The views. The wildlife. The peace and quiet. This walk, for me, has it all. It’s off the beaten track, about a 30-minute drive from Yass to Hall. In fact, for first-timers, it can be a little hard to find (head to the corner of Hoskins and Hall streets). It’s fine to park your car at the track entrance and it’s about a two-hour return, end to end. Look out for horses, kangaroos, echidnas and rosellas and enjoy rural views out to Canberra.

Find a seat on one of three large boulders, warmed from the day’s sun, at the top of Meehan Street in Yass Gorge. A special spot for many, I can imagine, although I’ve been lucky to have the place to myself every time. It’s the perfect thinking spot, tucked away by surrounding wildflowers and long grass. The few nearby houses ensure you never feel alone though. You can hear frogs in the river below and see the sunset over Bowning Hill. Let drifting birds overhead catch your gaze and take you to another place for a while.

Whether you take the Wee Jasper or Burrinjuck roads off the Hume Highway, it’s a beautiful drive. I’ve seen cattle followed by a dust storm as they meander down mountainous tracks along the first and the heads of dozens of cockatoos feeding below long grass on the other. Once you get there, the lake’s expanse and the sound of a familiar boat engine in the distance is soothing. Phone service is rare and the views are spectacular. Switch off and jump in.

A close contender to the boat ramp by O’Connor Park. Perhaps that’s five secrets, but I expect the last is a little better known. You can drive or walk here from town, depending on if you’re taking a quick lunch break or heading for an evening stroll. You’ll be greeted by grazing cows and sheep all the way down to the ramp, where there’s a great grassy spot for picnics and room for parking. Just like Lake Burrinjuck, the view over the water is very calming and you feel away from the world just minutes outside of town.