Walk: Strickland State Forest

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.

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.

Grevillea oldei, endemic to Gosford district

Gymea lily

Blue-leaved stringybark plus cabbage tree palm in flower