Ourimbah Valley Trackhead to Forest Road

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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 Ourimbah Creek Road (-33.3174483,151.2999462)
Mode	Car (There is free parking available.)
Directions	From Pacific Highway Offramp Turn on to Pacific Highway then drive for 480 m Turn right onto Ourimbah Creek Road and drive for another 9.4 km
Finish	(-33.2509423,151.2694888)
Mode (end)	Car Shuttle Car (There is free parking available.)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the 'Ourimbah Valley Trackhead' (on Ourimbah Creek Rd), this walk follows the 'Newcastle' sign downhill along the dirt road. The road soon leads down and across a flat timber vehicle bridge then the road mostly flattens out, winding among the rural properties for almost 300m to pass a 'Palm Grove Nature Reserve' sign and a few 'Hidden Valley' signs. The walk continues along the road for about 700m then comes to the intersection in front of the Hidden Valley property (on your left, not far before another road bridge). This walk continues straight, gently downhill along the wide dirt road to almost immediately pass 'Wombats End' (private road) then cross the flat timber road bridge. After about 400m, the road leads under some high tension power lines then after another 150m of winding past the rural properties, this walk passes a timber 'Hidden Valley' private property shelter and water tank (on your right). A further 100m along the road past this shelter, the walk veers left (ignoring 'Platypus Creek La') to come to a locked gate with a 'Road Closed' sign.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	From the Ourimbah Creek Road Start heading along Ourimbah Creek Road (a residential road). After 65 m pass the "Great North Walk" (on your left). After another 560 m (from the Ourimbah Creek Road) continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road.
	After another 450 m (from the Ourimbah Creek Road) continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road.
	After another 55 m (from the Ourimbah Creek Road) continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road.
	After another 500 m (from the Ourimbah Creek Road) continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road.
	After another 185 m (at the intersection of Platypus Creek Lane & Ourimbah Creek Road) continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road (a vehicle track). After another 90 m head through/around the gate. After another 750 m cross the ford.
	After another 1.1 km (at the intersection of Ourimbah Creek Road & Cedar Brush Walk) turn left, to head along Cedar Brush Walk (a walking track). After another 1.9 km find the "Tooheys Road campsite" (8 m on your left). Tooheys Road campsite This is a small camping area on the side of Tooheys Road, with room for a small number of tents but providing no facilities. After another 630 m find the "Stringy Bark Point" (on your left). Stringy Bark Point This campsite is in a small clearing at Stringy Bark Point, just on the southern side of the bridge. This campsite provides room for a small campfire and a few tents. Water is usually available from the creek running by the campsite, please treat before drinking. Then cross the ford.
	After another 1.3 km (at the intersection of Tooheys Road & Cedar Brush Walk) veer left, to head along Tooheys Road (a vehicle track).
	After another 2.3 km (from the Tooheys Road) turn right, to head along Tooheys Road. After another 490 m find the "Campsite" (60 m on your left). Campsite A basic clearing for an overnight stay, providing room for a fire and small number of tents. There is no water at this campsite so you will need to carry sufficient. After another 85 m find the "Archers Campsite" (20 m on your left). Archers Campsite This informally named campsite is found in Jilliby State Conservation Area, and is used regularly by members of the Tuggerah Lake Field Archers club. This is a basic campsite with a water tank and shed used for hanging shower water bags. The large open camping area has a few existing fire scars and a few flat grassy areas. (There are other facilities 150m further north along the dirt trail at the club house.) Then find the "Archers Club House" (on your right). Archers Club House The Tuggerah Lake Field Archers club house is found on the dirt Tooheys Road in Jilliby State Conservation Area. The club house is used irregularly on weekends, and these facilities should not be relied upon. The club house had some picnic tables under a large covered meeting area, a wood fired BBQ, toilet and water tank. A good place to stop and rest. After another 175 m (from the Tooheys Road) continue straight, to head along Tooheys Road.
	After another 345 m (from the Tooheys Road) continue straight, to head along Tooheys Road.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to Forest Park Country Retreat. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip turn right when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 360 m come to the end.

