Take in Mountain Views of ACT’s Brindabella Range From the Summit of Camels Hump

Under an hour’s drive from Canberra, Camels Hump in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a hidden gem half-day hike, making it the perfect microadventure for any height-scaling, panorama-loving enthusiast.

We Are Explorers acknowledges that this adventure is located on the traditional Country of the Ngunnawal people who have occupied and cared for the lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them as the Traditional Custodians and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

Quick Overview

Camels Hump is a 12.6km out-and-back trail located in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, ACT. The hike takes around four hours to complete.

Camels Hump Facts

Distance: 12.6km
Duration: 4 hours
Elevation gain: 540m
Nearest town: Canberra, ACT

About Camels Hump

As part of the Great Dividing Range, the Camels Hump trail offers a chance to walk among one of Australia’s oldest geological formations. At the summit, you’re rewarded with sweeping views of the range.

The trail is versatile; it’s a brutal yet invigorating course for trail runners, the fire trails are accessible to cyclists, and it’s a Mecca for fauna-lovers thanks to its rich diversity of mammals, reptiles, and birdlife.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

History of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve & Camels Hump

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve holds deep cultural significance for the Ngunnnawal people as Traditional Custodians of the land. The area has served as a source of food and shelter and as a gathering area for ceremonies and education, particularly for Ngunnawal males. The name ‘Tidbinbilla’ came from Ngunnawal ‘Jedbinbilla’, meaning ‘where boys become men’.

European settlers also left their mark, with some areas cleared for grazing, while several historical homesteads remain standing.

Geologically, Tidbinbilla features a broad valley floor and is surrounded by steep hills with bold and playful granite outcrops. Camels Hump forms part of this range. The reserve is also a haven for native and endangered fauna, including the Northern Corroboree frog, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, platypus, and koala.

How to Get to Camels Hump Trailhead

The hike begins and ends at Mountain Creek car park in Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. It takes around 40 minutes by car from Canberra city. Try spotting the hump as you near the nature reserve!

Unfortunately, there’s no direct route to the trailhead by public transport.

Where to Stay Around Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

While camping isn’t permitted within Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, there are campgrounds nearby, such as Woods Reserve Campground, a 10-minute drive away, and Cotter Campground, a 20-minute drive away.

For a more refined experience, there’s the option to stay in Nil Desperandum, a heritage cottage within the reserve. However, access to this accommodation is via 4WD/AWD or an additional 6km walking trail. Bookings are essential.

Alternatively, there are plenty of accommodation options closer to Canberra city.

Skill Level

Intermediate

A good level of fitness and hiking experience is required, as the trail to the peak is a continuous incline. The final ascent to the hump is a narrow, steep single track, with minor scrambling involved. Extra vigilance is required when the rocks and trail are wet or icy.

The route is fairly exposed and can be extremely warm in summer or even have snow cover in winter. The trail is well-marked, especially at the forks and intersections with other trails.

There’s little to no phone reception along the trail.

Essential Gear for Camels Hump

• Warm layers are a must – the weather can change rapidly, especially at the summit
• Sun protection – the trail is exposed in most sections
• Water and snacks
• Snake bite bandage in the warmer months
• Grippy hiking shoes or trail runners
• First aid kit

What it’s Like to Hike Camels Hump

The Gradual Incline

Leaving the car park, a brief singletrack led me to Camelback fire trail. Turning right onto the fire trail, it was a steady ascent for the next 6km through wet sclerophyll forest, blanketed with bracken undergrowth.

Hot tip! On clear days, keep an eye out during the climb for Canberra city in the distance and Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex’s telescopes closer to the foreground.

The fire trail pressed gently upward, which allowed me to switch off and enjoy the surrounding bushland. Along the way, it intersected two spur tracks, before reaching a fork; turning left led to Johns Peak, while heading straight took me up Camels Hump. Straight up please!

The Crux and Reward

The climb eventually revealed the hump, which is where the fun began!

A very shiny sign marked the start of the steep climb; from there, it was a 300m narrow single path, followed by some scrambling to reach the summit.

During the scramble up, I noticed a slight shift in vegetation, with the lush growth giving way to short, twisted gums and scrubs typical of subalpine landscapes.

About 50m from the top, I was finally rewarded with expansive views of the Brindabella Ranges and Gibraltar Peak. The peak has a rock cairn as a marker of your summiting success.

Choose Your Own Adventure Back Down

Once I’d savoured the views up top, I was ready to head back down. Descending the scramble section required extra care, as it tended to be more sketchy than climbing up, especially in wet or icy conditions.

Once back on the fire trail, there were a couple of return options, both of which I enjoyed in different ways:

The first option is a simple out-and-back, returning via the same fire trail up. Each time I walk this way, I treat myself to some bird and mushroom spotting. You might be as lucky as I was to be accompanied by a soundtrack of lyrebirds the entire way down!

Read more: Why Birdwatching Will Improve Your Next Adventure & How To Get Started

The second option is an extension to summit another peak. This time, I veered right at the fork, as I was lured by the view of Johns Peak, which extends the trail into a 14km circuit (~5-6 hours in total). A more adventurous option suited to experienced hikers.

It starts as grassy singletrack that leads to climbing rock steps towards Johns Peak, which, at the summit, gives an epic view of the hump.

Beyond Johns Peak, there’s no formal trail present (although this is in the works). Still, a lightly worn singletrack, requiring occasional minor bush-bashing through scrubby Eucalypt bushland, led us to the final summit: Tidbinbilla Peak. 

This section involved a solid climb along the ridge of the two peaks and some self-navigation, although we were helped along the way by pink tape tied to trees by some thoughtful hikers. At another rock cairn atop Tidbinbilla Peak, we were rewarded with sprawling views of Tidbinbilla Mountain and the distant Brindabellas.

Read more: Navigating With a Map & Compass

The final leg was a direct, steep plunge down from Tidbinbilla Peak. The landscape shifted to a dimly lit, sheltered forest, with loose leaf litter underfoot, making the descent slow and slippery. Similarly, a faint trail exists along this leg, however, it’s easy to drift off course, so we kept a close eye on it. 

Eventually, the forest opened up and the track reconnected back onto Camelback fire trail, around 1.7km from the trailhead. This was definitely a welcome return after the more rugged terrain!

Tips For Hiking Camels Hump

• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is, well, a reserve – leave your furry friends at home
• Entry fees apply and can be paid at the Visitor Centre or online (handy if you arrive early)
• There are no toilets at Mountain Creek car park or along the trail, so make sure to stop by the Visitor Centre or any of the other larger car parks within the reserve first
• If time allows, turn your half-day into a full-day adventure at the nature reserve; check out the Cascades walk nearby, chill at one of the many recreation sites, or continue your wildlife spotting streak at The Sanctuary!

Camels Hump FAQs

How long is the hike to Camels Hump?

The Camels Hump trail, out-and-back from Mountain Creek car park to the peak, is around 12.6km long; however there are alternative routes to take to add on multiple other peaks that would extend it to 14km.

How hard is the hike to Camels Hump?

The trail to Camels Hump is intermediate difficulty. The trail is quite steep in sections and requires a decent level of fitness. If you choose to hike the alternate route via Johns Peak, the trail becomes less defined and is suited to advanced hikers only.

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