STEP Inc
Walk: Strickland State Forest
Rainforest on Terrigal Formation sandstones

Walk: Strickland State Forest

This is one of the most beautiful and diverse pieces of bushland within an hours drive of Sydney's North Shore.
  • What Biodiversity
  • When 16 Sep, 2018 from 09:15 AM to 12:30 PM (Australia/Sydney / UTC1000)
  • Where Banksia Picnic Area
  • Contact Name
  • Contact Phone 9144 2703
  • Attendees Anyone
  • Web Visit external website
  • Add event to calendar iCal

Hawkesbury Sandstone woodland and forest of the ridge crest gives way downslope to lush tall forest and rainforest on Terrigal Formation sandstones with some mighty Sydney red gums, turpentines, blue-leaved stringybarks, coachwoods and sassafras not to mention maidens blush, cabbage tree and Bangalow palms and prickly tree ferns.

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Date: Sunday 16 September
Time: 9.15 for 9.30 am start
Length: 4 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: easy to medium – 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

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 NSW

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.