Start on King George Terrace outside the front steps of the Old Parliament Buildings. Head to the left (as you face the building) and take an immediate right at the end of this impressive old building. Head up the footpath on Parliament Square, cross Queen Victoria Terrace and run up the grass alongside Federation Mall on either side of the flagpoles. Admire the contrasting architecture of the New Parliament Buildings ("The Hill") built into the hill as you head up. This is a popular place for hill repeats if you are keen for a workout.
Cross the road and then head left on Parliament Drive and follow the road around to the right. Look out for a fine gravel path off to the left and follow it. There are a couple of similar routes, but stay high and don't take any left branches.
You will pass some tennis courts and toilets and then pop back out onto Parliament Drive. Follow the grass strip around to the right and take another fine gravel path through the back of a carpark and out onto the very bottom of Melbourne Avenue. Take care of traffic at State Circle - cross at the pedestrian crossing. Melbourne Avenue has a wide grassy strip in the middle. Take this up to the very top of Melbourne Avenue, again taking care at the road crossings along the route. The grass is mown regularly but if it is too long then follow the footpath.
After you pass Canberra Girls Grammar School on your right, cross the roundabout and head up Gowrie Drive to the bridge. Take the dirt trail to the left after the bridge and briefly follow the 4WD track that runs around the base of Red Hill. Look for the gap in the fence and take the steps up to the summit. Just before the summit is Dr Who's Tardis. Turn a right and run to the left of the lookout and to the right of the cell tower.
The wide track narrows and veers left down to cross Gowrie Drive (be careful). Take the short trail down to the and cross the road to the Federal Golf Club (again be careful). Run through the gate and take the technical track that veers left and winds down to the Red Hill base 4WD track.
At the bottom turn right and follow the 4WD track back to the bridge you crossed earlier. Admire the redness of the soil and muse at the naming of this iconic inner city reserve. Then reverse your route back to the New Parliament Buildings taking the other side of the grass strip in the middle of Melbourne Avenue. Cross State Circle again at the bottom and head up towards Parliament.
Find the fine gravel trail again in the carpark on the left. It essentially mirrors the one you had taken earlier although you pass a mini football field on this side. Once you reach the front of the New Parliament Buildings head down the other set of flagpoles back to the Old Parliament Buildings. Take Parliament Square on the other side of the building from that you took earlier. Take a final right and you will be back where you began.
