Upper Rumbalara Circuit

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	From the Rumbalara Lookout Road (-33.4251386,151.3546894)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From York Street, A49 Turn on to Wells Street then drive for 360 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Wells Street and drive for another 700 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Wells Street and drive for another 810 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Springfield Road and drive for another 260 m Turn left onto Dolly Avenue and drive for another 350 m Continue onto Dolly Avenue and drive for another 1.4 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the BBQs, this walk goes across the picnic area, keeping the road to the right. The walk passes the information board, to the left, and follows the paved path toward the nearby toilet block. The walk turns left just before the toilet block and follows the 'Nurrunga Picnic Area' arrow down the paved steps and along the bush track. The walk descends gently for a while with numerous sandstone steps, then meanders around the side of the hill, for some distance. Ignoring a bush track, to the left, and another soon after, to the right, the walk continues for some distance until reaching an intersection with a management trail, with a 'Flannel Flower Track' signpost pointing back to the 'Yaruga Picnic Area'.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	From the Rumbalara Lookout Road Start (a footpath). After 55 m pass the car park (10 m on your left). After another 40 m find the "Rumbalara Reserve Flora and Fauna" (20 m on your left). Rumbalara Reserve Flora and Fauna The reserve is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. The vegetation types range from the relatively dry 'Coastal Narrabeen Ironbark Forest' to pockets of 'Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest'. Commonly seen birds include Kookaburras, Eastern Rosellas and Magpies. Rarer birds such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo and Swift Parrot are sometimes sighted here as well. Sugar Gliders, Brush-tailed possums, Blue-tounged lizards and Tree snakes can be seen in the reserve if you are patient and lucky enough. Then pass the toilet (15 m on your right).
	After another 210 m (Very Steep Rocky path) continue straight, to head along Flannel Flower walk.
	After another 160 m (from the Flannel Flower walk) continue straight, to head along Flannel Flower walk.
	After another 245 m (from the Flannel Flower walk) turn left (a vehicle track). After another 120 m find the "Flannel Flower" (10 m on your right). Flannel Flower Actinotus helianthi, popularly known as the Sydney flannel flower, is frequently spotted by spring-time bushwalkers in the Sydney region. Generally growing up to 50 cm, the stem, branches and leaves of the plant are a pale grey in colour, covered in downy hair (rather like flannel in texture).
	Turn right. After another 25 m pass the "Statue" (140 m on your left).
	After another 170 m turn left. After another 30 m find the "Rumbalara Reserve" (15 m on your right). Rumbalara Reserve Rumbalara Reserve lies just to the east of the Gosford CBD and is part of Gosford's Coastal Open Space System (COSS). There is an extensive set of well marked walking tracks within the reserve. Yaruga Picnic Area has free electric BBQs while both Yaruga and Nurrunga picnic areas have toilets, picnic tables, nearby lookouts and proximity to walking tracks. The picnic areas are accessed via Dolly Ave, Springfield, with the gate being locked at 8pm each evening. The Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre, at the end of Donnison St, Gosford, is one of several good access points to the walking tracks in the lower section of the reserve.
	After another 30 m continue straight. After another 95 m pass the summit (50 m on your right). After another 65 m pass the "Statue" (9 m on your left). After another 50 m come to the "Nurrunga Point" (30 m on your left). Then find the "Sculptures in Rumbalara" (10 m on your left). Sculptures in Rumbalara There are four bronze figurative sculptures in the Rumbalara Reserve that were 'commissioned in the series "Salute to Famous Australians", which includes Captain Charles Sturt, Edward Eyre, and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.' Matthew Flinders is the fourth in the series. They were 'commissioned by Sara Lee Kitchens (Australia) Pty Ltd and Gosford City Council for the State Bicentennial Celebrations 1987.'. Smith and Flinders are the most easily reached, at the Nurrunga picnic area. Then pass the "Statue" (15 m on your left). After another 105 m pass the toilet (8 m on your right).
	After another 85 m (from the Rumbalara Lookout Road) veer left, to head along Rumbalara Lookout Road (a vehicle track).
	After another 35 m (from the Rumbalara Lookout Road) veer left (a walking track).
	After another 165 m (from the Fire Trail) veer right, to head along Fire Trail (a vehicle track). After another 135 m (from the Fire Trail) continue straight, to head along Fire Trail.
	After another 240 m (from the Fire Trail) turn left (a walking track).
	After another 205 m turn right. After another 255 m find the "Wannagan Lookout" (6 m on your left). Wannagan Lookout The fenced Wannagan Lookout, on the Red Gum Walk, has great views over North Gosford. The fenced lookout sits at the top of a small cliff. Out of sight, beneath the lookout, is some great cliff and overhang scenery.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Sculpture of Edward John Eyre. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip continue straight when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 225 m (from the Mouat Walk) turn right, to head along Mouat Walk.
	After another 45 m (at the intersection of Rumbalara Lookout Road & Mouat Walk) veer right, to head along Rumbalara Lookout Road (a vehicle track). After another 115 m (from the Rumbalara Lookout Road) continue straight, to head along Rumbalara Lookout Road. After another 140 m come to the viewpoint (25 m on your left).
	After another 80 m (at the intersection of Fire Trail & Rumbalara Lookout Road) continue straight, to head along Rumbalara Lookout Road. After another 155 m (from the Rumbalara Lookout Road) continue straight, to head along Rumbalara Lookout Road.
	After another 85 m come to the end.

