A beautiful walk from the Banksia picnic area. This walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest, typical of the hilltops in the area, and descends to areas of lush forest, filled with cabbage tree palms and ferns. Some interesting boulder outcrops and the great variety of vegetation just add to the scenery on this excellent walk.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Cabbage Tree Trail bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Cabbage Tree 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
1.7km
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 510m has short steep hills. The remaining (95m) 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 95m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 1.7km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 1.2km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 510m requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 1.7km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 1.5km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 270m 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
Banksia Picnic Area
Alt = 151 m
This picnic area is in the Strickland State Forest, on the NSW Central Coast. The facilities include picnic tables, pit toilets, BBQ fire places, garbage bins and tank water. A few bush walking tracks start from the picnic area.
(0 km)
Banksia car park
to
Banksia picnic area Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 48 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 0 m
Descent = -2 m
From the car park (near the end of Strickland Rd in the Strickland State Forest), this walk passes around the gate and goes across the picnic area to the track intersection at the opposite end. There is a track signpost ('Strickland Falls Loop Trail') a little to the left.
(0.05 km)
Banksia picnic area
to
Int of Cabbage Tree and Stoney Creek trails Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.12 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 31 m
Descent = -106 m
Veer left: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Cabbage Tree Walk Trail' arrow along the bush track, leaving the 'Gosford Lookout' sign behind, to the right. The walk initially passes through relatively dry forest, with signs naming some of the trees, before descending through moist forest, filled with cabbage palms. After a while the track reaches the intersection signposted 'Stoney Creek Trail'.[4]
Cabbage-Tree Palm
Alt = 93 m
The Cabbage-Tree Palm (Livistona australis) is a tall, slender palm growing up to about 25 m in height and 0.35 m diameter. It is found in moist open forest, often in swampy sites and on margins of rainforests or near the sea. It is widely spread along the New South Wales coast and extends north into Queensland and southwards to eastern Victoria, growing further south than any other native Australian palm. [5]More info
(1.17 km)
Int of Cabbage Tree and Stoney Creek trails
to
Int of Cabbage Tree and Strickland Falls trails Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 335 m
Time = 11 mins
Climb = 57 m
Descent = -7 m
Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Cabbage Tree Trail' arrow along the bush track, going up the hill. This section of the walk passes through forest filled with cabbage palms and ferns. The walk also passes some interesting boulders, before reaching an intersection, signposted 'Strickland Falls Trail'.[6]
(1.5 km)
Int of Cabbage Tree and Strickland Falls trails
to
Banksia car park Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 224 m
Time = 5 mins
Climb = 27 m
Descent = 0 m
Turn right: Fromt the intersection, the walk follows the 'walker arrow' along the bush track, going up the hill. The vegetation on this section of the walk changes from moist forest, filled with ferns and cabbage palms, to relatively dry forest to as the track climbs. The track climbs, using steps cut into the rock in places, before passing the 'Gosford Lookout' rock platform, to the right. At this lookout point, the track bends to the left, passes a 'Gosford Lookout' signpost and immediately arrives at the intersection at the end of the Banksia picnic area. Turn left: From the intersection, this walk goes across the picnic area, and passes around the gate, into the car park (near the end of Strickland Rd in the Strickland State Forest).
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.