Casuarina Sands

For after hours urgent public health matters including environmental health, radiation safety, food poisoning and communicable disease management phone:

1800 022 222

ACT State Emergency Service

Emergency help
during flood or storms

13 25 00

Strong currents

Shallow water

Deep water

Submerged rocks

Casuarina Sands is on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. It is an ideal location for picnics.

It has shady riverside beaches, a playground, electric barbecues, picnic tables and shelters, and toilets.

With 360-degree views of the surrounding hills, Casuarina Sands is perfect to take in the best of the Cotter Recreation Area.

Casuarina Sands is also the beginning of the 27-kilometre Murrumbidgee Discovery Track.

No dogs allowed.

Picnic tables, shelter, pathway and playground amongst trees at the Casuarina Sands recreation area.

What you'll see

Front of the Cotter Pumping Station near Casuarina Sands and the Cotter precinct.

What you'll see

At Casuarina Sands, you can see:

the heritage-listed Cotter Pumping Station nearby
adjoining Stony Creek Nature Reserve
Moores Hill Lookout nearby
Grasstree Lookout nearby

Things to do

Activities

Features

BBQs - electric
Canoe / kayak entry point
Drinking water
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Picnic tables
Playground
Shelter
Toilets
Walking track/s
Wheelchair access

Restricted or prohibited

Camping prohibited
Dogs prohibited
Fires prohibited

Cycling is not permitted on the Casuarina Sands to Kambah Pool section of the Murrumbidgee Discovery Track

Walking tracks

Stay alert for slippery surfaces and trip hazards when walking or running near waterways. For more tips on how to reduce your risk around waterways, visit the safety page.

Murrumbidgee Discovery Track

Distance: 27 km one-way
Time suggested: 12 hours
Difficulty: Hard

The 27-kilometre Murrumbidgee Discovery Track makes it possible to walk the length of the river between Point Hut Crossing in the south and Casuarina Sands in the north, passing through Pine Island and Kambah Pool.

Whether you explore just a small section of the track or walk its entire length, you'll discover a variety of native animals and large areas of natural riverine and gorge vegetation. Magnificent rock formations, gorges and cascading waters welcome everyone from casual nature seekers to hardened trekkers.

Sections of the track are suitable for mountain bikes. The section between Kambah Pool and the historic dry-stone wall at Tuggeranong forms part of the Centenary Trail.

View the Murrumbidgee Discovery Track map.

Murrumbidgee Discovery Track Section: Casuarina Sands to Kambah Pool

Distance: 14 km one-way
Time suggested: 8 hours
Difficulty: Hard

This section of the track begins at the western end of the Casuarina Sands car park where it hugs the river, passing river oaks, red stringy barks and scribbly gums on the drier slopes. Occasionally moving away from the river across open grazing country, the track climbs high above the river as it nears Kambah Pool. There are great views of the river and surrounding countryside all the way. The distance and relative difficulty make this walk suitable only as a one-way excursion, so arrange transport at both ends.

Cycling is not permitted on this section of the track.

Ngunnawal Country and People

The waterways on Ngunnawal Country have sustained all life including their people, the plants and animals. The Murrumbidgee is part of Ngunnawal songlines, and pathways throughout Ngunnawal Country.

Songlines are the memory code that gives Ngunnawal people information from the landscape to tell the stories of vital knowledges, cultural values and wisdom.

Before you go/How to get there

Before you go

Prepare by:

understanding safety
checking alerts
checking water quality before swimming

Remember:

mobile phone reception may be unreliable
camping and fires are not permitted
you can bring your own gas barbecue
check the recreational fishing rules

Casuarina Sands is part of the Cotter Recreation Area, a Special Purpose Reserve protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Thank you for taking care of the natural environment.

How to get there

Casuarina Sands is located off Cotter Road, 25 minutes' drive west of Canberra's city centre.

Parking is available.

Boundary mapping is indicative only.

More information

If you notice any issues during your visit:

report maintenance issues to Access Canberra
report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444
in an emergency, call 000

Find out about:

There are dog-friendly areas in and nearby the Murrumbidgee River Corridor at:

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700

1800 022 222

13 25 00

Casuarina Sands

What you'll see

Things to do

Activities

Features

Restricted or prohibited

Walking tracks

Murrumbidgee Discovery Track

Murrumbidgee Discovery Track Section: Casuarina Sands to Kambah Pool

Ngunnawal Country and People

Before you go

How to get there

More information