An optional side trip to Sculpture of Edward John Eyre.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	From the Mouat Walk Start heading along Mouat Walk (a walking track). After 175 m find the "Edward John Eyre" (20 m on your left). Edward John Eyre The Sculpture of Edward John Eyre is found near the southern end of the Mouat Trail in Rumbalara Reserve. Commissioned by Sara Lee Kitchens and the State Bicentennial Commission, this 1.25 scale figurative work was sculptured by Carl Merten. A circular inscription at the base declares this to be 'Edward John Eyre 1815-1901'. Eyre is one of Australia's more famous explorers. A father of 5, he was awarded the founder's gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society in 1847. In 1841, Eyre was appointed as resident magistrate and protector of Aborigines. He summed up his work like this - "Moorundie was a District densely populated by Natives and in which prior to 1841 no settler had ventured to locate, and where (before I was stationed there) frightful scenes of bloodshed, rapine and hostility between the Natives and Parties coming overland with Stock had been of very frequent occurrence, but where, from the time of my arrival, and up to the date of my leaving not a single case of serious injury or aggression ever took place on the part of the Natives against the Europeans, whilst the district became rapidly and extensively occupied by Settlers and by Stock". Eyre also served as lieutenant-governor for New Zealand, lieutenant-governor for St Vincent (West Indies), governor for Leeward Islands, governor for Antigua and governor-in-chief for Jamaica. Then pass the "Statue of Edward John Eyre" (45 m on your left).
	After another 35 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 210 m to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

From the Mouat Walk Start heading along Mouat Walk (a walking track).

After 175 m find the "Edward John Eyre" (20 m on your left).

Edward John Eyre

The Sculpture of Edward John Eyre is found near the southern end of the Mouat Trail in Rumbalara Reserve. Commissioned by Sara Lee Kitchens and the State Bicentennial Commission, this 1.25 scale figurative work was sculptured by Carl Merten. A circular inscription at the base declares this to be 'Edward John Eyre 1815-1901'. Eyre is one of Australia's more famous explorers. A father of 5, he was awarded the founder's gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society in 1847. In 1841, Eyre was appointed as resident magistrate and protector of Aborigines. He summed up his work like this - "Moorundie was a District densely populated by Natives and in which prior to 1841 no settler had ventured to locate, and where (before I was stationed there) frightful scenes of bloodshed, rapine and hostility between the Natives and Parties coming overland with Stock had been of very frequent occurrence, but where, from the time of my arrival, and up to the date of my leaving not a single case of serious injury or aggression ever took place on the part of the Natives against the Europeans, whilst the district became rapidly and extensively occupied by Settlers and by Stock". Eyre also served as lieutenant-governor for New Zealand, lieutenant-governor for St Vincent (West Indies), governor for Leeward Islands, governor for Antigua and governor-in-chief for Jamaica.

