This excellent loop walk combines the Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree loop walks. The walk starts in the dry eucalypt forest around the Banksia Picnic Area and soon descends into lush green rainforest remnants, filled with ferns and cabbage tree palms. The walk includes some great scenery along the base of the cliff line and around the falls, although the falls themselves are often just a trickle. A great way to see some of the beautiful scenery of the Strickland State Forest.
(open in app)
Cross sectional view of the Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree loop bushwalking track
Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Strickland Falls and Cabbage Tree 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
3km
Time
1 hr 30 mins
.
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
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
2.6km of this walk has gentle hills with occasional steps and another 340m has short steep hills. The remaining (140m) is flat with no steps.
Quality of track
Around 2.9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 140m follows a clear and well formed track or trail.
Signs
This whole walk, 3km has directional signs at most intersection.
Experience Required
Around 1.8km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.3km requires no previous bushwalking experience.
Weather
Around 2.3km of this walk is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation), whilst the remaining 740m is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety.
Infrastructure
Around 2.9km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 140m 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)
Banksia car park
to
Int of Strickland Falls trail and Strickland Rd Track: Moderate - servicetrail
Length = 93 m
Time = 2 mins
Climb = 1 m
Descent = -2 m
From the car park, the walk follows the road away from the picnic area and soon reaches an intersection with a bush track, signposted 'Strickland Falls', '40 Minute Easy Walk'.
(0.09 km)
Int of Strickland Falls trail and Strickland Rd
to
Strickland Falls Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 739 m
Time = 18 mins
Climb = 35 m
Descent = -49 m
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows a bush track away from the road, passing the 'Strickland Falls' signpost, to the left. The track initially passes through quite dry forest. After a while, the walk passes some nice rock overhangs and descends through increasingly moist forest and boulders, to reach the signposted 'Strickland Falls'.
Strickland Falls
Alt = 139 m
Strickland Falls are a short walk from the Banksia Picnic Area in the Strickland State Forest, Central Coast, NSW. The falls are often just a trickle, but will be more impressive after good rain. The scenery around the falls is still beautiful with moist rainforest scenery to enjoy.
(0.83 km)
Strickland Falls
to
Int of Cabbage Tree and Stoney Creek trails Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.03 km
Time = 33 mins
Climb = 77 m
Descent = -139 m
Turn sharp left: From the waterfall, the walk follows the arrow (carved into the rock) along the bush track, going gently down the hill (not up the steps). The track meanders through some beautiful scenery with ferns, cabbage palms and boulders. After a while, the walk crosses a gully below some imposing cliffs and continues further before reaching the intersection signposted 'Cabbage Tree Trail'. Veer right: From the intersection, the walk follows the 'Cabbage Tree Trail' arrow along the bush track, keeping the valley to the right. This section of the walk passes some interesting boulders and continues through forest filled with cabbage palms and ferns, before reaching an intersection, signposted 'Stoney Creek Trail'.
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. [4]More info
(1.87 km)
Int of Cabbage Tree and Stoney Creek trails
to
Banksia picnic area Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 1.12 km
Time = 25 mins
Climb = 106 m
Descent = -31 m
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk follows the level bush track, away from the signpost, keeping the valley to the right. As the track climbs, the vegetation becomes mush drier. The walk passes through some nice boulders and eventually passes a 'Cabbage Tree Walk Trail' sign, to the left, just before reaching the intersection at the end of the Banksia picnic area.
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.
(2.99 km)
Banksia picnic area
to
Banksia car park Track: Moderate - bushtrack
Length = 48 m
Time = 1 mins
Climb = 2 m
Descent = 0 m
Veer right: 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.
Hiking near Sydney 
Track: Moderate
1 km
There is free parking available.
not too much longer now :)