This excellent loop walk combines the Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree Loop walks. The walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia Picnic Area and soon descends into lush green rainforest remnants, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. The walk includes some great scenery along the base of the cliff line and around the falls, although the falls themselves are often just a trickle. A great way to see some of the beautiful scenery of the Strickland State Forest. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darkinjung & Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
Along the road. | Photo by admin, 2009.The track to Strickland falls. | Photo by admin, 2009.Twisted trees. | Photo by admin, 2009.Rock caves. | Photo by admin, 2009.Grasstrees by the track. | Photo by admin, 2009.View above the canopy. | Photo by admin, 2009.Impressive overhang. | Photo by admin, 2009.Strickland Falls. | Photo by admin, 2009.Looking up at the cliffs. | Photo by admin, 2009.Along the base of the cliff line. | Photo by admin, 2009.Solid and tall. | Photo by admin, 2009.Cabbage tree palms. | Photo by admin, 2009.Tumbling. | Photo by admin, 2009.Beautiful scenery. | Photo by admin, 2009.Lush forest track. | Photo by admin, 2009.Through the forest. | Photo by admin, 2009.Cabbage tree palms. | Photo by admin, 2009.Tall dry forest. | Photo by admin, 2009.Broken rocks. | Photo by admin, 2009.Open forest. | Photo by admin, 2009.Banksia Picnic Area. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.
Turn on to Wisemans Ferry Road Offramp then drive for 190 m
Keep right onto Wisemans Ferry Road Offramp and drive for another 30 m
Turn right onto Wisemans Ferry Road and drive for another 800 m
Turn right onto Dog Trap Road and drive for another 5 km
Turn right onto Mangrove Road and drive for another 240 m
Turn right onto Strickland Forest Road and drive for another 1.4 km
Keep right and drive for another 205 m
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started From the car park, the walk follows the road away from the picnic area and soon reaches an intersection with a bush track, signposted 'Strickland Falls', '40 Minute Easy Walk'.....
Turn map
Directions & comments
Start.
Find the toilet at the start. This toilet is wheelchair accessible.
After another 65 m turn left, to head along Strickland Falls Trail.
After another 75 m pass the shelter (15 m on your right).
After another 710 m find the "Strickland Falls" (about 15 m ahead).
Strickland Falls
Strickland Falls
Strickland Falls are a short walk from the Banksia Picnic Area in the Strickland State Forest, Central Coast, NSW. The falls are often just a trickle, but will be more impressive after good rain. The scenery around the falls is still beautiful with moist rainforest scenery to enjoy.
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Strickland Falls are a short walk from the Banksia Picnic Area in the Strickland State Forest, Central Coast, NSW. The falls are often just a trickle, but will be more impressive after good rain. The scenery around the falls is still beautiful with moist rainforest scenery to enjoy.
Turn sharp left, to head along Strickland Falls Trail.
After another 690 m (at the intersection of Cabbage Tree Trail & Strickland Falls Trail) continue straight, to head along Cabbage Tree Trail.
After another 350 m find the "Cabbage-Tree Palm" (25 m on your left).
Cabbage-Tree Palm
Cabbage-Tree Palm
The Cabbage-Tree Palm (Livistona australis) is a tall, slender palm growing up to about 25 m in height and 0.35 m diameter. It is found in moist open forest, often in swampy sites and on margins of rainforests or near the sea. It is widely spread along the New South Wales coast and extends north into Queensland and southwards to eastern Victoria, growing further south than any other native Australian palm.
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The Cabbage-Tree Palm (Livistona australis) is a tall, slender palm growing up to about 25 m in height and 0.35 m diameter. It is found in moist open forest, often in swampy sites and on margins of rainforests or near the sea. It is widely spread along the New South Wales coast and extends north into Queensland and southwards to eastern Victoria, growing further south than any other native Australian palm.
At the intersection of Cabbage Tree Trail & Stoney Creek Trail continue straight, to head along Cabbage Tree Trail.
After another 1.2 km come to the "Gosford Lookout" (15 m on your left).
At the intersection of Strickland Falls Trail & Cabbage Tree Trail continue straight.
After another 10 m find the "Banksia Picnic Area" (7 m on your left).
Banksia Picnic Area
Banksia Picnic Area
This picnic area is in the Strickland State Forest, on the NSW Central Coast. The facilities include picnic tables, pit toilets, BBQ fire places, garbage bins and tank water. A few bush walking tracks start from the picnic area.
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This picnic area is in the Strickland State Forest, on the NSW Central Coast. The facilities include picnic tables, pit toilets, BBQ fire places, garbage bins and tank water. A few bush walking tracks start from the picnic area.
After another 20 m continue straight.
After another 10 m pass the shelter (10 m on your right).
After another 15 m pass the sign (8 m on your left).
About 10 m past the end is "Strickland State Forest".
Strickland State Forest
Strickland State Forest
The Strickland State Forest, managed by State Forests of NSW, is located on the NSW Central Coast, close to the F3. The Strickland State Forest has a wide range of vegetation, including patches of rainforest along the sheltered creeks. The walking tracks take in some beautiful scenery, including a mixture of native forest and the remnants of an old arboretum. 'Strickland is no longer actively harvested and is managed for education and recreation purposes'. The 'Friends of Strickland' undertake projects including the construction of walking tracks. Note: Access into Strickland is during the daytime only with the entrance gate being unlocked between 7am and 5pm (Apr - Oct) and between 7am and 7pm (Nov - Mar)
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The Strickland State Forest, managed by State Forests of NSW, is located on the NSW Central Coast, close to the F3. The Strickland State Forest has a wide range of vegetation, including patches of rainforest along the sheltered creeks. The walking tracks take in some beautiful scenery, including a mixture of native forest and the remnants of an old arboretum. 'Strickland is no longer actively harvested and is managed for education and recreation purposes'. The 'Friends of Strickland' undertake projects including the construction of walking tracks. Note: Access into Strickland is during the daytime only with the entrance gate being unlocked between 7am and 5pm (Apr - Oct) and between 7am and 7pm (Nov - Mar)
The end.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities
Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree Loop
Grading
Class 3/6
Moderate track
Length
3.1 km
Time
1 h 30 min to 3 h
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
Some facilities on route
Shelter: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1 km apart with the largest gap of 2.9 km.
Bushwalk
1 h 30 min to 3 h
Shelter: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1 km apart with the largest gap of 2.9 km.
Toilet: There is one 0 m from the start.
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After another 710 m find the "Strickland Falls" (about 15 m ahead).
After another 350 m find the "Cabbage-Tree Palm" (25 m on your left).
After another 10 m find the "Banksia Picnic Area" (7 m on your left).
After another 15 m pass the sign (8 m on your left).
About 10 m past the end is "Strickland State Forest".
