A great circuit walk, covering two of the popular walking tracks and some of the great sights in the upper section of the Rumbalara Reserve. You will enjoy some really nice forest walking and fantastic views across various parts of Gosford and the surrounding areas. 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 Ironbark and Flannel Flower circuit bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Ironbark and Flannel Flower 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
2.1km
Time
1 Hr
.
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
1.1km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 940m has short steep hills. The remaining (70m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.3km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 820m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 1.4km 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 800m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 2.1km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.1km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 990m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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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
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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
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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
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Matthew Flinders sculpture Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 183 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -10 m
Turn left: From the track junction, this walk follows the 'Loop to Gosford' arrow (Casuarina Track) along the bush track, directly away from the nearby car park. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection signposted for the 'Casuarina Track' and the 'Ironbark Loop'. At the time of writing, this part of the Casuarina Track, going down the hill, was closed[3]. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Nurrunga Picnic Area' arrow (Ironbark Loop sign), along the bush track, keeping the views of Gosford to the left. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection, with an 'Ironbark Loop' signpost pointing back 'To Casuarina Track', beside a sculpture of Matthew Flinders.
(1.11 km)
Matthew Flinders sculpture
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Sir Charles Kingsford Smith sculpture Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 39 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = 0 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track in the opposite direction to the 'To Casuarina Track' arrow, leaving the sculpture behind on the right. The walk then goes across the end of the picnic area to the sculpture of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
Sculptures in Rumbalara
Alt = 139 m
There are four bronze figurative sculptures in the Rumbalara Reserve that were 'commissioned in the series "Salute to Famous Australians", which includes Captain Charles Sturt, Edward Eyre, and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.'[4] Matthew Flinders is the fourth in the series. They were 'commissioned by Sara Lee Kitchens (Australia) Pty Ltd and Gosford City Council for the State Bicentennial Celebrations 1987.'[5]. Smith and Flinders are the most easily reached, at the Nurrunga picnic area. More info
(1.15 km)
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith sculpture
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Western int of Flannel Flower walk and Dolly Ave Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail,bushtrack,bushtrack
Length = 278 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 11 m
Descent = -11 m
Turn right: From the sculpture, this walk goes along the edge of the picnic area, in the direction pointed by Sir Charles' raised right elbow, keeping the picnic area to the right. The walk soon arrives at an 'Ironbark Loop' sign on the northern edge of the picnic area. Continue straight: From this 'Ironbark Loop' sign, this walk follows the 'To Casuarina Track' arrow along the management trail, initially keeping the picnic area to the right. The walk continues, passing a toilet block, to the right, then arrives at a sign, beside the road, pointing back to 'Nurrunga Picnic Area'. Continue straight: From the 'Ironbark Loop' sign, the walk immediately crosses the road and follows the bush track a little to a track junction with signposts for the 'Ironbark Loop', the 'Casuarina Track' and the 'Flannel Flower Track' Turn left: 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'.
(1.43 km)
Western int of Flannel Flower walk and Dolly Ave
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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.
(1.96 km)
Int of Flannel Flower walk and Red Gum walk
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Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs Track: Moderate - bushtrack,road
Length = 120 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 8 m
Descent = -4 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. 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
1 km
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)