This excellent circuit walk offers a lot of beautiful scenery and views. Although shorter than the name suggests, it is a reasonably tough walk, with some steep rocky sections. The sections in the gullies and valleys are mostly very moist with lots of ferns, while the higher sections are through drier forest, so there is quite a bit of variety. There are also some lovely cliffs and boulder scenery at various points around the walk.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the 11km Circuit bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the 11km Circuit bushwalking track
Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
Length
8km
Time
4 hrs 15 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
Quality of track
Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Signs
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
Infrastructure
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing
Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
6km of this walk is very steep and another 1.6km has short steep hills. The remaining (210m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
6km of this walk follows a rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely and another 1.6km follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles. The remaining (210m) follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 8km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 210m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 8km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 210m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 7km of this walk is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety, whilst the remaining 970m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 5km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 3.1km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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Catch the bus to Mill Creek Picnic Area car park
Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up from Gosford and drop off near Wisemans Ferry would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374
This beautifully situated picnic area is located a short distance along an unsealed road, off Wisemans Ferry Rd, about 5.5km east of Wisemans Ferry. There are picnic tables, fireplaces, an information board and pit toilets. There is some excellent bush walking in the area with two signposted circuit walks starting from the end of the picnic area. There is a 'large group' camping area adjacent.
(0 km)
Mill Creek Picnic Area car park
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Int of Grass Tree and 11km circuits Track: Moderate - openland,bushtrack
Length = 868 m
Time = 24 mins
Climb = 84 m
Descent = -48 m
From the Mill Creek picnic area (signposted on Wisemans Ferry Rd, about 6km east of Wisemans Ferry crossing), the walk crosses from the information signs to the the 'Start/Finish' walking track signpost at the far end of the picnic area. Continue straight: From the 'Start/Finish' walking track signpost at the end of the picnic area, the walk follows the bush track and immediately takes the right hand branch at a fork in the track (the other track is the return leg of the Grass Tree circuit). The walk passes through a mix of closed in, dense vegetation and more open forest with some beautiful views and lots of grasstrees. After crossing a creek using wooden steps and a concreted stone path, the track climbs more steeply before dropping to the signposted intersection of the '11km Walking Track' and '1.5km Grass Tree Circuit'.
Grasstrees
Alt = 45 m
The beautiful Grasstree is one of the icons of the Australian bush. It is a very slow growing plant, with the trunk typically only growing about one cm per year. These plants can grow and survive for several hundred years. The trunk is usually black, apparently a result of bushfires. As with some other native plants, fires can actually promote flowering and further growth. More info
(0.87 km)
Int of Grass Tree and 11km circuits
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Int of 11km circuit and Link track Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 2.6 km
Time = 1 hr 9 mins
Climb = 257 m
Descent = -92 m
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the '11km Walking Track' arrow along the bush track. The track climbs for a while, with nice views down into the gully, before dropping to a picturesque creek crossing marked with a small 'walker arrow'. From here the track climbs steeply for a short distance, then passes another track marker at the start of a section with beautiful rock overhangs and boulders. The track then drops to another creek crossing, marked with a small walker sign on a boulder in the middle of the creek, beneath a huge tree with impressive roots draping over the rocks. Turn right: From the creek, the walk follows the walker arrow along the bush track, going downstream and keeping the creek to the right. This section of the walk has several steep climbs and plenty of great scenery. After meandering for some time the walk passes a regenerating bush track, to the right (marked with a walker post and old arrows on the trees), and continues, crossing a gully marked with walker arrows in both directions. After crossing another gully (unmarked), the walk climbs very steeply, passing a track marker and climbing further to reach an intersection at the top of the hill (very faint bush track to the right), marked with two arrow track markers on a post.
(3.47 km)
Int of 11km circuit and Link track
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11km Nth rock platform Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 2.45 km
Time = 1 hr 8 mins
Climb = 212 m
Descent = -194 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the lower track arrow (left) on the signpost, along the bush track. The track immediately bends to the right and goes steeply down the hill. This section of the walk has some beautiful scenery with great boulder formations and beautiful forest and valley views. It also has some very steep sections as it drops and climbs through two gullies (plus a third minor tributary) before reaching an intersection at the top of a ridge, on a small rock platform immediately after passing a track marker (the main track bends to the left here). There are minor tracks from here to a much larger rock platform nearby with some nice views.
11km circuit Nth Viewpoint
Alt = 230 m
This informal, unfenced lookout is on a large rock platform on the northern part of the 11km Circuit, in Dharug National Park. The nice views and atmosphere make this a good spot for a break while doing the circuit walk.
