1. Hidden ferneries: Although the Namadgi landscape is dominated by high peaks, there are many creeks which drain the high country and flow into the Gudgenby, Naas and Cotter Rivers. Ranger Brandon Galpin describes the magnificent fern gullies in the northern section of the park as "truly lost worlds and only within a stone's throw of Canberra". Fire trails off the Mt Franklin Rd lead to some of these magical gullies, and although most are locked to unauthorised vehicles for water security they are an underutilised gem for walkers. Please note, some of the creeks are seasonal and others are hard to get to but the rewards are more than worth it according to this column's bushwalking correspondent, John Evans, who in the last decade has trekked into several valleys harbouring giant jurassic-like ferns. For more information on John's adventures, check out his blog: www.johnevans.id.au .

2. Distant dunny: Many a bushwalker exploring Namadgi has been surprised by the sight of a flushing toilet, complete with cistern and pan, overlooking an arm of Naas Creek in the southern part of the park. The out-of-place toilet was placed there by Sam Aboud who leased the block in the late 1960s (prior to it being a national park) and built the dunny purely as a loo with a view. Talk about being able to sit and think. Perhaps I should offer a prize to the first reader to be send in a photograph of themselves sitting on Aboud's dunny reading the Canberra Times? Or even better the last two pages of Panorama magazine. Aboud's dunny is just off the Long Flat fire trail, about one kilometre north-west of the northern end of Long Flat.

3. Stuart's spider: In 2008, while walking along the Booroomba Rocks track amateur Canberra naturalist Stuart Harris took several photos of a brightly-coloured spider. He subsequently posted his images on a photo-sharing website and was advised by experts that it was likely to be a new species. Stuart then spent 150 hours over two years searching for a live specimen in the area where he had taken the photograph and was rewarded, when in October 2011, he found a specimen which was ultimately described by scientists as a new species. In honour of Stuart's efforts the spider was named the Harris' Peacock Spider (Maratus harrisi). Who knows what other critters are waiting to be discovered in the less visited parts of the park?

4. Spectacular scree: Along the Mt Franklin Rd between Ginini Gate and Pryors Hut is what at first glance appears to be an out-of-place quarry or rock dump, but is actually a scree slope. Formed when water flows into cracks in the rock and freezes, "heaving" the rock until it falls apart and travels down slope, there are larger scree slopes (on the western side of the Tidbinbilla Range for example) elsewhere in the park, but none as easily accessible. This scree slope is also unique due to the presence of the mountain plum pine (Podocarpus lawrencei) which has adapted to the harsh environment by clinging to the scree, thereby maximising the light and warmth available for growth. It grows very slowly, with branches of 25 millimetres diameter likely to be more than 100 years old. Unfortunately much of the plum pine at this location was burned during the 2003 fires, but there are signs that is slowly recovering.

5. The sentinels: Standing guard over the northern part of the Bimberi wilderness area, and recently visited by this column for the first time (Alpine Adventure, August ) are two giant noble firs (Abies procera) which have survived the test of time. The pair were spared the chainsaw, when all the other trees in the Stockyard Creek Arboretum well felled in the late 1990s but then faced an equally destructive force when the 2003 bushfires bore down on them. Miraculously, while the surrounding bush was decimated in the inferno, the two lone firs escaped with just a few burn marks. Plans are afoot to install a bush furniture seat or "Odin's throne" for bushwalkers to sit and admire these magical trees.

6. Gorge guardian: Etched into the rocky cliffs of the Cotter River just downstream from Bendora Dam is a giant, naturally-occurring face. It's the result of aeons of wind and water erosion, but its nose and watchful eyes are so realistic that you could easily be excused for thinking it had been hacked purposefully out of the rock. It is best viewed from Bendora Road, near the intersection with Burkes Creek Road.

7. Wondrous wetlands: Located adjacent to the site of the old Blundells Creek Arboretum (lost in the 2003 fires) is a wetland teaming with wildlife. On a recent visit here, the call of frogs at dusk was almost deafening. It's just across the national park boundary, but if infrastructure such as bird hides and a boardwalk were installed, as at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands, it would fast become a major drawcard for birdwatchers. The site is accessible by 2WD – when heading west along Brindabella Rd, turn right onto Curries Rd, go across the causeway (with care) and the wetland is a about half a kilometre on the right.

