Ainslie Amble

Start behind the large green metal gate at the end of Phillip Ave. Head northwest along the main track, then veer left onto the Ainslie Houses Track, parallel to a storm water drain on your right. Do not turn left onto the Ainslie Link Track but take the next left 60 metres later, onto the Campbell Link Track.

700 metres further around the mountain, leave the main track to veer right onto a single track with a levee and dry water course to your right. After crossing down and up through a gully, veer left onto the main track coming from behind the houses. With power lines to your left, at 4.2 km turn right onto the main track. Be alert here for the next turn after only 70 metres, left onto a single track heading into the bush. 50 metres further on, take a left at the intersection with the next single track (don’t end up at the road!)

Continue along this single track which climbs parallel to the Mt Ainslie summit road. Continue straight around a disused old gate, to emerge on the grass shoulder alongside the Mt Ainslie summit road. Continue uphill following the left hand side of the road, then (just before 6 km) veer left onto a 4WD track heading uphill away from the road. Another 400 metres along, veer left again onto a steep uphill pinch towards the summit of Mount Ainslie.

Proceed onto the concrete footpath to follow all the way around the left hand side of the summit lookout car park - enjoy the view! Shortly after the concrete footpath ends and you hit the dirt again, turn sharp left onto the Centenary Trail under the “Canberra 100” arch to descend the stone staircase and continue down through dry bush.

When the trail meets Hancocks Road, take the road all the way downhill until you're back where you started.