(5.91 km)
11km Nth rock platform
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Mill Creek Picnic Area car park Track: Hard - bushtrack,openland
Length = 2.25 km
Time = 57 mins
Climb = 81 m
Descent = -301 m
Turn left: From the small rock platform, the walk goes west along the bush track, leaving the much larger rock platform to the right. The track soon passes a track marker on the left and gently climbs up the ridge line, over the small hill and down the ridge line on the other side. The track then bends to the right and descends steeply, zigzagging down the side of the hill. The walk passes numerous track markers along the way and eventually descends into the more shaded and moist lower part of the valley. There is beautiful scenery through this section, as the walk descends, steeply at times, then crosses a wooden bridge and climbs some steps to the edge of the Mill Creek Picnic area. From here it is a short walk across the picnic area to the visible walking track signpost. Turn sharp right: From the 'Start/Finish' walking track signpost at the end of the Mill Creek picnic area, the walk crosses the picnic area to the car park (Mill Creek picnic area is signposted on Wisemans Ferry Rd, about 6km east of Wisemans Ferry crossing).
Catch the bus from Mill Creek Picnic Area car park
Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up near Wisemans Ferry and drop off at Gosford would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374
Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk
Public Transport links currently not working, sorry
Public Transport Timetables
To the start of the walk
Catch a bus to Wisemans Ferry Dialacar Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up from Gosford and drop off near Wisemans Ferry would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374 Get Timetable
From the end of the walk
Catch a bus to Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up near Wisemans Ferry and drop off at Gosford would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374 Get Timetable
Fire Danger This walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place. (Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 8 years ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.
Dharug National ParkLink to official closures and fire bans page Named after the traditional custodians (the Darug People), this park has much history and some great sandstone formations. The wildflowers in spring add a wonderful touch of colour to the bushland. The Old Great North Road including its quarries, bridges and other features improves access and provides a great deal of interest for visitors. Close to Sydney and Gosford, it feels like stepping back in time when visiting this park. Region: Sydney & Surrounds Park feesCampingFacilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
We did this walk on a lovely sunny Autumn day, it was great and really enjoyed the variety in the vegetation and the track. We did not pass anyone on the track and enjoyed the peace, the bush and time away from it all. Except for the obviously flight path of jets overhead every now and then coming into Sydney!! We started the walk at 10am from the car park in shorts and t'shirts and it was only 8 degrees!!!! It certainly got us going to warm up. Some parts were quite difficult steep and lots of scrambling...but still loved it and felt very satisfied at the end!!! Well worth the effort
Alanm - Great Walk
IP:125.254.72.xxx | 2011-08-17 05:50:40
Did this walk yesterday by myself - beautiful late Winter afteroon (19c). It held up to all my expectations. Great isolation. Certainly some steep climbs and descents - hard work.
Did this walk today with a group of five, bit cold and wet but warmed up quickly.
Wonderful vegetation, scenery and views but the leeches were out of control, must have picked around 50 of them from our clothing collectively. I have never seen anything like it.
Bring industrial grade DEET next time
admin - re:
Super Administrator | 2012-06-11 23:57:26
Michael wrote:
Did this walk today with a group of five, bit cold and wet but warmed up quickly.
Hope you enjoyed the walk. It is a great walk. Leeches seem to be everywhere at the moment.
Matt :)
Paula
IP:110.143.62.xxx | 2013-03-26 01:24:45
I walked this track with friends on 23.3.13 and found it tough but enjoyable. I would only recommend it to experienced bushwalkers as the track was quite overgrown and the track markers almost non-existant. We found it very easy to get lost and only experience got us back on track. There is also a large rockfall in the last 1km obscuring the track. Take more water than you think and insect repellant for the leeches and mosquitos.
Onan
IP:27.32.11.xxx | 2014-10-06 06:55:57
We attempted this walk today - the track is overgrown a lot, at the first creek crossing, after the first walker sign, it was practically impossible to find the next one and climbing up would require a machete to cut through the overgrowth. I had the feeling that a few more navigational aids/markers would have been helpful.
Not a lot of rain these days so no leeches, but saw some brown tree snakes around, so definitely worthwhile to be very careful!
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Hard
1 km
Wisemans Ferry Dialacar provides a taxi style mini-bus service based in Wisemans Ferry. The cost is typically about $1 per km (ex Wisemans Ferry). They will pick-up and drop-off from Sydney or the Central Coast and will happily drop walkers off or pick them up from tracks in the area. The cost for a pick-up from Gosford and drop off near Wisemans Ferry would be approximately $150 (please call for up-to-date pricing) and the minivan can carry up to 13 passengers. Phone: 0448 122 374
There is free parking available.
Catch a bus to Wisemans Ferry Dialacar 
not too much longer now :)