8. Tree towers: While it is well-known that there are purpose-built steel fire towers atop Mt Coree and Mt Tennant which are manned during days of high fire danger, the first firetowers in our mountains were much more rudimentary in design, including one atop a tree. In his book Rugged Beyond Imagination (National Museum of Australia Press, 2009), Matthew Higgins explains that there used to be a treetop fire tower at Brindabella Mountain, near Piccadilly Circus, which was "built into the top of an ancient snowgum". Meanwhile, Brett McNamara, regional manager of National Parks & Catchments with the ACT Parks & Conservation Service, has a photo taking pride of place on his office wall of a view taken from the Bulls Head firetower in 1953 clearly showing the forestry settlement village. The fire tower is long gone and there are very few signs left of the forestry settlement at what is now one of the park's most popular picnic areas. "In the centre of the photo you can see a young row of pines planted as a wind break to provide a shield from the wild westerly winds. Today these pine are the only tangible remains from a bygone era," ponders McNamara.

9. Tennant's treasure: It has long been speculated that in the late 1820s escaped convict John Tennant hid some of his loot on the mountain since named after him and that it lies is some secret rock crevice waiting to be discovered by an opportunistic bushwalker. However, a word of warning for prospective treasure hunters, unlike the bushrangers of the Gold Rush era, Tennant stole mainly to acquire basic provisions. In fact, one of Tennant's biggest heists was on November 21, 1827, when he teamed up with some other small-time crims and cleaned out overseer James Ainslie's cottage at Duntroon of all manner of basic provisions, including one plain handkerchief, three red shirts, 150 pounds of flour, trousers, and one pair of half boots. However, it is reported that he also managed to fleece Ainslie of four holey dollars, three spanish dollars and two rupees, so you never know your luck. Mt Tennant is a 15-kilometre return walk (including 800 metre altitude gain) from the Namadgi National Park Visitors Centre (Naas Road, Tharwa). Depending on fitness, the walk takes from four to eight hours, or longer if you are trying to find lost treasure. Phone the visitor centre on 6207 2900 for more information and a map (to the peak, not the treasure…).

10. Mt Burbidge: It is likely that Namadgi would not have been gazetted as a national park until much later (if at all), if not for the tireless work of many like-minded conservationists who lobbied for its creation. One of these lobbyists, Nancy Burbidge AO (1912-77) didn't live to see the park, but a 1720-metre peak in the centre of Namadgi is now named in her honour.

Don't miss: Next week, for the final part of the series when I throw the spotlight on the man-made wonders of Namadgi.

Rocky rainbow
Due to the higher chance of daytime storms, spring is peak season for rainbows spotters in Canberra. Allan Cotterill recently snapped this "rainbow being fired out of canon rock" from the top of Castle Rock (on private land) near Tharwa. "I was freakishly lucky to have the rainbow appear while I was on the summit," reveals Allan, who adds, "I got a bit wet on the descent, but it was worth it."

Contact Timtimtheyowieman@bigpond.com@TimYowieThe Canberra Timescanberratimes.com.au/act-news/by/tim-the-yowie-man.

Cryptic clue: I wonder if documentaries about platypus feature here?
Degree of difficulty: Medium

Last week: Congratulations to Peter Snowdon, of Aranda, who was the first to correctly identify last week's photo sent in by Maryann Mussared as the Jeanette Thomas Memorial tennis shelter at Yarralumla Forestry School tennis courts, Yarralumla. Snowdon reports that the shelter, which is in need of some TLC, "was constructed by Keith Smith and that Jeanette was a much loved member of the Division of Forest Research, CSIRO". Last week's clue related to the fact that tennis racquets were once made of timber (hence the link to the forestry school). While I'm not aware of Charles Lane Poole's (the school's founding principal) passion for tennis, he was a keen skier (including in what is now Namadgi National Park) and apparently insisted that every student who attended the school make a set of wooden skis (I wonder if any are still around?). Further, according to Mussared, Ruth Lane Poole (Charles's wife) designed the furniture for the Lodge.

How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday, September 26, with the correct answer, wins a double pass to Dendy cinemas.