An optional side trip to Forest Park Country Retreat.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Forest Road & Tooheys Road Start heading along Forest Road (a residential road). After another 570 m (from the Forest Road) continue straight, to head along Forest Road.
	After another 480 m come to the end. About 135 m past the end is "Forest Park Country Retreat". Forest Park Country Retreat Forest Park is lovely retreat on Forest Road, a short detour from the Great North Walk. The well presented two bedroom home is set on a large rural block with no visible neighbors. With your exclusive use, you can enjoy such luxuries as a spa bath, a well equipped kitchen, air conditioning, TV and DVD player and a gas log fireplace. Mid-week, a single night is $250 - on weekends, there is two night minimum stay. Price includes breakfast and for an extra $20 a head, your hosts can provide a hamper for dinner. The retreat is signposted and found at 252 Forest Road, Kulnura PH (02) 4376 1340. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 1 km to the main route.

Turn map

Directions & comments

At the intersection of Forest Road & Tooheys Road Start heading along Forest Road (a residential road).

After another 570 m (from the Forest Road) continue straight, to head along Forest Road.

After another 480 m come to the end.

About 135 m past the end is "Forest Park Country Retreat".

Forest Park Country Retreat

Forest Park is lovely retreat on Forest Road, a short detour from the Great North Walk. The well presented two bedroom home is set on a large rural block with no visible neighbors. With your exclusive use, you can enjoy such luxuries as a spa bath, a well equipped kitchen, air conditioning, TV and DVD player and a gas log fireplace. Mid-week, a single night is $250 - on weekends, there is two night minimum stay. Price includes breakfast and for an extra $20 a head, your hosts can provide a hamper for dinner. The retreat is signposted and found at 252 Forest Road, Kulnura PH (02) 4376 1340.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 1 km to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Ourimbah Valley Trackhead to Forest Road

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	11 km
Time	4 h, 5 h to 2 days

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Moderate level of bushwalking experience recommended (4/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Accommodation: There is one 11 km (plus an extra 1.5 km along side route) from the start.

Campsite: There are 4 on route, on average they are 2.2 km apart with the largest gap of 5.6 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Campsite	5.6 km	Tooheys Road campsite
Campsite	6.3 km	Stringy Bark Point
Campsite	10.1 km	Campsite
Campsite	10.1 km	Archers Campsite
Accommodation	11 km + 1.5 km	Forest Park Country Retreat

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Stringy Bark Point
This campsite is in a small clearing at Stringy Bark Point, just on the southern side of the bridge. This campsite provides room for a small campfire and a few tents. Water is usually available from the creek running by the campsite, please treat before drinking.

Archers Campsite
This informally named campsite is found in Jilliby State Conservation Area, and is used regularly by members of the Tuggerah Lake Field Archers club. This is a basic campsite with a water tank and shed used for hanging shower water bags. The large open camping area has a few existing fire scars and a few flat grassy areas. (There are other facilities 150m further north along the dirt trail at the club house.)

Archers Club House
The Tuggerah Lake Field Archers club house is found on the dirt Tooheys Road in Jilliby State Conservation Area. The club house is used irregularly on weekends, and these facilities should not be relied upon. The club house had some picnic tables under a large covered meeting area, a wood fired BBQ, toilet and water tank. A good place to stop and rest.

Forest Park Country Retreat
Forest Park is lovely retreat on Forest Road, a short detour from the Great North Walk. The well presented two bedroom home is set on a large rural block with no visible neighbors. With your exclusive use, you can enjoy such luxuries as a spa bath, a well equipped kitchen, air conditioning, TV and DVD player and a gas log fireplace. Mid-week, a single night is $250 - on weekends, there is two night minimum stay. Price includes breakfast and for an extra $20 a head, your hosts can provide a hamper for dinner. The retreat is signposted and found at 252 Forest Road, Kulnura PH (02) 4376 1340.

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Wildwalks

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Wyong Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
  
  Saturday 15 March
  
  33°C
  Partly cloudy.
  5% chance of rain
  
  The chance of fog inland early this morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds. Daytime maximum temperatures 31 to 36.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:40am to 4:30pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
  
  Sunday 16 March
  
  22°C → 35°C
  Mostly sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h becoming northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 18 and 22 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 30s.
  
  Monday 17 March
  
  17°C → 24°C
  Cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h shifting south to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 16 and 19 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Tuesday 18 March
  
  15°C → 24°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower near the coast, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the morning then becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Wednesday 19 March
  
  16°C → 28°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Thursday 20 March
  
  18°C → 31°C
  Sunny.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Friday 21 March
  
  19°C → 27°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Jilliby State Conservation Area alerts
  Safety alerts: Road Maintenance
  Fire trail maintenance works will be undertaken at various locations throughout Jilliby State Conservation Area from January to April 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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