A short, interesting walk in the Rumbalara Reserve, near Gosford. This short circuit walk takes in some nice scenery and a couple of the interesting bronze sculptures found in the reserve. Some short deviations from the walk take you to viewpoints with great views over 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 Loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Ironbark Loop 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
640m
Time
30 mins
.
Grade 3/6
Track: Moderate
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Experience Required
No experience required (1/6)
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 570m of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 70m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 530m of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail, whilst the remaining 110m follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.
Signs
This whole walk, 640m has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
This whole walk, 640m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 640m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 480m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 160m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Drive to End of Dolly Ave
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
(0 km)
End of Dolly Ave
to
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith sculpture Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 84 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -10 m
From the end of Dolly Ave, in the Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford, this walk goes down the steps and rocky track, passing a 'Nurrunga Picnic Area' sign, to the right. The walk goes across the middle of the picnic area for a short distance, 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.'[2] 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.'[3]. Smith and Flinders are the most easily reached, at the Nurrunga picnic area. More info
(0.08 km)
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith sculpture
to
Junction of Ironbark, Casuarina and Flannel flower walks Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail,bushtrack
Length = 253 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 11 m
Descent = -10 m
Turn sharp 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'
(0.34 km)
Junction of Ironbark, Casuarina and Flannel flower walks
to
Matthew Flinders sculpture Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 183 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = -10 m
Turn sharp right: 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[4]. 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.
(0.52 km)
Matthew Flinders sculpture
to
End of Dolly Ave Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 123 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 11 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. Turn right: From the sculpture, this walk goes across the middle of the picnic area. After a short distance, the walk goes up a rocky track and some steps, passing a 'Nurrunga Picnic Area' signpost, to the left, arriving at the end of Dolly Ave.
Drive from End of Dolly Ave
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 :)