A great walk with some spectacular views and nice forest scenery in the Rumbalara Reserve, near Gosford. The tracks are well formed and signposted, and there are plenty of facilities in the reserve, including free electric BBQs. This walk is very accessible from Gosford and a great way to enjoy some of the wonderful scenery and views of the area. Note that the entrance gate on Dolly Ave, for the upper section of Rumbalara, is locked at 8pm each evening.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Flannel Flower Track bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Flannel Flower Track 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
1.6km
Time
45 mins
.
Grade 3/6
Track: Moderate
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Short steep hills (3/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)
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
Around 940m of this walk has short steep hills, whilst the remaining 670m has gentle hills with occasional steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 450m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 890m of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 720m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 1.3km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 320m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 1.6km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 830m of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 780m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
Online bushwalking Magazine. Download the full magazine for free Bushwalk Australia eMag The Online Magazine is produces by the community at bushwalk.com and the Wildwalks team Bushwalk.com Australia's most active bushwalking forum - Check it out. Happy Reading. Matt :)
Drive to Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs
There is free parking available. You can drive or ride to the start of this walk Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk. Plan your trip from --> Sorry there are no driving directions, but you can see the start of this walk on this map
Rumbalara Reserve
Alt = 141 m
Rumbalara Reserve lies just to the east of the Gosford CBD and is part of Gosford's Coastal Open Space System (COSS). There is an extensive set of well marked walking tracks within the reserve. Yaruga Picnic Area has free electric BBQs while both Yaruga and Nurrunga picnic areas have toilets, picnic tables, nearby lookouts and proximity to walking tracks. The picnic areas are accessed via Dolly Ave, Springfield, with the gate being locked at 8pm each evening[1]. The Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre, at the end of Donnison St, Gosford, is one of several good access points to the walking tracks in the lower section of the reserve. More info
Yaruga Picnic Area
Alt = 153 m
This picnic area is right beside Dolly Ave, within the Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford. The facilities include free electric BBQs, picnic tables, toilets and garbage bins. There are information boards with details of the walking tracks and other features of the reserve. There are a couple of lookout points at the edge of the picnic area with great views out across Gosford and the surrounding areas.
(0 km)
Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs
to
Flannel Flower walk signpost Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 720 m
Time = 17 mins
Climb = 30 m
Descent = -57 m
From the BBQs, this walk goes across the picnic area, keeping the road to the right. The walk passes the information board, to the left, and follows the paved path toward the nearby toilet block. The walk turns left just before the toilet block and follows the 'Nurrunga Picnic Area' arrow down the paved steps and along the bush track. The walk descends gently for a while with numerous sandstone steps, then meanders around the side of the hill, for some distance. Ignoring a bush track, to the left, and another soon after, to the right, the walk continues for some distance until reaching an intersection with a management trail, with a 'Flannel Flower Track' signpost pointing back to the 'Yaruga Picnic Area'.
Flannel Flower
Alt = 127 m
Actinotus helianthi, popularly known as the Sydney flannel flower, is frequently spotted by spring-time bushwalkers in the Sydney region. Generally growing up to 50 cm, the stem, branches and leaves of the plant are a pale grey in colour, covered in downy hair (rather like flannel in texture). More info
(0.72 km)
Flannel Flower walk signpost
to
Int of Casuarina walk and Flannel Flower walk Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 28 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -4 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail down the hill, towards the views of Gosford. After a very short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection with a paved path, signposted 'Casuarina Track'.
(0.75 km)
Int of Casuarina walk and Flannel Flower walk
to
Junction of Ironbark, Casuarina and Flannel flower walks Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 177 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 21 m
Descent = -3 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Nurrunga Picnic Area' arrow along the paved track, keeping the views of Gosford to the left. The walk climbs gently for a short distance before arriving at a track junction with signposts for the 'Ironbark Loop', the 'Casuarina Track' and the 'Flannel Flower Track'.
Rumbalara Reserve Flora and Fauna
Alt = 157 m
The reserve is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. The vegetation types range from the relatively dry 'Coastal Narrabeen Ironbark Forest' to pockets of 'Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest'. Commonly seen birds include Kookaburras, Eastern Rosellas and Magpies. Rarer birds such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo and Swift Parrot are sometimes sighted here as well. Sugar Gliders, Brush-tailed possums, Blue-tounged lizards and Tree snakes can be seen in the reserve if you are patient and lucky enough.[2]
(0.93 km)
Junction of Ironbark, Casuarina and Flannel flower walks
to
Western int of Flannel Flower walk and Dolly Ave Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 25 m
Time =
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Loop to Yaruga Picnic Area' arrow between the metal posts and across the edge of the small car park. The walk immediately crosses the road to an intersection with a track, with a 'Flannel Flower Track' signpost pointing back to 'Yaruga Picnic Area'.
(0.95 km)
Western int of Flannel Flower walk and Dolly Ave
to
Int of Flannel Flower walk and Red Gum walk Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail
Length = 539 m
Time = 12 mins
Climb = 29 m
Descent = -20 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Loop to Yaruga Picnic Area' arrow along the track, going gently down the hill. The walk meanders gently downhill for a short distance before passing under some power lines and continuing a little further to an intersection with a management trail. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill, keeping the nearby power lines to the right. After a short distance, the walk passes a management trail (to the right) and continues, passing some sort of underground pipe access point, on the left. After a while, the trail reaches an intersection with tracks to the left and right.
(1.49 km)
Int of Flannel Flower walk and Red Gum walk
to
Western int of Red Gum walk and Dolly Ave Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 62 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 5 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track up the steps, leaving the nearby water reservoir to the left. The walk climbs gently for a short distance to an intersection with the road.
(1.55 km)
Western int of Red Gum walk and Dolly Ave
to
Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs Track: Moderate - road
Length = 58 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -4 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the road gently up the hill towards the sandstone walls of the nearby Yaruga picnic area. The walk climbs the first set of steps on the left, near the 'Yaruga Picnic Area' signpost, and goes across the picnic area to the nearby electric BBQs.
Drive from Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs
There is free parking available. You can drive or ride from the end of this walk Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk. Plan your trip to --> Sorry there are no driving directions, but you can see the end of this walk on this map
Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk
Public Transport links currently not working, sorry
Driving Directions
To the start of the walk
Since this walk starts on a low grade road
Google can't give you a route plan to the start.
View the location on a road map here --> See the start of the walk on a map
From the end of the walk
Since this walk ends on a low grade road
Google can't give you a route plan from the end.
View the location on a road map here --> See the end of the walk on a map
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 7 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.
Rumbalara Reserve The Rumbalara Reserve is a protected area of bushland just to the east of Gosford City. The area is part of the Hornsby Sandstone Plateau and is home to some diverse flora and fauna. There are some good picnic areas and great walking in the reserve. Rumbalara is an aborginal word meaning 'rainbow', the name suits this place well, with its great range of colour in the rock and plants. Region: I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Moderate
500 meters
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)