A very nice walk through a mixture of native (regrowth) forest and one of Australia's oldest arboretums. The arboretum has both native and exotic trees, with the plantings dating from 1887-1924. This walk takes you along some of the rainforest-clad creeks of Strickland State Forest, before crossing a small suspension bridge and looping through the arboretum with its stands of huge Hoop Pines, Bunya Pines and others.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Arboretum Loop Trail bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Arboretum Loop Trail 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
2.3km
Time
1 Hr
.
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
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
Around 1.7km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps, whilst the remaining 580m is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 1.6km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 740m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
Around 2.2km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 160m is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 1.4km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 900m requires some 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 900m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 2.1km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 260m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
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The Strickland State Forest, managed by State Forests of NSW, is located on the NSW Central Coast, close to the F3. The Strickland State Forest has a wide range of vegetation, including patches of rainforest along the sheltered creeks. The walking tracks take in some beautiful scenery, including a mixture of native forest and the remnants of an old arboretum. 'Strickland is no longer actively harvested and is managed for education and recreation purposes'. [1] The 'Friends of Strickland' [2] undertake projects including the construction of walking tracks. Note: Access into Strickland is during the daytime only with the entrance gate being unlocked between 7am and 5pm (Apr - Oct) and between 7am and 7pm (Nov - Mar) [3]More info
(0 km)
Strickland Lower car park
to
Int of Stoney Creek and Bellbird trails Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 81 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -4 m
From the car park, the walk follows the 'Walking Trails' arrow along the management trail. The walk passes an information board, with a map of the walking trails, and continues a short distance to an intersection just before the creek crossing.
(0.08 km)
Int of Stoney Creek and Bellbird trails
to
Arboretum junction Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 450 m
Time = 8 mins
Climb = 6 m
Descent = -10 m
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk crosses the creek and follows the 'Arboretum Loop Trail' arrow along the old management trail. The trail meanders through shaded forest, filled with cabbage palms, for some time before reaching a signposted intersection with a bush track.
(0.53 km)
Arboretum junction
to
Suspension bridge intersection Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 128 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -11 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Arboretum Trail' arrow down the timber steps and along the overgrown management trail. After a short distance, the walk crosses a suspension bridge over Narara Creek, bends to the left and almost immediately reaches an unmarked intersection with a narrow bush track, to the right.
(0.66 km)
Suspension bridge intersection
to
North int of Arboretum Loop and Bellbird trail Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 102 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = 0 m
Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the old management trail away from the suspension bridge. The walk soon arrives at the intersection signposted 'Arboretum Loop Trail'.[4]
Strickland State Forest Arboretum
Alt = 9 m
This arboretum is apparently one of the oldest in Australia, with plantings dating from 1887-1924[5]. Numerous signs have been placed along the walking tracks to identify some of the species of trees. There are very tall, and impressive, examples of Hoop Pine, Bunya Pine, Tallow Wood and Red Cedar. More info
(0.76 km)
North int of Arboretum Loop and Bellbird trail
to
Bunya pine grove Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 425 m
Time = 7 mins
Climb = 3 m
Descent = -2 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Arboretum Loop Trail' arrow along the bush track, away from the old management trail. The walk passes through moist forest, filled with cabbage palms, with the creek visible to the left. The walk crosses over a number of fallen tree trunks with steps cut into them. There are small signs in places identifying some of the trees. After a while the walk passes a track marker arrow, where a large fallen tree trunk spans the creek, to the left. The walk then passes a 'Forest Arboretum' information board and continues, passing a metal box on a post (marked 'Water Research'), and following several track arrows to reach an intersection with a management trail (with a gate visible to the left). There is a grove of tall 'Bunya Pine' trees beside this intersection.[6]
(1.19 km)
Bunya pine grove
to
Strickland Lower car park Track: Moderate - bushtrack,servicetrail
Length = 1.14 km
Time = 22 mins
Climb = 36 m
Descent = -19 m
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the old management trail away from the nearby gate, going gently up the hill. After a short distance the walk arrives at an intersection with a bush track, signposted 'Bellbird Trail'.[7] Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Arboretum Trail' arrow along the old management trail, going gently down the hill. After a short distance, the walk arrives at the intersection, signposted 'Arboretum Loop Trail'. Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the old management trail, leaving the signposted 'Arboretum Loop Trail' behind on the right. After a short distance, the walk reaches an intersection with a narrow bush track, to the left, just before the suspension bridge. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk crosses the suspension bridge over Narara Creek and follows the overgrown management trail for a short distance to a signposted intersection. Continue straight: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Return To Carpark' arrow along the old management trail, going up the hill. The trail meanders through shaded forest, filled with cabbage palms, for some time before crossing Stoney Creek to an intersection signposted 'Stoney Creek Walk Trail'. Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the management trail up the hill, away from the creek crossing. The walk passes an information board, with a map of the walking trails, and soon reaches the car park.
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.
Strickland State Forest Strickland State Forest is a small pocket of bushland east of the freeway near the Somersby interchange, on the NSW Central Coast. The well signposted entrance from Mangrove Rd has a gate that is unlocked at 7am and is re-locked at 5pm (7pm Nov-March) every day. The forest has a picnic area with wood-fired BBQs and some good walking tracks. The forest is classified as a Flora Reserve and boasts a wonderful transition from dry to wet sclerophyll and then to rainforest as you move deeper into the valleys. 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 :)