Then pass the "Statue of Edward John Eyre" (45 m on your left).

After another 35 m come to the end.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 210 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Upper Rumbalara Circuit

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	3.2 km
Time	1 h 30 min to 3 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Minimal directional signs (4/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.1 km apart with the largest gap of 2 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	70 m	[toilet]
Toilet	1.2 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Rumbalara Reserve
Rumbalara Reserve lies just to the east of the Gosford CBD and is part of Gosford's Coastal Open Space System (COSS). There is an extensive set of well marked walking tracks within the reserve. Yaruga Picnic Area has free electric BBQs while both Yaruga and Nurrunga picnic areas have toilets, picnic tables, nearby lookouts and proximity to walking tracks. The picnic areas are accessed via Dolly Ave, Springfield, with the gate being locked at 8pm each evening. The Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre, at the end of Donnison St, Gosford, is one of several good access points to the walking tracks in the lower section of the reserve.

Yaruga Picnic Area
This picnic area is right beside Dolly Ave, within the Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford. The facilities include free electric BBQs, picnic tables, toilets and garbage bins. There are information boards with details of the walking tracks and other features of the reserve. There are a couple of lookout points at the edge of the picnic area with great views out across Gosford and the surrounding areas.

Flannel Flower
Actinotus helianthi, popularly known as the Sydney flannel flower, is frequently spotted by spring-time bushwalkers in the Sydney region. Generally growing up to 50 cm, the stem, branches and leaves of the plant are a pale grey in colour, covered in downy hair (rather like flannel in texture).

Rumbalara Reserve Flora and Fauna
The reserve is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. The vegetation types range from the relatively dry 'Coastal Narrabeen Ironbark Forest' to pockets of 'Coastal Warm Temperate Rainforest'. Commonly seen birds include Kookaburras, Eastern Rosellas and Magpies. Rarer birds such as the Glossy Black Cockatoo and Swift Parrot are sometimes sighted here as well. Sugar Gliders, Brush-tailed possums, Blue-tounged lizards and Tree snakes can be seen in the reserve if you are patient and lucky enough.

Sculptures in Rumbalara
There are four bronze figurative sculptures in the Rumbalara Reserve that were 'commissioned in the series "Salute to Famous Australians", which includes Captain Charles Sturt, Edward Eyre, and Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.' Matthew Flinders is the fourth in the series. They were 'commissioned by Sara Lee Kitchens (Australia) Pty Ltd and Gosford City Council for the State Bicentennial Celebrations 1987.'. Smith and Flinders are the most easily reached, at the Nurrunga picnic area.

Wannagan Lookout
The fenced Wannagan Lookout, on the Red Gum Walk, has great views over North Gosford. The fenced lookout sits at the top of a small cliff. Out of sight, beneath the lookout, is some great cliff and overhang scenery.

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Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Gosford Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue
  
  Tuesday 29 April
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds.
  
  Wednesday 30 April
  
  14°C → 20°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 15mm
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers along the coastal fringe, high chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 11 and 14 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 20.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:30am to 2:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 5 [Moderate]
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  12°C → 19°C
  Showers.
  95% chance of rain
  5 → 25mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers near the coast, high chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm near the coast. Winds southeast to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 15 and 19.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  13°C → 20°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  1 → 15mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm along the coastal fringe. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 20.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  13°C → 22°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog about the Upper Hunter. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 22.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  13°C → 23°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  14°C → 23°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 6 May
  
  13°C → 24°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
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