An excellent walk, crossing the Rumbalara Reserve and covering plenty of the scenic highlights of the reserve. This walk goes through beautiful pockets of rainforest as well as the drier ridgetop forest, showcasing the great variety of scenery in Rumbalara. There is some steep walking along the way, though the well-formed tracks and steps along much of the walk makes the going easier. The descent to Tottenham Pl is on a less well-defined track.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the John Whiteway Dr to Tottenham Pl bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the John Whiteway Dr to Tottenham Pl 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
3km
Time
1 hr 30 mins
.
Grade 4/6
Track: Hard
AS 2156.1
Gradient
Very steep (4/6)
Quality of track
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Signs
Minimal directional signs (4/6)
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
1.7km of this walk has short steep hills and another 890m is very steep. Whilst another 330m has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 50m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
1.9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (40m) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
1.6km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection and another 940m is clearly signposted. The remaining (470m) has minimal directional signs.
Experience Required
Around 1.5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.5km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 3km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.8km of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 1.1km has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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Catch the bus to Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre car park
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)
Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre car park
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Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre trackhead Walk: Easy - footpath
Length = 39 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = 0 m
From the car park, this walk follows the 'Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre' arrow along the paved foopath to the trackhead at the back of the buildings, signposted 'Walking Trail'.
Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre
Alt = 39 m
This centre is 'a New South Wales Department of Education and Training facility that provides environmental education and field work opportunities to students, teachers and the community of the Central Coast' [2]. The centre is at the end of Donnison St, Gosford and is a good access point to some of the walking tracks in the adjoining Rumbalara Reserve. More info
(0.04 km)
Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre trackhead
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Int of Casuarina track and JWD link trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail
Length = 135 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 18 m
Descent = -1 m
Turn left: From the trackhead at the back of the Rumbalara EEC, this walk follows the 'Walking Trail' arrow up the steps and along the track. The track crosses a small wooden bridge and bends to the right, then climbs a little to an intersection with a management trail. Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail gently up the hill, leaving the bush track steps behind to the right. The trail goes gently up the hill for a short distance to an intersection at the bottom of a metal staircase, signposted 'Casuarina Track'.
(0.17 km)
Int of Casuarina track and JWD link trail
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Car park at int of White St firetrail and John Whiteway Dr Track: Moderate - footpath,servicetrail
Length = 112 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 8 m
Descent = -4 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Picnic Areas' arrow up the staircase. The walk then continues a short distance up the sandstone path and steps to an intersection with a management trail, marked by a track information board and a 'Casuarina Track' signpost pointing back to the 'Field Studies Centre'. Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail gently down the hill, towards the gate. After a short distance, the walk passes a 'Rumbalara Reserve' signpost, to the left, then passes around the gate, arriving in the middle of the parking area near John Whiteway Dr.
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.[3]
(0.29 km)
Car park at int of White St firetrail and John Whiteway Dr
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Southern int of White St firetrail and Rainforest walk Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 436 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 15 m
Descent = -34 m
Turn left: From the middle of the parking area, this walk follows the management trail down the hill, away from John Whiteway Dr, keeping the chain-wire fence to the right. The walk almost immediately levels out and passes around a gate, then follows the 'White St' arrow along the management trail. The trail winds around the hill, descending gently through a beautiful piece of forest until reaching an intersection beside a fenced-off area, with an 'Interpretive Centre' arrow pointing back the way you came.
Cappers Gully quarry
Alt = 38 m
This old quarry site is beside Cappers Gully in the Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford. The area is fenced off for safety reasons. The neat, square-cut walls of the quarry make an interesting sight on the walks in the area.[4]
(0.72 km)
Southern int of White St firetrail and Rainforest walk
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Southern Int of Rainforest walk and Bayview firetrail Track: Hard - servicetrail,bushtrack
Length = 298 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 54 m
Descent = -7 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail in the opposite direction to the 'Interpretive Centre' arrow, keeping the fenced area to the right. After a very short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection, signposted 'Cappers Gully'. Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Ouraka Point' arrow up the steps and along the bush track. The walk crosses some short metal footbridges and then climbs more steeply, through beautiful forest scenery. The walk climbs a lot of sandstone steps and some sets of metal stairs, and after some time arrives at an intersection, with a 'Rainforest Track' signpost pointing back to 'Cappers Gully'.
