bright orange-red. Body 35-46cm plus a long, non-prehensile bushy tail up to 60cm; fur ranges from a dark almost-black morph to pale mottled grey, always with a lighter belly. Unlike sugar or yellow-bellied gliders it is silent and solitary, gliding in long slow swoops between tall trees rather than bounding through the canopy.

Family Pseudocheiridae · Source: Wikipedia (Southern greater glider; Greater glider)

Photo: Samrhorton (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Yellow-bellied glider

Petaurus australis

IUCN Vulnerable▾

IUCN Vulnerable

A large, highly vocal gliding possum of eastern Australian eucalypt forests, able to glide up to 150 metres between trees. It lives in small family groups and is best known for its far-carrying, gurgling shriek that can be heard up to 500m away at night.

How to spot it

Grey-brown above with an off-white to orange-yellow belly, large pointed ears, body about 30cm plus a bushy tail up to 48cm. Listen at dusk for its distinctive rolling shriek/gurgle call - often the first sign it's around before you spot it gliding between widely spaced tall eucalypts. Look for characteristic V-shaped incision marks on trunks where it has sap-fed.

Family Petauridae · Source: Wikipedia; IUCN Red List

Photo: Greg Schechter (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Common wombat

Vombatus ursinus

IUCN Least Concern - common but iconic▾

IUCN Least Concern - common but iconic

A sturdy, ground-dwelling burrowing marsupial found across south-eastern Australia including Tasmania, with an isolated northernmost population in the granite country of the Queensland-NSW border. It digs extensive tunnel systems 2-20 metres long and is mostly active at dusk and night.

How to spot it

Low, heavy-set body up to 1.2m and 35kg on the mainland (smaller in Tasmania), small eyes and ears, large bare nose, and a rolling waddling gait. Look for large rectangular burrow entrances and cubed scat left as territory markers on rocks and logs - a reliable sign even when the animal itself is denned up during the day.

Family Vombatidae · Source: Wikipedia; IUCN Red List

Photo: JJ Harrison (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Macropus giganteus

IUCN Least Concern - Australia's most-seen kangaroo▾

IUCN Least Concern - Australia's most-seen kangaroo

Australia's most commonly encountered kangaroo, with an estimated population above 11 million, ranging across the eastern third of the continent in open grassland, woodland and forest.

How to spot it

Look for a soft grey to brownish-grey coat with a lighter belly, standing over a metre tall in males with long, thick tails. Mainly grazing at dawn, dusk and night in small mobs on grassy verges, clearings and paddocks adjoining bushland; less wary of people than other roo species.

Family Macropodidae · Source: Wikipedia

Photo: JJ Harrison (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Gang-gang Cockatoo

Callocephalon fimbriatum

EPBC-listed Endangered (uplisted from Vulnerable in 2022 after the Black Summer bushfires); IUCN Vulnerable▾

EPBC-listed Endangered (uplisted from Vulnerable in 2022 after the Black Summer bushfires); IUCN Vulnerable

The gang-gang cockatoo is the faunal emblem of the Australian Capital Territory, found in cool, wet forests and woodlands of the mountains and tablelands of south-eastern Australia. It was uplisted from Vulnerable to Endangered under Australia's EPBC Act in 2022 after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires burned a large share of its habitat.

How to spot it

A small, stocky cockatoo (32-37cm). Males have an unmistakable wispy, curled bright-red head and crest against slate-grey body plumage; females are all grey with a smaller grey crest. The call is distinctive - a creaky, grinding growl often likened to a rusty gate hinge or a cork being pulled from a bottle. Found in tall mountain forest over summer, moving to lower woodlands (including suburban Canberra) in winter.

Family Cacatuidae · Source: Wikipedia; EPBC Act conservation listing

Photo: JJ Harrison (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons