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	(-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
	Start heading along Ourimbah Creek Road. After 65 m pass the "Great North Walk" (on your left). After another 560 m continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road.
	After another 450 m continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road.
	After another 55 m continue straight, to head along Ourimbah Creek Road.
	After another 500 m 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 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 continue straight, to head along Tooheys Road.
	After another 345 m 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 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 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 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu
  
  Friday 25 October
  
  22°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  
  Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe inland. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the evening.
  
  Saturday 26 October
  
  12°C → 20°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. High chance of showers along the coastal fringe, medium chance elsewhere. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then turning south to southeasterly in the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 8 and 12 with daytime temperatures reaching the low 20s.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:00am to 4:20pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
  
  Sunday 27 October
  
  11°C → 25°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower along the coastal fringe in the morning and early afternoon. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 21.
  
  Monday 28 October
  
  14°C → 28°C
  Shower or two developing.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 7 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 20s.
  
  Tuesday 29 October
  
  13°C → 21°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Sunny morning. Medium chance of showers in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending southeast to southwesterly during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching 25 to 30.
  
  Wednesday 30 October
  
  12°C → 23°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Thursday 31 October
  
  14°C → 24°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Jilliby State Conservation Area alerts
  Safety alerts: Major Roadworks in Jilliby State Conservation Area - ongoing
  Major roadworks are ongoing in Jilliby State Conservation Area (Southern Precinct) and part of Ourimbah State Forest.
  Partial and intermittent road closures should be expected. The roads that will be affected are:
  
  Red Hill Road
  
  Prestons Ridge Road
  
  Bradleys Point Road
  
  Campbells Point Road and
  
  Tooheys Road.
  
  Visitors are asked to avoid the area (if possible). Otherwise, please be aware of trucks and machinery using and working on the above roads and to drive to the conditions. Warning signs and traffic control will be in place. Work is expected to be completed by December 2024. The work is funded as part of the Fire Access and Fire Trail (FAFT) program aimed at providing safe and strategic fire trails for fire response and access.
  For more information, please contact the NPWS Central Coast Area Office at Lake Munmorah on 02 4972 9000 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.
  
  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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