(1.02 km)
Southern Int of Rainforest walk and Bayview firetrail
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Int of Rainforest walk and Casuarina walk Track: Hard - servicetrail,bushtrack
Length = 438 m
Time = 11 mins
Climb = 41 m
Descent = -13 m
Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail in the opposite direction to the 'Bay View Ave' arrow, leaving the steps of the 'Rainforest Track' behind to the left. After a short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection, with a bush track to the left, signposted 'Rainforest Track'. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Ouraka Point' arrow down the steps and along the bush track. After descending for a short distance, the track bends to the right and levels out. The track meanders for some time through beautiful forest scenery, crossing two short metal footbridges, before climbing a long set of sandstone steps, then a metal staircase, arriving at an intersection with a management trail, with a 'Rainforest Track' signpost pointing back to 'Cappers Gully'.
Casuarina
Alt = 116 m
Commonly known as the she-oak, sheoak, ironwood, or beefwood, casuarinas have 'delicate, slender ultimate branches and leaves that are no more than scales, making the tree look more like a wispy conifer'[5]. There are 17 species of Casuarina 'native to Australasia, southeastern Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean'[6]. More info
(1.46 km)
Int of Rainforest walk and Casuarina walk
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Sculpture of Charles Sturt Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 33 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Picnic Areas' arrow along the management trail, keeping the views of Gosford to the left. After a short distance, the walk arrives at a sculpture of Charles Sturt, to the right.
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.'[7] 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.'[8]. Smith and Flinders are the most easily reached, at the Nurrunga picnic area. More info
(1.49 km)
Sculpture of Charles Sturt
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Flannel Flower walk signpost Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 170 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 7 m
Descent = 0 m
Continue straight: From the sculpture, this walk follows the management trail, keeping the views of Gosford to the left, and leaving Charles Sturt behind on the right. The walk continues along the trail to an intersection with a paved track, signposted 'Casuarina Track'. Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail up the hill leaving the paved 'Casuarina Track' behind on the left. After a very short distance, the walk arrives at an intersection with a bush track, signposted 'Flannel Flower Track'.
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
(1.66 km)
Flannel Flower walk signpost
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Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 720 m
Time = 17 mins
Climb = 57 m
Descent = -30 m
Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Yaruga Picnic Area' arrow along the bush track, going gently down the hill. The walk meanders along the side of the hill for some time, passing occasional sandstone steps before continuing past an intersection with a bush track (on the left, uphill), and another soon after (on the right, downhill). The walk continues for some distance, climbing gently with numerous steps, before arriving beside the toilet block at Yaruga Picnic Area. The walk turns right and follows the paved path past the information board, then goes across the picnic area, following the 'Lookout' arrow to the electric BBQs.
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.
(2.38 km)
Yaruga Picnic Area BBQs
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Int of Flannel Flower track and Tottenham track Track: Hard - road,bushtrack,bushtrack
Length = 337 m
Time = 9 mins
Climb = 22 m
Descent = -48 m
Turn left: From the BBQs, this walk goes across the picnic area towards the road and down the steps. The walk veers to the right, following the road gently down the hill for a short distance to an intersection with a bush track, beside a low boulder, on the left (some distance before the nearby water reservoir). Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track around the low boulder, to the right, keeping the nearby water reservoir to the right. The walk goes gently downhill for a short distance to an intersection with a management trail. Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the track down the steps, leaving the nearby water reservoir to the right. The track soon bends to the left at a rock outcrop, and winds down the hill for a while with plenty of steps. The walk levels out and meanders for a while, with occasional steps, to an intersection with a faint track, going down the hill to the left (just before the main track bends to the right and goes uphill a little).
(2.72 km)
Int of Flannel Flower track and Tottenham track.
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End of Tottenham Pl Track: Hard - bushtrack
Length = 250 m
Time = 6 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -51 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the faint bush track down the hill, towards the valley. The faint track goes steeply down the hill, becoming better defined towards the bottom. After a while the track veers to the left to pass a house, to the right. The walk follows a concrete path beside the house, emerging beside 15 Tottenham Pl, North Gosford.
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: Hard
1 km
You can phone 131500 (the transport info line) for up to date running times.
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)