Gap Creek 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	At the intersection of Bangalow Road & Gap Creek Falls Walking Track (-33.0132165,151.4306063)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Pacific Motorway, M1 Turn on to Palmers Road Exit then drive for 500 m Turn left onto Palmers Road and drive for another 90 m Turn slight left onto Palmers Road and drive for another 3.1 km At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Freemans Drive, B82 and drive for another 8 km Turn right onto Mount Faulk Road and drive for another 4.9 km Keep left onto Bangalow Road and drive for another 2.8 km Turn slight right onto Bangalow Road and drive for another 1.8 km

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From Gap Creek picnic area, this walk follows the track gently uphill (up steps initially), passing the 'Gap Creek Forest Walk' sign (on your left). The track is followed through moist rainforest for about 400m, until coming to a three-way intersection, with a large dead tree and a 'Gap Creek Fall/Gap Creek Forest Walk' sign.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Bangalow Road & Gap Creek Falls Walking Track Start heading along Gap Creek Falls Walking Track (a walking track). There is a toilet (about 105 m back from the start). Gap Creek Campground (about 15 m back from the start). W:www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au This is a free campsite. Gap Creek picnic area (about 9 m back from the start). Gap Creek picnic area The Gap Creek picnic area is located at the end of Bangalow Road within the Watagans National Park. The picnic area has a barbeque and sheltered picnic tables. After another 30 m pass the BBQ (5 m on your right).
	After another 335 m (from the Gap Creek Falls Walking Track) continue straight.
	Continue another 500 m to find the end. Then turn around here and retrace the main route for 880 m to get back to the start. About 50 m past the end is "Gap Creek Rainforest rest area". Gap Creek Rainforest rest area The Gap Creek rainforest rest area is within the Watagans National Park and is a secret hideaway surrounded by dense rainforest. This rest area beside Gap Creek has large boulders, pools and cascades to explore, along with protected yabbies to find in the creek. There is also one back-supported timber chair to sit in and listen to the birds. This section of rainforest is a great spot to keep cool in on a hot summer day.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Gap Creek Rainforest Walk

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	1.8 km
Time	50 min to 1 h

Quality of track	Rough track, where fallen trees and other obstacles are likely (4/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
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

Camp site: There is one 15 m from the start.

Toilet: There is one -75 m back from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-75 m	[toilet]
Camp site	15 m	Gap Creek Campground

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Gap Creek picnic area
The Gap Creek picnic area is located at the end of Bangalow Road within the Watagans National Park. The picnic area has a barbeque and sheltered picnic tables.

Gap Creek Rainforest rest area
The Gap Creek rainforest rest area is within the Watagans National Park and is a secret hideaway surrounded by dense rainforest. This rest area beside Gap Creek has large boulders, pools and cascades to explore, along with protected yabbies to find in the creek. There is also one back-supported timber chair to sit in and listen to the birds. This section of rainforest is a great spot to keep cool in on a hot summer 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
- Watagans National Park alerts
  Closed areas: Rope Road and Click Creek Fire Trail closed due to road conditions
  Rope Road and Click Creek Fire Trails are temporarily closed as it is not suitable for 2WD or 4WD vehicles. The areas will reopen as soon as they are considered safe. To prevent further damage to the road and to protect visitor safety, please avoid these areas and other trails within the reserve that are potentially hazardous.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  
  Closed areas: Heaton Road Access from Watagans Road Closed Due to Landslip and Rockfall
  Heaton Road Access from Watagans Road is closed as it is no longer suitable for 2WD or 4WD vehicles due to risk of landslip and rockfall. This affects access from Watagans National Park to Quorrobolong.
  
  Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  
  For further information, please contact NPWS Munmorah office on (02) 4972 9000.
  
  Other planned events: Bangalow Road planned repairs and maintenance
  Planned road repairs and maintenance is scheduled for Bangalow Road from 1 July 2025 to 1 September 2025. Heavy plant and machinery will be operating along Bangalow Road.
  Areas that will also be closed due to these works include:
  
  Bangalow Campground and Day use area
  
  Gap Creek Campground and Day use area
  
  Gap Creek Falls walking track
  
  Climbers walking track
  
  During this time, Bangalow Road will be closed and pedestrian and vehicle access is not permitted. Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  For more information, contact NPWS Central Coast Area office on (02) 4972 9000.
  
  Closed areas: Monkey Face Road closed due to road conditions
  Monkey Face Road is temporarily closed as it is no longer suitable for 2WD or 4WD vehicles. This closure will affect vehicle access to following areas until further notice due unsafe road conditions:
  
  Monkey Face Road
  
  Monkey Face Lookout
  
  Gap Creek Lookout
  
  The areas will re-open as soon as they are considered safe. To prevent further damage to the road and to protect visitor safety, please avoid this area and other trails in the reserve that are potentially hazardous.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local park office.
  
  Closed areas: Gap Creek Forest Walk Part Closed Due to Landslip and Rockfall Risk
  Gap Creek Forest Walk is part closed due to the risk of landslip and rockfall.
  Penalties apply for non-compliance.
  For more information, contact NPWS Central Coast office on 02 4972 9000
  
  Alert kindly provided by © NSW Nataional Parks and Wildlife Service

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