Mount Taylor Nature Reserve

Mount Taylor Nature Reserve sits at Kambah, in Canberra's Tuggeranong area in the city's south. A much-loved bushland nature reserve, it's a popular spot for walking and getting active in nature — with trails leading up the mountain to a summit that rewards the climb with sweeping panoramic views over Canberra and the surrounding countryside.

The appeal is that combination of a good bushwalk and a rewarding outlook: the trails to the summit offer a genuine bit of exercise, the chance to spot native wildlife and birdlife, and spectacular views over the capital and beyond from the top. It's a wonderful, accessible natural escape and a favourite with local walkers, runners and nature lovers.

With a 4.6 rating from more than 700 reviews, it's a much-loved spot. The reserve and its trails are free and open, but conditions vary with the weather and the climb can be steep and exposed, so it's worth checking before you go — and taking water, sun protection and decent footwear — while enjoying the bushwalk and the sweeping summit views that make Mount Taylor such a rewarding Canberra escape.