Mouat Trail (Katandra to Rumbalara)
Darkinjung & Guringai Country

1 h 30 min to 2 h

3.9 km
oneway

↑ 90 m
↓ -163 m

Hard track
This walk follows a series of tracks and management trails along the top of the ridge between Katandra and Rumbalara Reserves. You will at times think you are a million miles from anywhere and other times enjoy views across the suburbs of the Central Coast and out to sea. In spring and early summer, you will discover many wildflowers. There are a few picnic tables with views, great spots for a snack and a rest on your walk. Let us begin by acknowledging the Darkinjung & Guringai people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 
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St Johns Picnic area car park. | Photo by admin, 2009.
St Johns Picnic area car park. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Walking through clearing. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Signs at southern end of picnic area. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Intersection of Graves and Mouat walks. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Mouat walk track. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Intersection of Graves Walk and Maidens Brush management trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Mouat Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Ferns along Mouat Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Gently winding track. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Steep cliff beside Mouat Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Intersection of Mouat and Toomeys Rd Trails. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Toomeys Rd Trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Toomeys Rd Trail near dirt and rock stock pile. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Private gate on Toomeys Rd Trail. | Photo by admin, 2009.
North of Erina Trig. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Erina Trig. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Track south of Erina Trig. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Intersection just south of Erina Trig. | Photo by admin, 2009.
locked gate beside walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.
View above Marana Rd. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Banksia. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Track on the ridge. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Old Picnic Table. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Track winding around the rock. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Crossing a long saddle. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Dipodium punctatum (Hyacinth orchid). | Photo by admin, 2009.
Walking along the ridge. | Photo by admin, 2009.
130 Picnic table. | Photo by admin, 2009.
View across Brisbane Water. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Steps through cleft in the rock. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Photo by admin, 2009.
Powerline intersection. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Winding up through the rocks. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Walking along the ridge on the Mouat walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.
View from the track. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Dianella Flower in early summer. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Edward John Eyre sculpture. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Southern end of the Mouat Walk. | Photo by admin, 2009.
Downloads GPX PDF

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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.
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Getting There
Transport options and directions
Start (-33.4068285,151.3893699)
Mode Car (There is free parking available.)
DirectionsFrom Pacific Motorway, M1
  • Turn on to Central Coast Highway, A49 then drive for 6.5 km
  • Keep left and drive for another 150 m
  • Turn slight left onto Racecourse Road and drive for another 2 km
  • At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Racecourse Road and drive for another 135 m
  • Turn left onto Mann Street and drive for another 940 m
  • Turn right onto Cary Street and drive for another 320 m
  • At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Cary Street and drive for another 170 m
  • Turn slight left onto Maidens Brush Road and drive for another 4.1 km
Finish (-33.4237309,151.3605253)
Mode (end) Car Shuttle   Car   (There is free parking available.)
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Track Notes
Turn by turn instructions & maps
Getting started
From the car park, this walk heads across the clearing away from the main picnic area (keeping the road up the hill to the right). The walk soon comes to an intersection and a 'Guringai walk' sign.
From the intersection, this walk heads through the clearing towards the 'Mount Mouat Walk' and 'Graves Walk' signs. At these signs, the walk heads left, out of the clearing and down the track for a short distance to the signposted intersection with 'Graves Walk' and 'Mouat Walk'.....
Turn map Directions & comments
Start.
After another 175 m (at the intersection of Toomeys Road & Moaut Walk (some steps and obstacles)) veer left, to head along Moaut Walk (some steps and obstacles) (a footpath).
After another 295 m veer right, to head along Moaut Walk (some steps and obstacles).
After another 1.2 km continue straight, to head along Moaut Walk (some steps and obstacles).
After another 720 m find the "Mouat trail picnic table" (10 m on your left).
Mouat trail picnic table
Mouat trail picnic table

Mouat trail picnic table is found about halfway along the Mouat trail. There is an old picnic table and bench seat at the top of an unfenced cliff with filtered views over Springfield East Gosford and the Brisbane Water. A nice spot for a snack and rest.
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Mouat trail picnic table is found about halfway along the Mouat trail. There is an old picnic table and bench seat at the top of an unfenced cliff with filtered views over Springfield East Gosford and the Brisbane Water. A nice spot for a snack and rest.

After another 110 m continue straight.
After another 280 m find the "130 Picnic table" (on your left).
130 Picnic table
130 Picnic table

The 130 Picnic table (informally named based on the height of the hill) provides a spot to stop and rest. There are views from the top of this unfenced cliff across Brisbane Water and East Gosford. The single table has some limited natural shade from the surrounding trees.
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The 130 Picnic table (informally named based on the height of the hill) provides a spot to stop and rest. There are views from the top of this unfenced cliff across Brisbane Water and East Gosford. The single table has some limited natural shade from the surrounding trees.

After another 150 m continue straight, to head along Moaut Walk (some steps and obstacles).
After another 970 m pass the "Statue of Edward John Eyre" (7 m on your left).
Then find the "Edward John Eyre" (10 m on your right).
Edward John Eyre
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.
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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.

After another 70 m continue straight, to head along Mouat Walk.
After another 45 m come to the end.
About 135 m past the end is a viewpoint.
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Terrain
Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Mouat Trail (Katandra to Rumbalara)


Grading
Class 4/6
Hard track
Length 3.9 km
Time 1 h 30 min to 2 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)
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