“Cotter Loop - ACT” is a scenic, easy motorcycle ride through ACT and New South Wales, Australia.
This 261km ride visits Canberra, Tharwa, Royalla.
Start - Parliament House
Starting and finishing point - as good as any landmark I guess...
Canberra
Right onto Cotter Rd Exit
at 3kmTake this exit to get onto Cotter Rd.
Exit is marked 'Tuggeranong'
Right into Lady Denman Drive
at 4kmThis is an optional part of the loop - if you choose not to take in the Uriarra area you can just proceed along Cotter Rd and continue the loop.
Scrivener Dam
at 5kmThe dam that created Lake Burley-Griffin.
There is also the National Zoo and Aquarium if you're looking for tourist attractions ;-)
Right onto Tuggeranong Parkway
at 6kmFollow the Parkway back towards Civic...
Left onto Belconnen Exit
at 8km...until you get to the Belconnen exit.
Left onto Coppens Crossing Rd
at 12kmLeft turn here
Right onto Uriarra Rd
at 17kmRight turn here to head into the forests.
Uriarra Crossing
at 29kmNice shady spot to take a quick break
Left onto Brindabella Rd
at 35kmLeft turn here.
Or optionally you can continue on ahead - Uriarra Rd (turns into Bullock Paddock Rd) eventually turns to dirt and continues to Tumut via Brindabella.
It's an interesting side trip until the black-top runs out. Then you can double back to this point and continue on down Brindabella Rd.
Brindabella Rd
at 40kmSome groovy little twisties - but surface is a bit bumpy on some corners.
And watch for 4WDs and WRXs playing Rally Drivers.
Right onto Cotter Rd
at 42kmTurn right here to continue along COtter Rd.
Cotter Dam Area
at 43kmShady spot to take a break. To check out Cotter Dam you hang a right turn just after the bridge and head to the carpark at the end - after that its a short walk thru the river valley.
Optional Detour - Left into Tidbinbilla Satellite Tracking Station
at 56kmDeep Space Centre - has a coffee shop and a groovy little museum.
Tidbinbilla Satellite Tracking Station
at 60kmEnd of Detour
at 65kmLeft onto Paddy's River Rd
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
at 67kmTurnoff on the right here if you want to get back to nature (another tourist attraction)
Optional Detour -Right onto Corin Forest Rd
at 70kmRight turn here to Corin Forest and Corin Dam.
Corin Forest
at 83kmPrivate park which sometimes has snow making and other attractions.
Corin Dam
at 92kmProbably almost empty.
End of Detour - Right onto Tidbinbilla Rd
at 114kmRight hander to continue south towards Tharwa.
Optional Extension- Naas Valley
at 120kmEither turn Left here to go back to Canberra via Tuggeranong, or continue south into the Naas valley, with side trips to the old satellite tracking station sites at Honeysuckle Ck and Orroral Valley
Tharwa
at 130kmSmall township - has a general store and fuel.
Optional Sidetrip - Right onto Apollo Rd
at 137kmRoad up to the site of the old Honeysuckle Ck Satellite Tracking Station.
Site of Former Honeysuckle Ck Satellite Tracking Station
at 147kmRight onto Naas Valley Rd
at 156kmOptional Side Trip - Right onto Orroral Valley Rd
at 164kmRoad up to the site of the former Orroral Valley Satellite Tracking Station
Site of Former Orroral Valley Satellite Tracking Station
at 173kmRight onto Naas Valley Rd
at 183kmEnd of the black-top.
at 195kmYou can continue from here to Adaminaby, but it's mostly dirt from here-on in.
Entering New South Wales
Royalla
at 226kmTurn right when the bridge is open
at 226kmBack to Canberra via Tuggeranong Parkway - if the bridge is open (later in 2007 after repairs) then its a straightforward run.
Otherwise we backtrack to Point Hut Crossing.
Right Turn onto Point Hut Rd
at 233kmLeft Hander into Woodcock Dr
at 239kmLeft Onto Drakeford Dr
at 241kmRight turn at Cotter Rd Exit
at 255kmFinish - Parliament House
at 261kmStarting and finishing point - as good as any landmark I guess...