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Walk: Strickland State Forest

Palms1

Registration essential

This is one of the most beautiful and diverse pieces of bushland within an hours drive of the North Shore. Hawkesbury Sandstone woodland and forest of the ridge crest gives way downslope to lush tall forest and rainforest on Terrigal Formation sandstones (photo right) with some mighty Sydney red gums, turpentines, blue-leaved stringybarks (photo below), coachwoods and sassafras not to mention maidens blush, cabbage tree and Bangalow palms and prickly tree ferns.

Date: Sunday 15 September
Time: 9.15 for 9.30 am start
Length: 6 km – about 3 h of gentle walking with lots of stops, with the addition of a detour to the arboretum and to a waterfall if there's been decent rain
Grade: moderate – some long, slow descents and climbs but nothing really steep, rough or rocky
Meet: Banksia Picnic Area (see below for how to get there)
Bring: lunch snack, camera, plant i.d. books especially if you have Gwen Harden's Rainforest Trees and Shrubs
Weather issues: it's sheltered forest in deep valleys so light rain or showers aren't a major problem though there can be a few leeches
Leader: John Martyn (0425 830 260)
Limit: 15 walkers

WataganMap

Highlights

  • The most accessible and diverse piece of rainforest and tall forest within easy reach of the upper North Shore and a really beautiful place too
  • Gymea lilies light up the forest this time of year and there should be masses of rock orchids in flower
  • Threatened Tranquility mint bush and Grevillea oldei (see below)
  • Oldest arboretum in Australia

Getting there

Follow the M1 north, past the Gosford turnoff and Calga Interchange to the Somersby Interchange, turning left onto Peats Ridge Rd. Turn right after 2 km onto Wisemans Ferry Rd and right again shortly after onto Dog Trap Rd. After 5 km and rounding a sandstone cutting, turn right onto Mangrove Rd and cross back over the motorway, turning right again immediately onto the Strickland access road (well signposted). Follow for 1.3 km then fork right to meeting point at Banksia picnic area. Allow about 40 min from Pearces Corner.

Well signposted for travellers from the opposite direction.

G.oldei

Grevillea oldei, endemic to Gosford district

TranquilityMint

Gymea lily

stringybark

Blue-leaved stringybark plus cabbage tree palm in flower

Event Properties

Event Date 15-09-2024 9:15 am
Location Banksia Picnic Area