A great walk through some beautiful pockets of rainforest in the Rumbalara Reserve. Parts of the track are quite steep, although the well-formed track with plenty of steps makes the walking easier. As well as the beautiful rainforest scenery, this walk includes some glimpses into an old quarry at Cappers Gully and an optional side trip to one of the Rumbalara bronze sculptures. Plenty of variety and a beautiful walk.
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Please note: This is a 'return' style walk and therefore these graphs only show the terrain for the first half of the walk (until the turn around point.)
Cross sectional view of the Rainforest Walk bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Rainforest Walk 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
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
640m of this walk is very steep and another 430m has short steep hills. Whilst another 400m has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 50m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.2km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 290m 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 160m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 820m of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 710m requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 1.4km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 160m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 970m of this walk is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats), whilst the remaining 550m has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced).
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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)
Henry Parry Dr trackhead
to
Back gate of 2GO car park Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 162 m
Time = 3 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -1 m
From the trackhead at the intersection of Frederick St and Henry Parry Dr, Gosford, this walk follows the 'Cappers Gully' arrow (Rainforest Track sign) along the bush track, away from the road. After a short distance, the walk bends to the left, at a track arrow marker post, crosses a small gully and arrives at an intersection with a management trail near a gate and car park, to the left.
(0.16 km)
Back gate of 2GO car park
to
Bottom of staircase on Rainforest walk Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 196 m
Time = 4 mins
Climb = 12 m
Descent = -3 m
Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the management trail away from the gate and car park, keeping the small gully to the right. After a short distance, the trail passes a plaque marking the handing over of Cappers Gully Reserve, set in a stone, to the right. The trail continues a little further, bending to the left and arriving at the bottom of a metal staircase.
(0.36 km)
Bottom of staircase on Rainforest walk
to
Top of staircase on Rainforest walk Track: Moderate - footpath
Length = 25 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 4 m
Descent = -1 m
Continue straight: From the end of the management trail, this walk goes up the metal staircase, arriving at an intersection, with a 'Rainforest Track' signpost, at the top of the stairs, pointing back to 'Henry Parry Drive'.
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]
(0.38 km)
Top of staircase on Rainforest walk
to
Southern int of White St firetrail and Rainforest walk Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 401 m
Time = 9 mins
Climb = 37 m
Descent = -15 m
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk follows the bush track in the opposite direction to the 'Henry Parry Drive' arrow, leaving the metal staircase behind on the right. The track meanders through some beautiful forest, filled with vines and ferns, crossing a small metal bridge and continuing further, passing a couple of old picnic tables, to the right, and arriving at an intersection beside a fenced-off area, with a 'Rainforest Track' signpost pointing back to 'Henry Parry Drive'.
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.[3]
(0.78 km)
Southern int of White St firetrail and Rainforest walk
to
Southern Int of Rainforest walk and Bayview firetrail Track: Hard - servicetrail,bushtrack
Length = 298 m
Time = 10 mins
Climb = 54 m
Descent = -7 m
Turn right: 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'.
(1.08 km)
Southern Int of Rainforest walk and Bayview firetrail
to
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'.
(1.52 km)
Int of Rainforest walk and Casuarina walk
to
Sculpture of Charles Sturt Optional sidetrip: 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.'[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
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 :)