Muirs Rainforest Walk

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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 Muirs Lookout Walking Track (near the Muir's Lookout viewpoint) (-33.0995602,151.379827)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Freemans Drive, Cooranbong. Turn on to Martinsville Road then drive for 4.5 km Turn left onto Watagan Road and drive for another 7.1 km Turn sharp left onto Watagan Forest Road and drive for another 940 m Turn left onto Prickly Ridge Road and drive for another 2.7 km Keep right and drive for another 125 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From Muirs Lookout and car park, this walk follows the track moderately steeply downhill, passing a 'Muirs Lookout Walking Track' sign(on your left) and walking between timber posts. Then this walk continues to follow the track through blackbutt and bluegum forest for about 800m, until coming to a No.16 timber post and moist rainforest gully.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	From the Muirs Lookout Walking Track Start heading along Muirs Lookout Walking Track (a walking track). Find the toilet at the start. Find the Muirs Lookout at the start. Muirs Lookout Muirs Lookout on Prickly Ridge Road, in the Jilliby State Conservation Area, offers scenic views from Lake Macquarie to Tuggerah Lakes. The picnic area is supplied with fireplaces, firewood, picnic tables, toilets and water (treat water before use - water maybe unavailable). The lookout is surrounded by blackbutt and bluegum trees. After another 660 m come to "Rainforest at No.16 timber post". Rainforest at No.16 timber post At the No. 16 timber post (along the Muirs walking trail), you are in a beautiful rainforest gully surrounded by a lush moist forest of cycads, ferns and mosses, with towering blackbutt and bluegum trees above. This cool moist spot is a great place to spend time on a hot dry day.
	Turn around here and retrace the main route for 680 m to get back to the start.

Turn map

Directions & comments

From the Muirs Lookout Walking Track Start heading along Muirs Lookout Walking Track (a walking track).

Find the toilet at the start.

Find the Muirs Lookout at the start.

Muirs Lookout

Muirs Lookout on Prickly Ridge Road, in the Jilliby State Conservation Area, offers scenic views from Lake Macquarie to Tuggerah Lakes. The picnic area is supplied with fireplaces, firewood, picnic tables, toilets and water (treat water before use - water maybe unavailable). The lookout is surrounded by blackbutt and bluegum trees.

After another 660 m come to "Rainforest at No.16 timber post".

Rainforest at No.16 timber post

At the No. 16 timber post (along the Muirs walking trail), you are in a beautiful rainforest gully surrounded by a lush moist forest of cycads, ferns and mosses, with towering blackbutt and bluegum trees above. This cool moist spot is a great place to spend time on a hot dry day.

Turn around here and retrace the main route for 680 m to get back to the start.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Muirs Rainforest Walk

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	1.4 km
Time	40 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
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 is one 0 m from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	0 m	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Muirs Lookout
Muirs Lookout on Prickly Ridge Road, in the Jilliby State Conservation Area, offers scenic views from Lake Macquarie to Tuggerah Lakes. The picnic area is supplied with fireplaces, firewood, picnic tables, toilets and water (treat water before use - water maybe unavailable). The lookout is surrounded by blackbutt and bluegum trees.

Rainforest at No.16 timber post
At the No. 16 timber post (along the Muirs walking trail), you are in a beautiful rainforest gully surrounded by a lush moist forest of cycads, ferns and mosses, with towering blackbutt and bluegum trees above. This cool moist spot is a great place to spend time on a hot dry day.

Get more information
Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Toronto Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 4 July
  
  19°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions for the rest of the day are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Saturday 5 July
  
  5°C → 19°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the middle of the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 14 and 18.
  
  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 not recommended, UV Index predicted to reach 2 [Low]
  
  Sunday 6 July
  
  7°C → 21°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. The chance of morning fog. Patches of frost in the early morning. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 19.
  
  Alert: Large and powerful surf conditions in the early morning are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
  
  Monday 7 July
  
  7°C → 19°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm about the Upper Hunter. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 17 and 21.
  
  Tuesday 8 July
  
  4°C → 18°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 13 and 18.
  
  Wednesday 9 July
  
  7°C → 19°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Thursday 10 July
  
  5°C → 18°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Jilliby State Conservation Area alerts
  Safety alerts: Road Maintenance
  Fire trail maintenance and repair works will be undertaken at various locations throughout Jilliby State Conservation Area from June until September 1st, 2025. Partial and intermittent closures should be expected. Please follow the directions of any construction staff onsite and safety signage. Take care and drive to conditions.
  For more information, contact the local NPWS office on 02 49729000.
  
  Closed areas: Muirs Lookout Picnic Area - Closed
  Muirs Lookout Picnic Area on Prickly Ridge Road has been closed due to ageing infrastructure, obstructed lookout views to the coast and very low public visitation. Alternative picnic facilities are located nearby in Olney State Forest and Watagans National Park. Further information on other places to visit can be obtained via the NPWS or Forestry Corporation websites.
  
  Safety alerts: Prickly Ridge Road 4WD only
  The section of Prickly Ridge Road between Watagan Forest Road and Cut-Rock Road is suitable for 4WD vehicles only.
  To prevent further damage to the road and to protect visitor safety, please avoid this area and other trails in the reserve that are still slippery and potentially hazardous.
  For further information, please contact the Central Coast Area Office at Lake Munmorah on 02 4972 9000.
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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